1. Do Now #4: What are the elements of a fairy tale?
Think of the fairy tales you have heard, read or seen in movie form. What are some common elements found in fairy tales? Name at least five.
Magical elements, supernatural powers, good vs. evil, archetypes (Prince Charming, Princess, Evil Queen), vague setting (Once upon a time, land far far away), happy ending, helpful creatures, a moral or lesson (Being too greedy can cause a person to lose everything)

2. Once Upon a Time
By Nadine Gordimer
Pg. 11

3. Theme
A story’s theme is a message about life that the author wants to share with the readers. Traditional stories such as fairy tales often teach a lesson. Character’s actions and their consequences often provide clues to the lesson or theme.

4. Background
When this story was published in 1989, South Africa was still under apartheid. White families lived in desirable neighborhoods, and many non-whites (Africans, Indians, and people of mixed race) lived in segregated areas called townships. Nonwhites only came to white neighborhoods to work, for example as housemaids and gardeners.
Read about the author on page 11. Ask if students know what apartheid is. Explain further.

5. Rouse (verb) (page 11) Rouse: Cause to become awake or conscious
Syn: Awake, awaken, get up, wake up, stir, rise
Ant: sleep, calm, nap
Forms: arouse, roused, rousing
Ex: At the beginning of the school year many students find it difficult to rouse in the morning.

6. Distend (verb) (page 11) Distend: To bulge or expand; to grow wider
Synonyms: inflate, stretch, widen, increase, bloat
Antonyms: Compress, condense, contract, decrease, lessen, reduce
Forms: Distends (verb)Distended (verb/adj) Distending
Example: The pregnant woman’s distended belly caused her to knock over the books on the shelf.
(Write YOUR OWN example sentence!)
Students use SO Maps for vocab.

7. Itinerant (adjective) (page 13)
Itinerant: Traveling place to place for work
Syn: Nomadic, wandering, roaming, traveling, migratory
Ant: Settled, permanent
Forms: NONE
Example: Itinerant farmers often must go where the jobs are, which depends on the season.

8. Intention (noun) (page 13)
Intention: purpose or plan.
Syn: motive, goal, objective, aim
Ant: Accident, unintentional (adj)
Forms: Intentional (adj) intent (noun) intentions (plural noun)
Example: “Ms. Wyce, I haad every intention of turning in my Reading Log, but my little brother pooped on it so I had to throw it away,” the student said.

9. Keen (verb) (page 14)
Keen: Wailing or crying in a loud and high pitch way, usually from heartbreaking loss.
Syn: Lamanting, sobbing, weeping, bawling, mourning
Ant: Rejoicing, laughing, smiling, celebrating
Forms: Keening, keened
Example: We watched the officer walk up to our neighbor’s door, and when we heard the keening from inside we knew her son was gone.

10. Cicada (noun) (page 14)
Cicada: A large winged insect that makes a distinct vibrating sound.
Syn: Jarfly, tree cricket
Ant: NONE
Forms: Cicadas
Example: On a summer night, the cicadas could be heard throughout the parks in Japan.

11. Harpy (noun) (page 14)
Harpy: Mythological creature who was part woman, part bird
Syn: hag, nag, shrew, mean lady
Ant: NONE
Forms: Harpies
Example: As soon as the group of complaining old harpies sat down the waitress could tell they were the type to not leave a tip.

12. Audacious (adj) (page 14)
Audacious: Daring, bold and unconventional. Disposed to venture or take risks.
Syn: Adventurous, risky, dauntless, nervy
Ant: Careful, cautious, afraid, timid, weak
Forms: Audaciously (adverb) audacity (noun)
Example: Rosie the Riveter was an audacious symbol for the women’s rights movement.

13. Intrusion (noun) (page 15)
Intrusion: Act of trespass or invasion.
Syn: Invasion, imposition
Ant: NONE
Forms: Intrude (verb) intruder (noun) intruders (plural noun) intruding (verb, present tense) intruded (verb, past tense)
Example: My parents intruded into my privacy when they read my diaries.

14. Serrate (adjective)(page 16)
Serrate: Having a jagged saw-toothed edge.
Syn: jagged, notched, toothed
Ant: smooth
Forms: serrated
Example: Use a serrated knife to cut the bread.

15. Once Upon a Time: Comprehension Questions
What happens to the little boy at the end of the story?
Why did the parents put up the barbed wire?
What lesson can we learn from what happened to the family?
When and where does the story take place?
Who are the main characters?
In what way do the author’s choices about the setting and characters contribute to the fairy tale structure?
He gets tangled in the barbed wire and dies a horrible death
They were afraid that other people would hurt them or steal from them if they didn’t go to great lengths to protect themselves.
When we are overly fearful of others we may end up hurting ourselves.
The time and place are not specific, as in many fairy tales. We can infer by the clues in the story and the author’s background that it is in Africa during the time of apartheid.
A man, his wife, their little boy, their pets, their “trusted housemaid,” and their gardener. They are unnamed, just as many fairy tale characters.
In fairy tales, the setting is usually vague and the characters are described as “the handsome prince” or “the evil queen” as in fairy tales. The author also uses common fairy tale phrases such as “happily ever after,” although the ending is hardly happy. This brings an element of irony to the story.