Question

Did the old woman succeed in her effort?

Hint:

In allegorical stories, look for the deeper meaning behind a character's actions. The old woman's refusal to answer is not a failure but a strategic move to teach a more important lesson.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question is from Toni Morrison's allegorical story, 'Once Upon a Time'. It requires understanding the old woman's true goal or "effort".

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The young people's "effort" was to trick the old woman with a riddle about a bird. However, the old woman's "effort" was to impart wisdom.
She succeeds by turning the question back on them. By saying, "I don't know whether the bird is dead or alive, but what I do know is that it is in your hands," she does the following:
1. Shifts Responsibility: She makes them realize that the fate of the bird (which symbolizes language, life, and culture) is their responsibility, not her puzzle to solve.
2. Teaches a Deeper Lesson: She elevates the encounter from a simple trick to a profound lesson about power, control, and the consequences of one's actions.
Thus, she succeeded in her true purpose: to educate, not to be tested.