Once Upon a Time — Chapter Summary
NIOS · Class 10 · English
Summary of Once Upon a Time for NIOS Class 10 English. Key concepts: The poem shows that people, Modern people are shown as and The father stands.
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Overview
Once Upon a Time is a satirical poem by Gabriel Okara about the loss of innocence, honesty, and warmth in modern society. The speaker compares the sincere behaviour of the past with the artificial behaviour of the present. Through the address to his son, the poem shows how adults have learned social
Key Concepts
The poem shows that people once
The poem shows that people once behaved naturally and honestly, but now they often hide true feelings behind formal behaviour. The father wants to ret
Modern people are shown as smiling
Modern people are shown as smiling without warmth, shaking hands without sincerity, and speaking polite words without meaning them. Their actions and
The father stands for the modern
The father stands for the modern, artificial period, while the son stands for the old, honest, and natural period. By speaking to his son, the poet is
Satire uses humour
Satire uses humour, irony, sarcasm, or exaggeration to criticise something. The poem is a satire on modern society because it exposes insincere behavi
The father says he has learned
The father says he has learned to wear many faces such as homeface, officeface, streetface, hostface, and cocktailface. These are metaphors for changi
Learning Objectives
- Recognise the value of genuine behaviour in relationships
- Understand how human behaviour changes with time
- Identify satire and its use in the poem
- Explain the contrast between innocence and artificiality
- Interpret symbols, metaphors, and similes used in the poem
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Sources & Official References
Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.
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