Characters
Who is the narrator of this short story?
An unnamed narrator/writer
What does the boy symbolize?
innocence
imagination
What is irony?
when there is a difference between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs.
What country is this set in?
South Africa
What happens to the boy at the end?
He gets caught in razor wire and dies
which security measures does the family have at the beginning of the story? (pg. 13)
flood insurance
fire insurance
medical benefit
pet license
neighborhood watch
all of the above
What in the story is a symbol of the South African government?
the husband's mother/the wise old witch
What is ironic about the mother's constant worrying?
Her worry creates the very danger that kills the boy
What was the social system at the time that divided people by race?
Apartheid
Why does he crawl into the razor wire?
He imagines he's a prince rescuing a princess.
Which character advised the husband and wife "not to take anyone off the street"?
the "wise old witch, the husband's mother"
What does the wall around the house symbolize?
Division and fear
Why is it ironic that the child plays "prince rescuing princess" in the garden?
He ends up trapped instead of saving someone.
Why were the family so afraid of intruders?
Fear of riots, racial tension, and inequality
How do the parents react when they find him?
They are horrified and devasted
What is the husband's attitude toward the security measures at first?
Practical but cautious.
What does the razor wire represent?
Fear turned deadly, a trap of their own making.
What is ironic about calling this a "bedtime story"?
It ends in horror, not comfort.
What happens to the family simply because they only cared about safety?
They end up losing their child.
What theme does the ending emphasize the most?
Fear creates tragedy and self-destruction
Why does the narrator describe being asked to write a "bedtime story"?
To set up the story she tells as a fairy tale.
What in the story might symbolize paranoia and overreaction (and how useless these two things can be)?
the alarms
What makes the boy's death tragic but predictable?
The audience sees the danger of the razor wire before the boy does, but can't stop him from hurting himself
Opposed
Why is the ending important to the story?
It shows the family's fear caused the tragedy
Why is the cat important to the story?
it symbolizes love, freedom, logic
Why is the story framed as a "fairy tale" with a bedtime story opening?
To highlight irony and criticize the false sense of safety.
How does Gordimer criticize society through this story?
By showing how fear and prejudice lead to destruction.