Not Happily Ever After, After All In "Once Upon A Time,"" Nadine Gordimer creates a reverse fairy tale in order to represent her views of apartheid South Africa. ... First of all, the title, "Once Upon A Time,"" is the epitome of a fairy tale; it is the most familiar opening line. ... "Once Upon A Time,"" relates to the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty."" ... "Once Upon A Time,"" is a fairy tale in reverse. ... In "Once Upon A Time,"" the only real happiness is in the beginning. ...

• Word Count: 1346
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Spoken in the perspective and observations of the protagonist, "Amnesty," written by Nadine Gordimer, shows the crippling effects of a city movement upon the relationship of a poor couple. ... At the beginning of the narrative, Nadine Gordimer introduces the narrator in a state of excitement for the return of her husband. ... The narrator notices they "used to whisper a long time" but they no longer have late night conversations. ... However, once his daughter finally meets and sees him for the first time on his return, she hides from him and would not speak to him, as if ...

• Word Count: 536
• Approx Pages: 2

Happily Ever After Written in caustic response to an annoying academic, Nadine Gordimer supplies penetrating social commentary on South African apartheid in her short story, "Once Upon a Time." ... The family's attempt to live happily ever after during a time of social unrest is the Gordimer's sarcastic metaphor for the white South Africans and the self-inflicted harm caused by their own lopsided social system. ... Time takes the author's terror away, and she "is to be neither threatened nor spared- (24), realizing it is th...

• Word Count: 1030
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School