Page 1 : Paragraph Questions:, , 1. Comment on the theme of the poem., Ans: The theme of the poem is the quest of the modern man to seek one’s true identity and the, earnest desire to express his or her feelings genuinely. Okara vehemently attacks the hypocritical, society that masquerades as a civilized society and satirizes the salutations viz. “Feel at home”,, “Goodbye”, “Glad to meet you” by commenting them to be phoney. Once upon a time, the, people were sincere and caring in their dealings. But, in the present world, the people have lost, the innocence and openness that still gleams on his young son. He wants to regain that innocence., The child in the poem is a symbol of innocence, purity, enthusiasm, happiness, and honesty that is, lacking in society. The poem does carry an undertone of cultural conflict when it[juxtaposes thp, [raditional African culture with the “civilized” western culture], , 2. [Discuss on the ending of the poem., , Ans: [The ending of the poem proclaims the superiority of the innocence over experience. Thel, persona wants to “unlearn all these muting things” that he has gained in his journey of life. H¢, ants to get rid of his false laugh which “shows only my teeth like a snake's bare fangs” b, elearning to “laugh and smile” like the child. This want to return to the beginning of the poem|, shows how the poet is desperate to not let him end this way yet it is at the end of the poem that he|, ants to return to the start. This circular structure imitates how people spend all their innocence}, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , anting to be experienced and spend all the experience trying to be innocent}, , , , 3. “Once Upon A Time” displays the pain of growing up, and the loss of innocence., Comment, , Ans: The first five stanzas revolve around innocence and discuss how people change over time., For example the phrase “their left hands search my empty pockets,” give an essence of being, paranoid as the author cannot trust the people who surround him."Laugh with their teeth", ice, block cold eyes, shake hands without hearts and so on depicts the imposturous nature of the, present day society. No man is sincere. The persona mourns over the loss of his innocence, saying, that he wants to forget all the ways which he has learnt to silence his emotions. The poet turns to, his son to regain the child-like innocence.