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CH. ARUNA

LECTURER IN ENGLISH

HINDU COLLEGE

GUNTUR

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GABRIEL OKARA

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HER FACE EXPRESSES THAT SHE IS HAPPY

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ANGRY

HIS FACE EXPRESSES THAT HE IS ANGRY.

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SAD

HER FACE EXPRESSES THAT SHE IS SAD.

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AFRAID

HIS FACE EXPRESSES THAT HE IS AFRAID.

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JEALOUS

HER FACE EXPRESSES THAT SHE IS JEALOUS.

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SAD

ANGRY AFRAID

JEALOUS HAPPY

THE FEELINGS OF THE HEART IS EXPRESSED IN OUR FACE.

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LAUGH

OUR FEELINGS CAN BE EXPRESSED IN OUR WAY OF SMILING.

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Once upon a time, son,

they used to laugh with their hearts and laugh with their eyes;

but now they only laugh with their teeth, while their ice-block-cold eyes

search behind my shadow.

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There was a time indeed

they used to shake hands with their hearts; but that’s gone, son.

Now they shake hands without hearts while their left hands search

my empty pockets.

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‘Feel at home’! ‘Come again’;

they say, and when I come again and feel

at home, once, twice,

there will be no thrice—

​

​

​

​

e

for then I find doors shut on m

.

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So I have learnt many things, son.

I have learned to wear many faces like dresses—homeface, officeface, streetface, hostface,

cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles like a fixed portrait smile.

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And I have learned, too,

to laugh with only my teeth and shake hands without my heart.

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I have also learned to say, ‘Goodbye’,

when I mean ‘Good-riddance’; to say ‘Glad to meet you’,

without being glad; and to say ‘It’s been nice talking to you’, after being bored.

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But believe me, son.

I want to be what I used to be when I was like you. I want

to unlearn all these muting things.

​

Most of all, I want to relearn

​

how to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror

​

shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!

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So show me, son,

how to laugh; show me how I used to laugh and smile

once upon a time when I was like you.

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Complete the sentences by choosing correct alternative:

1) The poem begins with a conversation between ……..

​

  1. husband and wife
  2. father and son
  3. friends
  4. mother and daughter

​

2) According to the poet, the people of the modern world laugh with their

……

  1. Heart
  2. emotions
  3. teeth
  4. sorrows

​

3) The poet has learned …….

  1. to wear many faces
  2. the manners of the time
  3. to express the feelings
  4. to shake the hand

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4) The poet wants to relearn…………

​

  1. how to laugh sincerely.
  2. how to hide the real face.
  3. manners of the modern time.
  4. modern ways of greeting.

​

5) The poet compares teeth with…………

​

  1. ice blocks
  2. snake’s bare fangs
  3. portrait smile
  4. cocktail faces

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APPRECIATION QUESTIONS:

“Once upon a time, son”

  1. What do you associate with the title of the

poem?

The title of the poem is like a fairy tale.

  1. What is the relationship between the narrator and the listener?

Father and son.

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But now they only laugh with their teeth, 3.Who are “they”?

They are people of modern days.

4. Explain “laugh with their teeth”?

To fake a laugh without

emotions.

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While their ice – block – cold –eyes”:

  1. Explain “ice – block – cold – eyes”? Eyes lacking the feeling of warmth.
  2. Identify the figure of speech?

Metaphor.

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And I have learned, too, to laugh with only my teeth

and shake hands without my heart :

  1. Explain “left hands search my empty

pockets”?

Evaluating the narrator’s worth and power.

  1. How is their handshake?

Their handshake have become fake.

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for then I find doors shut on me :

at home, once, twice, there will be no thrice—

  1. What happens to the poet when he visits someone for the third time?

The doors will shut, if he visits thrice .

  1. Whom does “I” refer to?

“I” refers to the poet.

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cocktail face, with all their conforming smiles like a fixed portrait smile :

  1. How does the poet compare his face?

The poet compares his face to a portrait .

  1. Explain “cocktail face”. Find the figure of speech ?

Face shows mixed

emotions. Simile.

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how to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!:

  1. Why does the poet wants to relearn how to laugh?

The poet wants to show his real feelings.

  1. Whom does the poet want to relearn?

Find the figure of speech?

The poet wants to relearn from his son. Simile.

Most of all, I want to relearn

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So show me, son,

how to laugh; show me how I used to laugh and smile

once upon a time when I was like you.:

  1. What does the poet long for?

The poet longs for child like innocence.

  1. Mention the qualities the child in the poem symbolises?

Innocence and Ignorance.

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THANK YOU