Once upon a time.
A literary essay.
Nadine Gordimer’s Once upon a Time tackles themes of fear and paranoia, particularly in response of the segregation going on in south africa during the 20th century.


The title “Once Upon a Time” is a reference on the old introduction used ubiquitously in Grimm fairy tales. The reason for this is likely based on the introduction of the narrator and how she begins to write a tale for children. She initially rejects this idea, believing its not her duty to write a book for children, although the person asking her disagrees. Although the Grimm fairy tales were not originally suited for children over time they became more tame and directed towards children as stories that would teach them lesson invaluable to children.