Final answer:
Nadine Gordimer's 'Once upon a time' shares elements with a fairytale including the traditional opening phrase, archetypal characters, a moral lesson, and a blend of idyllic and horrific imagery. It follows a similar narrative structure with dramatic developments leading to a climax, and exhibits a sense of the absurd akin to exaggerations found in fairy tales.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Nadine Gordimer's 'Once upon a time', we can identify several elements that it shares with a fairytale. Initially, the story begins with the traditional opening phrase common to fairy tales, 'Once upon a time,' setting the stage for a narrative that feels both timeless and out of the ordinary, characteristic of the fairy tale genre. Additionally, like many fairy tales, the story contains a moral lesson about the dangers of excessive caution and paranoia, reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm's tales where protagonists often face dire consequences for their actions.
The fairytale-like atmosphere is also crafted through the use of archetypal characters, such as the protective parents and an innocent child, which are common in fairytales. The setting of a 'perfect' suburban environment gone wrong and the family's descent into a nightmare also mirrors the dark and often cautionary settings found in traditional fairy tales. Imagery in Gordimer's story, as well as in fairy tales, often contains stark contrasts between the idyllic and the horrific, symbolizing the underlying themes of the narrative.
Furthermore, the story's structure and plot developments often follow a pattern similar to fairy tales, with events becoming increasingly dramatic leading to a climax. The presence of fantastical or improbable elements is another hallmark of fairy tales, and while Gordimer's story remains largely realistic, the extreme measures taken by the family to protect themselves lend a sense of the absurd that is akin to the exaggerations found in fairy tales.
To conclude, Gordimer's 'Once upon a time' uses many of the traditional elements of fairy tales, such as the iconic beginning phrase, archetypal characters, moral lessons, and a blend of the idyllic with the horrific, to weave a narrative that feels both familiar and unsettling, much like the fairy tales passed down through generations.