Reviewing AP Inter 2nd Year English Study Material and Once Upon a Time Annotations Questions and Answers Summary can help students prepare confidently for exams.
AP Inter 2nd Year English Once Upon a Time Questions and Answers Annotations
Once Upon a Time Annotations
Contextual Questions
Question 1.
“Once upon a time, son, they used to laugh with their hearts and laugh with their eyes.”
Answer:
Reference: These lines are taken from the insightful poem ‘Once Upon a Time’ written by the Nigerian poet Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara.
Context: The poet is nostalgic about the past, specifically his childhood, when people were sincere. He tells his son that there was a time when laughter was a genuine expression of joy and emotion.
Appreciation: These lines use a warm and nostalgic tone to contrast the past with the present. The use of “hearts” and “eyes” highlights that human connection was once deep and soulful, rather than just a physical gesture.
Conclusion: This quote establishes the theme of lost sincerity, showing that honesty was a natural part of human life before the influence of the modern, artificial world.
Important Words:
- Nostalgic-Feeling a sentimental longing for the past; గత జ్ఞాపకాలను నెమరువేసుకోవడం
- Sincere – Free from pretense or deceit; నిష్కపటమైన లేదా యథార్థమైన
- Genuine – Truly what something is said to be; genuine; అసలైన లేదా నిజమైన
- Sincerity – The quality of being free from deceit; చుత్తశుద్ధి లేదా నిజాయితీ
Question 2.
“But now they only laugh with their teeth, while their ice-block- cold eyes search behind my shadow.”
Answer:
Reference: These lines are taken from the poem ‘Once Upon a Time’ written by Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara.
Context: The speaker describes how people have changed in the modern world. Instead of genuine laughter, they now offer fake smiles while secretly judging or suspicious of others.
Appreciation: The poet uses powerful metaphors like “laugh with their teeth” (fake smiles) and “ice-block-cold eyes” (lack of warmth/ emotion). It vividly portrays the hypocrisy and distance in modern social interactions.
Conclusion: These lines serve as a critique of modern society, where people hide their true intentions behind a polite but hollow mask.
Important Words:
- Suspicious – Having or showing a cautious distrust of someone or something; అనుమానాస్పద
- Hypocrisy – The practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case; కపటత్వం లేదా వేషధారణ
- Critique – A detailed analysis and assessment of something; విమర్శనాత్మక విశ్లేషణ
- Hollow – Without real significance or value; నిస్సారమైన లేదా డొల్లమైన
Question 3.
“I have learned to wear many faces like dresses-homeface, officeface, streetface, hostface, cocktailface…”
Answer:
Reference: These lines are taken from the poem ‘Once Upon a Time’ written by Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara.
Context: The father admits that he has also conformed to society’s standards. He confesses to his son that he changes his personality and expressions to fit different social situations.
Appreciation: The simile “like dresses” suggests that these “faces” are temporary, external, and artificial, meant for show rather than being part of one’s true identity. The list of “faces” emphasizes how exhausting and fake modern life can be.
Conclusion: This extract highlights the loss of individuality and the pressure to perform for others, showing how the speaker has become part of the very world he dislikes.
Important Words:
- Conformed – Complying with rules, standards, or laws; అనుగుణంగా నడుచుకోవడం
- Temporary – Lasting for only a limited period of time; తాత్కాలికమైన
- Artificial Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally; కృత్రిమమైన
- Individuality – The quality or character of a particular person that distinguishes them from others; వ్యక్తిత్వం
Question 4.
“But believe me, son. I want to be what I used to be when I was like you. I want to unlearn all these muting things.”
Answer:
Reference: These lines are taken from the poem ‘Once Upon a Time’ written by Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara.
Context: In the final part of the poem, the speaker expresses deep regret. He looks at his son’s innocence and wishes to get rid of his own fake habits to regain his lost sincerity.
Appreciation: The phrase “unlearn all these muting things” is a powerful expression of the desire to silence the artificiality of adulthood. It shows a hopeful reversal of roles where the father seeks guidance from the child.
Conclusion: The poem ends on a note of longing for truth. It reinforces the idea that the purity and honesty of childhood are the most valuable traits a human can possess.
Important Words:
- Regret – A feeling of sadness or repentance over something that has happened; పశ్చాత్తాపం లేదా విచారం
- Innocence – The state of being pure or free from guilt; అమాయకత్వం లేదా స్వచ్ఛత
- Sincerity The quality of being free from deceit; నిజాయితీ లేదా నిష్కపటత్వం
- Unlearn – To discard from one’s memory or habits; నేర్చుకున్న దానిని వదిలివేయడం
Once Upon a Time Questions and Answers
Question 1.
How does Once Upon a Time explore the theme of loss of innocence?
Answer:
Gabriel Okara explores the theme of loss of innocence by contrasting the nostalgic past with the cold reality of the modern world. The poem is framed as a father speaking to his son, where the father represents the “lost innocence” of adulthood, and the son represents the “purity” he wishes to regain. In his youth, the father lived in a world where emotions were genuine – people laughed with their hearts and shook hands with sincerity.
However, as he grew into adulthood, he was forced to “conform” to a society that values appearances over true feelings. He describes this loss as a process of learning “muting things” and “wearing many faces” like dresses. The loss of innocence is not just about growing older: it is about the corruption of the soul by social expectations. By the end of the poem, the father feels deep regret for losing his natural sincerity and looks toward his son as a teacher, hoping to “unlearn” his artificial habits and return to the honest state of his childhood.
Important Words:
- Nostalgic – Feeling a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past; గత స్మృతుల పట్ల మక్కువ / పాట జ్ఞాపకాలను నెమరువేసుకోవడం
- Purity – Freedom from adulthood corruption or contamination; innocence; స్వచ్ఛత్త / నిర్మలత్వం
- Conform – To behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards; సామజిక నిబంధనలకు అనుగుణంగా ప్రవర్తించడం
- Muting – Making something quiet or less distinct; reducing the intensity of emotions; అణచివేయడం / భావాలను తగ్గించడం
Question 2.
In what ways does the poem portray the difference between childhood sincerity and adult hypocrisy?
Answer:
The poem portrays the divide between childhood and adulthood through vivid physical metaphors. Childhood is depicted as a time of transparency and warmth. The speaker remembers when people used to “laugh with their hearts,” implying that their outward expressions were a true reflection of their inner joy. In contrast, adulthood is defined by hypocrisy and calculated behavior. Adults “laugh with their teeth,” a phrase that suggests a cold, mechanical movement of the mouth while the “ice-block-cold eyes” remain distant and suspicious.
While children like the speaker’s son are pure and honest, adults have learned to hide their true intentions. The speaker notes that while adults shake hands, they do so “without hearts,” even searching “behind the shadow” of the person they are greeting. This portrays adulthood as a performance where people care more about social masks than genuine human connection. The son serves as a mirror for the father, showing him the sincerity he once possessed but traded for the hypocritical “ways of the modern world.”
Important Words:
- Metaphors – Figures of speech that describe an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison; రూపకాలు / పోలికలు
- Transparency – The quality of being easy to perceive or detect; honesty and openness; పారదర్శకత / నిష్కపటత్వం
- Hypocrisy – The practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case; వేషధారం / కపటం
- Hypocritical – Behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case; కపటమైన / మోసపూరితమైన
Question 3.
How is pretence in human relationships presented in the poem? Give examples.
Answer:
Pretence is presented as a necessary survival tool in the modern world, where individuals must hide their true selves to fit in. Okara uses the metaphor of “faces like dresses” to show that social identities
have become as interchangeable and artificial as clothing. The speaker lists various masks such as “homeface, officeface, streetface,” and “cocktailface,” each with a “conforming smile” designed for a specific social context. This suggests that in modern relationships, people do not meet as their true selves, but as versions of themselves that are socially acceptable.
Specific examples of this pretence include shaking hands without “warmth” and saying “Good riddance” when one actually means they are glad someone is gone. Another example is saying “It’s been nice talking to you” when, in reality, the person is bored. These “muting things” illustrate how language and gestures have been stripped of their honesty. The poem concludes that these pretences create a barrier to real connection, leading the speaker to desire a return to the “natural sincerity” he sees in his son.
Important Words:
- Pretence – An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true; నటన / మిథ్యాచరణ
- Interchangeable – Able to be exchanged with each other without making any difference; ఒకదానికొకటి మార్చుకోదగిన
- Conforming – Complying with rules, standards, or laws; behave according to socially acceptable conventions; అనుగుణంగా ఉండటం / సమాజ నిబంధనలను అనుసరించడం
- Muting – Deaden, muffle, or soften the sound or intensity of something; అణచివేయడం / తీవ్రతను తగ్గించడం
Once Upon a Time Summary in English & Telugu
Once Upon a Time Summary in English
Gabriel Okara’s poem Once Upon a Time is a thoughtful and emotional poem in which the speaker talks about how people and their relationships have changed over time. The poem is written like a conversation between a father and his young son. The father remembers his childhood, when people were honest, kind, and sincere. Smiles were genuine, handshakes were warm, and people spoke truthfully.
As he grew up, the father learned how the modern world works, where people often hide their true feelings behind fake politeness and artificial smiles. He says that people now “laugh with their teeth” but not with their eyes, shake hands without real feeling, and “wear many faces” depending on the situation. In today’s world, people pretend a lot and care more about appearances than real emotions.
The poem shows how people have lost their innocence. It repeats the idea that people were honest in the past but are often fake now. It also shows how society teaches people to behave in an artificial way. The father feels regret because he realizes that he has also become part of this false world and has lost the natural honesty he once had.
In the last part of the poem, the father asks his son to teach him how to smile and laugh sincerely again. This change in roles, where the parent learns from the child, gives hope. It shows that adults can learn honesty again by looking at the purity of children.
Overall, Once Upon a Time is the father’s personal story, but it also reflects how society has changed. It reminds us that real relationships are built on honesty and that the simple values of childhood should be kept even as we grow older.
Once Upon a Time Summary in Telugu
గాబ్రియేల్ ఒకారా రాసిన “Once Upon a Time” ఒక ఆలోచనాత్మకమైన మరియు భావోద్వేగపూరితమైన కవిత. కాలక్రమేణా మనుషులు, వారి మధ్య సంబంధాలు ఎలా మారిపోయాయో కవి ఇందులో వివరించారు. ఈ కవిత ఒక తండ్రి తన చిన్నారి కొడుకుతో మాట్లాడుతున్నట్లుగా సాగుతుంది. ప్రజలు నిజాయితీగా, దయగా మరియు నిష్కపటంగా ఉన్న తన బాల్య రోజులను తండ్రి ఇందులో గుర్తు చేసుకుంటాడు. అప్పట్లో నవ్వులు నిజాయితీగా ఉండేవి, కరచాలనం (handshakes) ఆత్మీయంగా ఉండేవి మరియు ప్రజలు మనసు విప్పి మాట్లాడేవారు.
కానీ తండ్రి పెరిగి పెద్దయ్యాక, ఆధునిక ప్రపంచం ఎలా ఉంటుందో తెలుసుకున్నాడు. ఇక్కడ ప్రజలు తమ నిజమైన భావాలను నకిలీ మర్యాదలు మరియు కృత్రిమమైన నవ్వుల వెనుక దాచిపెడుతుంటారు. ఇప్పుడు ప్రజలు కేవలం “పళ్లు కనిపిపించేలా నవ్వుతున్నారు” (laugh with their teeth) తప్ప, ఆ నవ్వులో కళ్లల్లో కనిపించే మెరుపు లేదని ఆయన అంటారు. మనసులో ఏమీ లేకుండానే కరచాలనం చేస్తారని, సందర్భాన్ని బట్టి “అనేక ముఖాలు” (wear many faces) మారుస్తారని ఆయన ఆవేదన వ్యక్తం చేస్తారు. నేటి ప్రపంచంలో మనుషులు నిజమైన భావోద్వేగాల కంటే పైపై వేషధారణలకే ఎక్కువ ప్రాధాన్యత ఇస్తున్నారు.
ప్రజలు తమ అమాయకత్వాన్ని ఎలా కోల్పోయారో ఈ కవిత చూపిస్తుంది. గతంలో మనుషులు ‘నిజాయితీగా ఉండేవారని, ఇప్పుడు నటిస్తున్నారనే అంశాన్ని ఇది పదే పదే గుర్తు చేస్తుంది. సమాజం మనుషులను ఎలా కృత్రిమంగా ప్రవర్తించేలా మారుస్తుందో కూడా ఇది వివరిస్తుంది. తను కూడా ఈ అబద్ధపు లోకంలో భాగమైపోయానని, తనలో ఉండాల్సిన సహజమైన నిజాయితీని కోల్పోయానని తండ్రి పశ్చాత్తాపపడతాడు.
కవిత చివరలో, తండ్రి తన కొడుకును ఒక కోరిక కోరతాడు. మళ్ళీ హృదయపూర్వకమైన నవ్వును, నిజాయితీని తనకు నేర్పించమని అడుగుతాడు. ఇక్కడ తండ్రి కొడుకు నుండి నేర్చుకోవాలనుకోవడం అనేది ఒక ఆశను చిగురింపజేస్తుంది. పిల్లల పవిత్రతను చూసి పెద్దలు కూడా మళ్ళీ నిజాయితీని అలవర్చుకోవచ్చని ఇది చెబుతుంది.
మొత్తంగా చెప్పాలంటే, “Once Upon a Time” అనేది ఒక తండ్రి వ్యక్తిగత కథే అయినప్పటికీ, సమాజంలో వచ్చిన మార్పులను ఇది ప్రతిబింబిస్తుంది. నిజమైన సంబంధాలు నిజాయితీతోనే ఏర్పడతాయని, మనం పెద్దయ్యాక కూడా బాల్యంలోని విలువలను కాపాడుకోవాలని ఈ కవిత మనకు గుర్తు చేస్తుంది.
Glossary:
Laugh with their teeth: A fake or superficial laugh without genuine feeling.
Usage: They laugh with their teeth, but their eyes show no warmth.
Eyes blocked cold: Expressionless, distant, or unfriendly eyes.
Usage: Her eyes blocked cold, even though her smile seemed kind.
Shake hands without hearts: To greet politely without sincerity.
Usage: Politicians often shake hands without hearts just for the cameras.
Wear many faces: To act differently in different situations; to be insincere.
Usage: He wears many faces depending on who he talks to.
Conforming: Adjusting behavior to fit social expectations.
Usage: Conforming to society’s standards often kills individuality.
Mutually exclusive: Two things that cannot happen at the same time.
Usage: Honesty and hypocrisy are mutually exclusive qualities.
To unlearn: To discard habits or knowledge previously learned.
Usage: He had to unlearn arrogance to rebuild relationships.
Bitter laugh: A laugh filled with pain, sarcasm, or regret.
Usage: She gave a bitter laugh when reminded of her past mistakes.
Good riddance: An expression of relief at someone’s departure.
Usage: When the rude neighbour moved away, everyone said, “Good riddance!”