Final answer:
The phrase 'Once upon a time...' implies a large psychic distance, indicating a narrative voice that is detached from the action of the story and typically relates events set in a undefined past, suggesting a fairy tale or legendary context.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase “Once upon a time…” suggests a considerable amount of psychic distance between the narrator and the story being told. This phrase sets the tone for a narrative that is not bound by mundane reality, but rather one that is steeped in imagination, fairy tales, and often, a removed or historical context.
In literary terms, psychic distance refers to the perceived distance between the narrator and the events or characters of the narrative. This classic fairy tale opener indicates a narrator who is not intimately involved with the action, but is relating a story from a detached perspective, usually one that is set in an undefined past.
Furthermore, such a narrative voice might suggest a story that is universal or timeless, one that can be removed from the immediate concerns of the present and given a more legendary or mythical status. The use of this phrase often implies that the story is meant to be seen as allegorical or symbolic rather than factual.