Comprehension Questions Once Upon a Time

Question 1: The structure of this story is very similar to a fairy tale. Discuss what elements they share and cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

Question 2: Authors sometimes use sensory language, words that appeal to reader’s senses to help express ideas. Reread lines 99-110. What words in those lines appeal to certain senses? What does the writer express about the neighborhood alarms? How does this description help the reader to understand the time and place, or society of South Africa? Cite textual evidence in your answer.

Question 3: Reread lines 152-165. What changes to the neighborhood, including the author’s description of the “prison architecture” suggest about the residents’ feelings? Support your answer with textual evidence.

Question 4: What do you learn about the author’s political point of view by reading this story? Explain your ideas using evidence from the story.

Question 5: Make a list of the links between the events within the story and the events of Apartheid in South Africa. How well do you feel this story represents the events?