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THE speaker in this poem reminisces about a time when people were sincere and caring in their dealings with one another; he speaks regretfully about the present time, when people are not like before. He seems to feel that people have lost the innocence and openness which he now sees in his young son; he wants to regain that innocence.
The poem starts with the well-known words "Once upon a time", suggesting that what the speaker is going to say is a fairy tale, something so far-fetched it might not even be believed. This makes us think that honesty in expressing emotion is so rare nowadays that it practically is a fairy tale.
The poet creates a contrast between "hearts" and "faces". "Hearts" suggests deep, honest emotion. Thus, when people laughed or shook hands "with their hearts", their emotions came from within. Now, however, they laugh "with their teeth", not with their eyes. It is a cliché that the eyes are the windows of the soul, but they do let us see what a person might be really feeling.
If someone laughs with their eyes, we can see their emotions. But teeth, which are hard, white, and expressionless, reveal nothing. And the people's eyes have now become "ice-block-cold", revealing no warmth. People are now dishonest (while shaking hands, they use the free hand to "search my empty pockets") and insincere, saying things they do not mean.
The speaker tells us that he has learnt to deal with this hard, insincere world by becoming just like all the other people; he too hides his real emotions and speaks words he clearly does not mean. He describes his behaviour in an interesting way, saying that he has learnt "to wear many faces / Like dresses" - like dresses, he changes his 'face', taking one off and exchanging it for something more suitable: "homeface / officeface / streetface" and so on.
We can look at these faces as a series of masks or false faces, which show no real emotion. These faces, unlike hearts, are not sincere. But they are not the faces of evil people either. They are, in fact, the 'social' faces that everyone has to put on in order to deal with all the people they are likely to encounter in their lives. Most of us do wear different 'faces' - that is, we do behave differently - depending on whether we are at home or the office or school or a party.
The speaker wants to be as innocently sincere as his young son. He wants to "unlearn all these muting things"; this suggests that he has learnt how to behave in a way which "mutes" or silences his real emotions. He wants to get rid of his false laugh which "shows only my teeth like a snake's bare fangs" - the comparison with the snake's fangs makes the false, mask-like smile seem dangerous. The speaker regrets the loss of his innocence, but hopes his son can teach him.
"Once Upon a Time" is an emotional poem about the story of a grown up man--who once was an innocent child. His adult world has lost the charm of his childhood years. The poet describes how the process of growing up transforms the innocence of childhood. After entering the adult world, the young adults will gradually forget how to "laugh with their hearts." While growing up, the cold world intimidated our main character. He used to sense
People's insincerity and their superficial laughs, because "they only laugh[ed] with their teeth,/while their ice-block-cold eyes/search[ed] behind [his] shadow" It is a vicious circle: once someone has entered the adult world, he will change--then change others. Our character will learn how to say things that he doesn't really mean: "I have also learned to say, "Goodbye,"/when I mean "Good riddance";/to say "Glad to meet you,"/without being glad; and to say "It's been/nice talking to you," after being bored" 2 Like everyone else, our main character was forced to grow up--in order to adapt to the adult world: "I have learned to wear many faces/like dresses--homeface,/officeface, streetface, hostface, cock-/tail face, with all their conforming smiles/like a fixed portrait smile" In this selfish world, our character learned how to adapt; he adapted a little too well. He now can play the adult role without any problem. However, once he became a parent, parenthood seems to have helped him to remember the innocent world of his childhood. Because of his son, he wants to re-learn how to be sincere.
His son holds the key to this old, forgotten world. What a wonderful poem! It presents in such a simple manner, such a complicated subject: the pain of growing up, and the loss of innocence.
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What is represented in the brain bat 11111 with a line underneath it with the word TIMES underneath that?
"Once Upon A Time" - "Ones up on TIME"
What has the author Rose Selarose written?
Rose Selarose has written: 'Once upon a time in the meadow' -- subject(s): Cousins, Fiction
What are the names of child actors in Once Upon a Time in America?
Idon't know, but i recommend going to www.imdb.com and looking up the movie to see the cast.
Who is Emily in the musical once upon a mattress?
Emily is a maid.
Movie about a boy and his dancing caterpillar that dances to the tune of 'Yes Sir That's My Baby'?
The move with the dancing caterpillar is "Once Upon a Time" (1944) with Cary Grant.
What is the tone and mood in the poem once upon a time by Gabriel okara?
Poetic Devices: Repetition: "Once upon a time" in the 1st and last lines Similie:"..conforming smile like a fixed potrait smile." Metaphor: "Ice-block cold eyes" Sarcasm:"feel at home!" "come again"
What does he mean by wanting to unlearn all these muting thing in once upon time by gabriel okara?
The speaker in "Once Upon a Time" by Gabriel Okara wants to unlearn the defensive behaviors that have closed him off from genuine connections with others. By "unlearning all these muting things," he is expressing a desire to break down the barriers he has built up over time and rediscover his authentic self in order to engage more openly and honestly with the world.
In 1979 was Once Upon a Time written by Gabriel Okara?
There is no information that says this is definitely factual but he did win a poetry prize from the Commonwealth in the same year so it is possible it was written in 1979 or at least written in that decade.
Is there hypocrisy in the Poem once upon a time?
Yes, there is hypocrisy in the poem "Once Upon a Time" by Nigerian writer Gabriel Okara. The poem critiques the facade of civilization and modernity adopted by the speaker, while revealing the underlying conflicts and struggles within. The speaker's desire to conform to societal expectations and abandon his authentic self reflects the theme of hypocrisy.
What are the notes and poetic devices in once upon a time?
"Once Upon a Time" by Gabriel Okara is a poem that explores the loss of innocence and authenticity as one grows older. The notes in the poem include themes like nostalgia, societal pressure, and the struggle to maintain one's true self. Poetic devices such as imagery, enjambment, and repetition are used to convey the speaker's internal conflict and the impact of societal expectations on individual identity.
What four words do most fairy tales start with?
It usually begins with "Once upon a time,".
Usual opening line of fairy tales?
the usual opening line of fairy tales is the "once upon a time"
When was Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored created?
Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored was created in 1996.
What is the duration of Once Upon a Time in Phuket?
The duration of Once Upon a Time in Shanghai is 2700.0 seconds.
When does Netflix have season 4 once upon a time?
When does once upon a timesOnce Upon a Time Season 4 come on Netflix
What is the duration of Once Upon a Time... The Americas?
The duration of Once Upon a Time in America is 4.48 hours.
What is the duration of Once Upon a Time... Man?
The duration of Once Upon a Time... Man is 1560.0 seconds.
