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Things Fall Apart
Chinua achebe.
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Suggested Essay Topics
1. Think about the role of weather in the novel. How does it work, symbolically or otherwise, in relation to important elements of the novel such as religion? Are rain and draught significant? Explore the ways in which weather affects the emotional and spiritual realms of the novel as well as the physical world.
2. Women suffer great losses in this novel but also, in certain circumstances, hold tremendous power. What role do women play in Okonkwo’s life? Is there any difference between his interaction with specific women and his understanding of women and femininity in general?
3. Animal imagery abounds in the folktales and proverbs circulated among the clan members. What is the significance of some of the animals they discuss? What does the prominence of animal figures suggest about Igbo culture and about Achebe’s larger goals?
4. In what ways does the idea of progress shape the novel? If Unoka, Okonkwo, and Nwoye are symbolic of three successive generations, how does society in Umuofia change over the course of their lifetimes? Where does Ikemefuna fit into this picture?
5. Throughout the novel, drums, music, and the town crier’s voice punctuate the narrative at key moments. When does silence occur and what does it mean? Is there more than one type of silence? Can silence be characterized as a positive or negative occurrence? What are the implications of the fact that Unoka takes his flute with him to the Evil Forest when he dies?
Things Fall Apart SparkNotes Literature Guide
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Full book analysis summary, character list characters, okonkwo characters, themes literary devices, pride quotes, full book quiz quick quizzes, mini essays essays, take a study break.

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Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
Sample Essay Outlines
Last Updated on January 4, 2022, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 781
Discuss the significance of Things Fall Apart as a social document and a novel dramatizing traditional Igbo life and its first encounter with colonialism and Christianity at the turn of the twentieth century.
I. Thesis Statement: Things Fall Apart recreates the conflict between European and Igbo cultures at the turn of the twentieth century by focusing on the cataclysmic changes introduced by the forces of colonialism and Christianity .
II. Social and Economic Life of the Igbo A. Social structure of the Igbo B. Role of men and women C. Role of marriage and the family D. Significance of the yam
III. Traditional Politics A. Umuofia and the political structure B. Success and personal achievement C. The title-taking system D. The leadership role of elders E. The judicial role of egwugwu
IV. Colonial Changes in Economic and Political Life A. Significance of the palm-oil trade B. The colonial administration C. The District Commissioner D. The native court E. The role of court messengers
V. Traditional Igbo Religion A. Chukwu, the Supreme Creator God B. Ani, the Earth goddess C. Agbala and the Oracles D. Ritual sacrifices E. The feminine and masculine principles F. Ogbanje children G. The abandonment of twins H. The role of the ancestors I. Titles and reincarnation J. Children and reincarnation
VI. Christianity and Changes in Social and Religious Life A. The missionary factor B. The first Igbo Christians: osu , mothers of twins, unsuccessful men C. Zealots D. Conflicts with traditional beliefs E. Breakup of the Igbo clan
VII. The Author’s Recreation of History through Literary Techniques (Optional) A. Characterization of Okonkwo B. Use of proverbs C. Use of stories within the text D. Significance of the title in relationship to “The Second Coming”
VIII. Conclusion A. The use of literature to record history B. The author’s purpose and point of view
Prove that Okonkwo, a talented Igbo man who strives to succeed in the traditional world, is a microcosm of Igbo society because he is destroyed by internal and external forces.
I. Thesis Statement: Like Igbo society at the turn of the century, Okonkwo is destroyed by internal and external forces. He is inflexible and unable to balance the masculine and feminine principles of traditional Igbo life, and he resists the external forces of European imperialism and Christianity .
II. Okonkwo A. Desire to succeed B. Fear of failure C. Comparison with Unoka and Nwoye
III. Okonkwo’s Inability to Balance Feminine and Masculine Energies A. Crimes against the Earth Goddess 1. Treatment of Ojiugo during the Week of Peace 2. Treatment of Ekwefi during the New Yam Festival 3. Participation in Ikemefuna’s ritual murder 4. Accidental killing of Ezeudu’s son B. Exile 1. Superficial understanding of the concept “Mother is Supreme” 2. Determination to succeed through hard work C. Alienation of Nwoye
IV. Conflict with European Imperialism and Christianity A. Hatred of Christians B. Conflict with Reverend Smith C. Conflict with native court D. Decapitation of court messenger
V. Tensions within Igbo Society A. Title-taking system measuring success B. Ritual sacrifice C. Abandonment of twins D. Treatment of osu E. Banishment for involuntary manslaughter
VI. Impact of Christianity and European Imperialism A. Marginalized Igbos become Christian B. Native courts hold power
VII. Conclusion A. Okonkwo is destroyed by self and external forces B. Igbo society falls apart due to internal tensions and external forces C. Okonkwo is a microcosm of Igbo society at the turn of the twentieth century
Prove that Okonkwo is a tragic hero. Explain how Okonkwo encompasses the pathos of a culture undergoing cataclysmic change. How does Okonkwo’s story evoke both pity and fear? Analyze Okonkwo’s tragic flaw and subsequent downfall.
Outline I. Thesis Statement: Okonkwo achieves the stature of a tragic hero, evokes both pity and fear, and suffers a downfall because of his fear of failure, his inflexibility in living traditional Igbo life, and his inability to adapt to new ideas .
II. Heroic Stature A. Physical strength and appearance B. Personal achievements C. Success: material wealth, titles, prestige D. Leadership in the clan E. Drive to achieve immortality and take the highest titles in the land
III. Pity A. Mediocre chi B. Fear of failure C. Contrast with Unoka and Nwoye D. Inability to express love E. Inability to balance the masculine and feminine energies in Igbo life F. Accidental killing of Ezeudu’s son G. Exile in Mbanta
IV. Disapproval A. Harsh treatment of wives and children B. Ritual murder of Ikemefuna C. Alienation of Nwoye D. Anger against the Christians E. Anger against the white men F. Violent decapitation of court messenger
V. Tragic Flaw A. Inability to balance feminine and masculine energies B. Inflexibility in living traditional Igbo life C. Inability to adapt to new ideas
VI. Downfall A. Destabilization of Okonkwo and Igbo institutions by colonial powers B. Inability to unite the Igbo people against the white man C. Inability to save Igbo life and culture from falling apart D. Suicide E. Burial F. Reduction to paragraph in commissioner’s book
VII. Conclusion A. Comparison of Okonkwo to Unoka, sensitive musician B. Comparison of Okonkwo to Ezeudu, the revered elder C. Comparison of Okonkwo to Obierika, his balanced friend
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What is a good thesis statement for Things Fall Apart?
Table of Contents
- 1 What is a good thesis statement for Things Fall Apart?
- 2 What is the summary of the novel Things Fall Apart?
- 3 Why is Things Fall Apart important?
- 4 Is Things Fall Apart a true story?
- 5 How do you start an introduction for a literary essay?
- 6 Why did Chinua Achebe write Things Fall Apart?
- 7 How is Africa represented in things fall apart and heart of Darkness?
Thesis Statement: Things Fall Apart recreates the conflict between European and Igbo cultures at the turn of the twentieth century by focusing on the cataclysmic changes introduced by the forces of colonialism and Christianity.
What is the main message of Things Fall Apart?
The main idea in Things Fall Apart is that when new systems present themselves, those old systems made uncomfortable will be the first to adapt. People have a very hard time seeing it outside of the colonial narrative because we almost all conditioned to center the west were ever its present.
What is the summary of the novel Things Fall Apart?
The novel chronicles the life of Okonkwo, the leader of an Igbo community, from the events leading up to his banishment from the community for accidentally killing a clansman, through the seven years of his exile, to his return, and it addresses a particular problem of emergent Africa—the intrusion in the 1890s of …
What literary devices are used in things fall apart?
Achebe’s skillful use of literary devices like metaphor, simile, imagery, and repetition demonstrate the quality of writing. Achebe’s understanding of the “human experience” demonstrates the relevance of theme.
Why is Things Fall Apart important?
Achebe’s primary purpose of writing the novel is because he wants to educate his readers about the value of his culture as an African. Things Fall Apart provides readers with an insight of Igbo society right before the white missionaries’ invasion on their land.
How is Things Fall Apart relevant today?
But how is Things Fall Apart still relevant schoolwork material in this day and age? Because in simple terms, it is an exemplary work of literature. It is unashamed and strong in all views and provides readers, both African and others an opportunity of a complete African imaginary and history.
Is Things Fall Apart a true story?
“Things Fall Apart” is not a literal true story; it may be considered allegorical or perhaps closer to historical fiction.
Why was Things Fall Apart written?
How do you start an introduction for a literary essay?
The essay introduction provides a quick overview of where your argument is going. It should include your thesis statement and a summary of the essay’s structure. A typical structure for an introduction is to begin with a general statement about the text and author, using this to lead into your thesis statement.
How is the writing in Things Fall Apart different from other books?
The writing in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, is different than what I normally read. I think this has to do with the proverbs that are used. Achebe uses lyrical and visual language through the use of proverbs and short stories to provide a photographic view of the Ibo’s culture. “Yam, the king of […]
Why did Chinua Achebe write Things Fall Apart?
Introduction The book Things Fall Apart was written by Chinua Achebe with the aim of depicting a lower tribe in Nigeria. The book is thrilling because it narrates about the Igbo society. Chinua Achebe uses Okonkwo when giving a detailed account of the Igbo society. Okonkwo was a focused man who wanted to avoid the ]
How is Okonkwo described in Things Fall Apart?
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe begins by introducing the main character of this story, Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a strong and wealthy warrior of the Umofia clan. He was well respected because he was the ideal man of their tribe, in that he was extremely masculine and an extraordinary wrestler.
How is Africa represented in things fall apart and heart of Darkness?
Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness illustrate the various ways of representing Africa in the form of literature. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad presents Africa through the perspective of colonization by the Europeans who depict the African continent as savages, uncivilized, and underdeveloped.
Privacy Overview
10 Smart Topics for Your Things Fall Apart Analysis
Sometimes you read a book that—whether you love it or hate it—is unlike any other you’ve read before. Things Fall Apart is one of those types of books.
Written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe , Things Fall Apart shows readers a view of Africa that’s different from the white-authored colonial-type stories like Heart of Darkness .
Instead of viewing Africans as exotic or viewing Africa as a continent to be explored and conquered, this book makes the characters and the settings feel real and familiar.
But it’s precisely because this book is so different that it’s difficult to choose a topic for your Things Fall Apart analysis.
But don’t worry—there are plenty of great topics that can come out of the literature. The following are just a few. You can use them for your analysis or as inspiration to come up with your own topic.
Write About Story Structure for Your Things Fall Apart Analysis
Topic #1: compare and contrast the standard story structure with that of things fall apart.
Besides the portrayal of the characters and the settings, what makes Things Fall Apart so unique is its structure.
It’s a narrative view of the plight of Okonkwo (the protagonist). There’s no goal in mind, and the story doesn’t follow the structure we all learn early on in school—exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, moment of final suspense, and resolution.
Instead, it’s much looser in its structure, which makes it feel more sincere to many readers.
Need help with comparing and contrasting the two? Check out these Kibin blog posts for some guidance:
- How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay
- How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement
- Compare and Contrast Essay Tips from a Kibin Editor
Explore a Theme in Your Essay
Topic #2: discuss the theme of tradition versus change in the novel.
Change is what pushes any story forward. The tension it causes by disrupting the status quo allows characters to develop and allows a fuller, more nuanced story to develop. In Things Fall Apart , the tension between tradition and change is one of the major themes.
The community of Umuofia certainly has a traditional way of doing things at the beginning and through the middle of the book. Everything from leadership to gender roles, and spirituality to punishment is approached from a traditional viewpoint.
But change is imminent.
In your Things Fall Apart analysis, you can discuss how changes—such as Okonkwo’s exile, the introduction of the missionaries, and the change in leadership of the missionaries—serve to disrupt Umuofia’s traditions.
Topic #3: Describe how the theme of masculinity presents in different ways throughout the book
There are many references to masculinity throughout Things Fall Apart . Okonkwo knows that the clan did not view his father as masculine and sets out to be the exact opposite of him.
The clan views strength as a masculine quality, but Okonkwo takes it a step further—he views aggression as strength and, thus, as a masculine quality. He also sees the first converts to Christianity as unmasculine.
Topic #4: Explain how the colonial and African cultures within Things Fall Apart clash
As explained above, the missionaries are a main source of change in this book. This topic delves into the cultural differences between the missionaries (and the colonial West in general) and the Igbo culture represented in the story.
The laws—and punishments for breaking laws—are different. Their language is different. Their views of each other are different. In your essay, analyze these differences , explaining how they lead to friction.
Look for Symbols

Topic #6: Describe how fire serves as a symbol for Okonkwo’s emotions
Fire plays a major role in Things Fall Apart . It is closely tied to Okonkwo’s emotional state. Just as fire burns intensely, so too does Okonkwo’s anger. It spreads and becomes uncontrollable at times.
And just as fire consumes almost everything in its path, Okonkwo’s anger consumes him and eventually leads to his death.
Topic #7: Explain what the locusts symbolize
In Chapter 15, we get a pretty clear indication of what the locusts symbolize—Obierika mentions a comment from the Oracle that compares the locusts to the arrival of the white men.
It’s important to note that the locusts in Things Fall Apart don’t cause the mass panic that the Biblical plague of locusts does. Instead, they’re just a part of everyday life. In fact, Umuofia residents even eat the bugs, believing the bugs won’t cause any harm.
But locusts do cause harm, much like the missionaries they represent. At first viewed by Umuofia residents as just some harmless pest, the missionaries soon take over the village and destroy the Igbo culture.
Show You Know Your Characters

Topic #8: Explain what makes Okonkwo a tragic hero
A tragic hero is a protagonist who, despite some redeeming qualities, also has one or more major flaws that lead to the hero’s downfall—and that downfall is death in many cases.
Okonkwo possesses many of the traits of a tragic hero. He has hubris , or excessive pride. The story reverses the fate of Okonkwo, who was once well-respected in his community, then exiled and feared.
But most importantly, he possesses a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall—his fear of weakness. It’s the fear of weakness that leads him to kill Ikemefuna.
It’s that same fear that drives him to beat his wives and children, and to kill the British messenger. It’s this last action that ultimately leads to his suicide, but the fear of weakness behind the action is prevalent throughout the novel.
Topic #9: Compare and contrast Mr. Brown and Reverend James Smith
Both Mr. Brown and Reverend James Smith are missionaries and represent Western colonialism.
However, they each have different personalities and ways of approaching the Umuofia residents. Mr. Brown is kind, generous, and willing to learn about the culture and traditions of Umuofia.
Reverend Smith, on the other hand, is much harsher in his approach. He is completely intolerant of Igbo traditions and religion. He not only expects converts to have nothing to do with their old customs but also encourages them to be fanatical in their new beliefs.
Topic #10: Analyze the relationship between Nwoye, Ikemefuna, and Okonkwo
Nwoye doesn’t have the best relationship with his father. Nwoye wants to please Okonkwo, but doesn’t know how and receives many beatings for his failures. Ikemefuna comes along, and the two form a strong bond.
Ikemefuna teaches Nwoye how to be more traditionally masculine (without going overboard like Okonkwo), and it seems like Nwoye and his father have started to mend their relationship.
Okonkwo messes that all up by killing Ikemefuna. Nwoye mourns the loss of his friend and rebels against his father.
A Final Note on Your Things Fall Apart Analysis
Whether you go with one of the above topics or focus on other themes, symbols , imagery , or characters , make sure your literary analysis hits all the right points. Need help? Use these Kibin posts to help keep your Things Fall Apart essay on track:
- How to Write a Literary Analysis That Works
- Literary Analysis Essay Tips From a Kibin Editor
- 15 Literary Terms You Need to Know to Write Better Essays
Click To Tweet
Whatever topic you choose, it’s important to make sure you have enough support for your argument . Don’t choose the topic that sounds the most complex or the smartest.
By doing that, you’re only making more work for yourself and probably ending up with a worse essay. Instead, choose a topic that you know you can write about and one that’s narrow enough .
If you need a little inspiration for how to approach your paper, take a look at these examples:
- A Literary Analysis of Women in Things Fall Apart
- The Fall of Umuofia in Things Fall Apart
- Chi: An Important Motif in Things Fall Apart
- Character Analysis of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart
- Irony in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
When you’ve written your essay, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. The Kibin editors are here to make sure your Things Fall Apart analysis meets all the assignment requirements and is free of spelling and grammar mistakes.
Happy writing!

Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays .

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Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Essay Example
Pages: 5
Words: 1509
This Essay was written by one of our professional writers.

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I. Introduction: Thesis Statement: “Things Fall Apart” is about a struggle between change and tradition, as the protagonist Okonkwo suffers from many cultural conflicts that lead to his ultimate downfall.
II. “His Whole Life Was Dominated by Fear, the Fear of Failure and Weakness.”
- Being Seen as Effeminate.
- Becoming His Father.
- Having an Unproductive Life and Disgraceful Death.
III. “When a Man Says Yes His Chi Also Says Yes.”
- Gain Status and Respect.
- He Does Not Want to Borrow Seeds but He Does It Anyway.
- He Began His Farm Before the Townsfolk.
IV. “Okonkwo’s Chi Was No Made for Great Things.”
- Sent to Exile.
- Too Much Pride.
- Terrible Temper.
V. Okonkwo’s Family Relationships.
- He Put His Culture Before His Family.
- Mistreats His Child.
- Mistreats His Wives.
VI. Conclusion. Okonwo’s pride and fear result in his self condemnation.
In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the reader is given insight into the culture of an African tribesman and how his ideals, when confronted with cultural transition, affect his concept of identity. Things Fall Apart is about a struggle between change and tradition, as the protagonist Okonkwo suffers from many cultural conflicts that lead to his ultimate downfall.
Achebe wrote of Okonkwo, “His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness.” Three examples of this fear can be seen in his fear of being viewed as effeminate, his fear of becoming his father, and his fear of having an unproductive and disgraceful life. Ikemefuna’s death is an example of Okonkwo’s immense fear of being seen as effeminate, is an example of his fear of weakness and failure because the goal of his culture is to be perceived as masculine and to be perceived as effeminate is to be perceived as weak and fail at the core goal of his culture at the same exact time. This situation is noted in the text when the author says, “ He made him feel grown up; and they no longer spent the evenings in mother’s hut while she cooked , but know sat with Okonkwo in his obi,…”(p. 45). Despite embracing his son and trying very hard to make him sell feminine, he fails and ultimately plays a role in the boy’s execution. In many ways Okonkwo’s success can be seen as a product of his fear of weakness and failure. Another example of his fear of weakness isn’t that he was afraid of work, but rather his fear of weakness and failure in regards to his father and the desire to never be anything like him. As noted in the text, Okonkwo’s father was lazy and carefree. The man had the reputation for being “poor and his wife and children had just barely enough to eat… they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back.” (5) Okonkwo’s fear that he will become like his father is so powerful that it ultimately becomes the driving factor that makes him successful and the leading cause for his failure with his family. Okonkwo’s final fear can be attributed to his relationship with his father, but also to his relationship with his culture, as the one thing he has most come to dread is suffering from an unproductive life and a disgraceful death. These fears instilled a drive in Okonkwo and allowed him to develop skills necessary to be successful.
Three examples leading to, or reasons for, Okonkwo’s success, can be seen in his obsession with gaining status, his refusal to take handouts, and his desire to be the first to start adulthood at a young age. For Okonkwo success is based on material acquisition and growth, and his power. Okonkwo starts off working hard on a far to gain status and respect. He says, “I began to fend for myself at an age when most people still suck at their mothers’ breasts. If you give me some yam seeds I shall not fail you” (21). Okonkwo’s obsession with success, throughout the novel is becomes a major part of his character and can be attributed as a main characteristic contributing to his success. This obsession manifested itself in many materialistic ways. One example of the values that lead Okonkwo to become successful can be seen in how he does not want to borrow seeds from a wealthy many, but does any way to get an early start at harvest. His ambitions to start farming at a young age, lead him to starting adulthood at a young age, and getting a jumpstart on his life building status in his tribe before his peers. All three of these traits demonstrated by Okonkwo make it very clear why he rose to success within his tribe. Achebe does make it clear to point out that, “Okonkwo’s chi is not “made for great things,” which ultimately becomes the cause of his failure.
Three examples of reasons why Okonkwo’s actions lead to his failure can be seen in his exile, his pride, and his inability to control his temper. The fact that Okonkwo is sent into exile is an example of his ultimate failure. He is essentially sent for chopping a man’s head off, but when he is sent to exile for seven years, he is never the same again. Okonkwo’s greatest tragic flaw that leads to his downfall is his pride. Pride is ultimately the trait that leads to commit suicide. He is overbearing with his impatience and expectations of others who are not as successful as his pride causes him to feel self righteous. Okonkwo has established himself as a self-made man and it makes him impatient of others who are not of the same status. For example, when meeting with the tribe’s elders, he deliberately refers to a man as a woman and says, “This meeting is for men.” This man had no titles, and so Okonkwo felt that he was entitled to speak to the man in this manner. However, Okonkwo was forced to apologize to him. Another flaw Okonkwo has that results in failure is his temper. Okonkwo is very strict and judgmental with his son, Nwoye, for following in his footsteps. Okonkwo’s fears that Nwoye will be a failure so he allows his temper to get the best of him due to his on fear and he mistreats his son. He is also violent with his wives due to his temper and his fear of losing authority over them. He ultimately breaks the rules of Week of Peace when he beats his wife for not bringing him dinner. The combination of Okonkwo’s pride and uncontrollable temper are what lead him to the decision to commit suicide after he returns from a 7 year exile, but his flaws are also what contribute to many of the conflicts he has with his family.
Achebe wrote that Oknonkwo had conflicts or problems in his family relationships. Examples of these can be seen in Okonkwo’s family interactions. One example of the conflict Okonkwo had with his family can be seen in the fact that he allowed his son, Ikemefuna’s, to be sentenced to death and then took part in the executions despite opposing the decision, simply out of fear of appearing weak. It is an example of how he put his culture before his family. Another example that can be seen is how Okonkwo’s treats members of his family harshly due to fear. This can definitely be seen with his son Nwoye, who he views as lazy. Okonkwo perceives his own work ethic as great, admirable and powerful, while he views Nwoye as a “degenerate and effeminate” (133). The final example can be seen in how Okonkwo viewed his personal role in his family. The text notes that Okonkow believed, “No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man” (45). Okonkwo is afraid of losing control of his family and being perceived as weak by his wives, so he occasionally mistreats them to compensate for this fear. Okonkwo’s obsession goes so deep that he perceives a loss of respect within his family will result in a loss of respect in the community. The perspective Okonkwo held onto about what it means to be a man transferred over to his relationships with his children and his wives and resulted in him being disconnected from his family and a failure as a father and husband based on his own standards of respect.
In sum, the conflicts that Okonkwo faces, in the book Things Fall Apart, are partially a product of his own doing, and partially a product of cultural transition from what he knows to something new. He devotes his life to gaining status and power within a culture that is taken from him by Christina colonists. The stories centers on his personal evolution of identity within a pre-colonial society to a post-colonial one. The reader is able to interpete all of the fears, values, failures and successes that Okonkwo embodies and that ultimately result in his suicide throughout this transition.
References:
“Okonkwo’s Downfall in: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe” WriteWork.com. WriteWork.com, 26 November, 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.
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112 Things Fall Apart Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
🏆 best things fall apart topic ideas & essay examples, 💡 most interesting things fall apart topics to write about, ⭐ good research topics about things fall apart, 👍 simple & easy things fall apart essay titles, ❓ things fall apart essay questions, 💯 free things fall apart essay topic generator.
- Characteristics of Okwonko in Things Fall Apart First, when he bullies his wives and sons in the homestead, he reveals to the white man that, in Africa, a man is the head of the family. Finally, in committing suicide, Okwonko demonstrates to […]
- Things Fall Apart: Ibo Hero Analysis In addition to this, towards the end of the novel, he commits suicide due to the fact that he has no followers when it comes to dealing with the missionaries.
- The Nature of Disturbances in “Things Fall Apart” The author illustrates the disruption of peace by the arrival of white-men in the Igbo community. Nevertheless, the showing up of the white man and Christianity led to a change in this practice, the women […]
- Devotion to Traditions and Culture in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart is a literary work that represents the development of several different ideas like the importance of religion, significance of culture, and power that leads to conflicts of different types; Chinua Achebe made […]
- Things Fall Apart: Collage of Ideas and Main Themes He is not only responsible for his family and each member but he should also care about his clan and the reputation of this clan.
- Themes and Symbolism in Things Fall Apart: Symbols & Examples of Imagery Mother of the Spirits The Mother of the spirits can be viewed as personification by the clan of Umofia and the Mother of Egwugwu.
- Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and the Culture of the Igbo However, when the oracle instructs that Ikemefuna is to be killed, Okonkwo severs his head with a machete even despite the fact that he is warned by the elder that he did not need to […]
- «Things Fall Apart» by Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe Even at the helm of his success, he still remembered how he suffered when his playmate said his father was an agbala.
- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe The Umuofia society is religious as it is characterized by the worship of Chuckwu the chief the god, spirits and the ancestors.
- Comparison of Shakespeare the Tempest, T.s. Eliot the Wasteland, and Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart Magic In the opening of the play Prospero is the one who, had conjured the storm in a desire to entice his, brother Antonio and the king of Naples, Alonso.
- Social and Cultural Aspects of Pre-Colonial Africa in Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart The novel emphasize on the encounters of the pre-colonial Africa and the effect of British colonialism during the 19th century. Gender disparity is clear in this village and the crimes are identified with gender where […]
- The European Colonization of Africans in Achebe’s Book “Things Fall Apart” For the last fifty years, these critics have somehow reduced the face value of the text in the book. This forms another set of variation in the face value of the text in the book.
- Post-Colonial Theory in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe We further analyze the individuals and how their actions and activities affect the society’s social culture in relation to the post-colonial society of today.
- Belgian and British Colonial Practices in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe The first distinction is the manner in which the British used to gain control of the people of Umuofia, the village of Okonkwo’s village.
- “Things Fall Apart“ and “Midnight’s Children“: Comparison One of the main qualitative aspects of the ongoing discourse of post-colonialism, is that it often addresses the issue of what can be considered the indications of one’s endowment with the so-called ‘post-colonial’ identity.
- Identity in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe If the person loses the ability to distinguish between cultural history and his/her identity, the consequences can be rather destructive, as in the case of Okonkwo from Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”.
- Okonkwo’s Identity in “Things Fall Apart” In turn, it could be assumed that the vehement feeling of connection to the particular culture influences perceptions and identity of an individual about the place of his/her culture in the world due to the […]
- Society Role in Literature: King Lear and Things Fall Apart The difference is that the leader of the plan is much tougher physically and emotionally, and it is evident that he would not give up his values and morals.
- Literature: Things Fall Apart and The Epic of Gilgamesh The two are internally affected by the struggle between the forces longing for change and those advocating for the restoration of the status quo.
- Colonial Discourse in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe Achebe’s book centers on the life of a village ‘superstar’ by the name Okonkwo and the arrival of white missionaries at the fictional village of Umuofia.
- Novel’ Significance: “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe This is one of the details that can be identified. However, this approach can lead to disastrous effects such as the marginalization of people.
- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe – Literature Analysis This essay seeks to establish the strengths and weaknesses of the Igbo culture as portrayed in Things Fall Apart to assess the author’s success in achieving his main goal.
- “Things Fall Apart” a Book by Chinua Achebe Literature Analysis The title and the opening lines very much portray the matters that went on in the village, making it the bulk of the story.
- Chinua Achebe’ Book “Things Are Falling Apart” Chinua Achebe, an African author with his origin in Nigeria mainly focuses on the colonization of African countries and the role of women in the society in the village of Umuofia in his book Things […]
- Cultural Conquest in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe The period comprising the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century is known for the European colonization and separation of Africa.
- Writing Tools of “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe The book was written during the pre-colonial time and the author portrayed the western practices as of value to the people in the village.
- Female Submission in Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” Through this book, the reader is brought to the realization of the role that the white man played in the destruction of the bonds which existed in the African culture.
- Colonization in Chinua Achebe’s Novel “Things Fall Apart” The tribesmen did not want to give up the new trading society to fight for their independence, that I why they had accepted the confines of the white man’s rule.
- ”Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin and ”Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe The basic theme of the novel is Ibo culture which is to be changed because of the pressure on the part of the external forces. The introduction of the protagonist of the story Okonkwo is […]
- Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart: Narrative In the same vein, Joseph Conrad’s novella “Heart of Darkness,” written in 1899, is about the struggle of two civilized Europeans, Marlow and Kurtz, after they ventured in to the wouldarkness’ of uncivilized Africa,’ and […]
- Moral Complexities in Things Fall Apart by C. Achebe In spite of the fact that he was one of the greatest men in Umuofia and a leader of his community he was hence not given the burial ceremony that he deserved as an Umuofian […]
- Mirror Image: Heart of Darkness & Things Fall Apart However, Okonkwo is helpless once he finds British colonization creeping in and destroying the traditional parameters of the village and their culture as a whole along with the ramification of their religion with the invasion […]
- Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” & “Things Fall Apart” by Achebe: Comparison The work of art reflects the reality of life and hardship experienced by people: “The vision seemed to enter the house with me – the stretcher, the phantom-bearers, the wild crowd of obedient worshippers, the […]
- The Influence of “Things Fall Apart” In so doing, he renders meaning to the traditional African way of life and he also dignifies the people of the continent.
- The Western Conception of Africa in “Things Fall Apart“ by Chinua Achebe From within the context of the land and the people of it, it is demonstrated that a great culture was already in the throes of change, again reclaiming the power for the people while still […]
- “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe: Theme Study The main theme of the novel, in terms of cultural subjugation and introduction of western traditional values to replace contemporary African cultures are discussed during the course of this novel. This perhaps is the mainstay […]
- Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” Critical Review Published in 1958, the novel describes the life of a Nigerian village – Iguedo, at the advent of the white colonization in Nigeria.
- “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe: Customs and Rituals To show how powerful Chielo was Chinua Achebe says, ‘As soon as the priestess stepped into this ring of hills, her voice was not only doubled in strength but was thrown back on all sides.’ […]
- “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe: Post Colonial Theory The white men tried to spread the gospel but “the arrival of the missionaries had caused a considerable stir in the village…”..
- Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: Turning Sorrow Into Meaning In the novel, the culprit for the destruction of Okonkwo’s personality, the disintegration of the clan, which Elder Mbata speaks of in the second passage, the destruction of family ties and religion, is the person […]
- Culture in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe I also kill a cock at the shrine of Ifejioku, the god of yams” Ibo culture is shown through the world look of the Western society that is why the aspect of behavioral brutality was […]
- Colonizers vs. Ibo Society in “Things Fall Apart” by Achebe In fact, the nature of the colonialists’ influence on the Ibo people and their culture is pinpointed in the very title of the book.
- Culture and Humanity: “Things Fall Apart” and “The Gods Must Be Crazy”
- Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Harrison’s “The Black Man’s Burden”: Self-Motivation, Courage, and Sacrifice
- Marginality, Dichotomy, and Hegemony in “Things Fall Apart”
- The Relationship Between Cultural Relativity and Superiority in “Things Fall Apart”
- Self-Motivation, Courage, and Sacrifice in Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
- Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: Tension and Conflict Between Traditional and Modern Views
- Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: A View of the Impacts of Imperialism
- The Specific Gender Roles in the Village Environment in the Novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
- Imperialism and the Allegory of the Cave in “Things Fall Apart”
- The Positive and Negative Aspects of European Assimilation in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
- Big Picture, Small Picture: Context for Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
- Personal and Cultural Identity in “Things Fall Apart” and “I Lost My Talk”
- Internal Conflict Leading to the Downfall in the Ibo Culture in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
- Okonkwo, the Power Hungry Warrior in “Things Fall Apart”
- The Problems Facing the Ibo People in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
- Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: Inevitable Suffering in Tragedies
- Ways of Colonialism and Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
- British Imperialism and “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
- Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: Exploring the Ibo Culture – Spiritual and Traditional Aspects
- The European and African Narrative Techniques Used in “Things Fall Apart” and “Petals of Blood”
- “Things Fall Apart”: Cultural Changes After African Colonization
- Tragedy in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
- Things Fall Apart and African Stereotypes
- Female: The Stronger Gender in Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
- Political and Religious Threats in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
- Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: And Intercultural Communication
- Problems and Challenges for Chinua Achebe: “Things Fall Apart”
- Colonialism: Comparisons Between “Things Fall Apart” and Historical Accounts
- Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: Orientalism and Gender Roles
- Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and the Character of Nwoye
- Africa Fall Apart: “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe and Pre-modern Era Africa
- Chinua Achebe’s Novel “Things Fall Apart”: Theology and Religion
- The American Attitudes Towards the Peasants and the Lower Classes in “The Great Gatsby” and “Things Fall Apart”
- Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: Finding Unoka in the Mirror
- The African and Ibo Culture in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
- Things Fall Apart and the Influences of Family, Culture, and Society
- Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: The Culture Collision and Its Impact on Okonkwo
- Relationship Between Character and Society in “Things Fall Apart”
- Fate and Free Will in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”
- Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: A Discussion Of Women In Igbo Society
- What Are Two Themes in “Things Fall Apart”?
- What Is the Most Important Message in “Things Fall Apart”?
- How Does Achebe Depict Ibo Culture in “Things Fall Apart”?
- What Is “Things Fall Apart” Main Idea?
- What Happens in the End of “Things Fall Apart”?
- Why Is “Things Fall Apart” Historical Fiction?
- What Is the Conclusion of “Things Fall Apart”?
- Who Is the Most Important Character in “Things Fall Apart”?
- Why Achebe Chose the Title “Things Fall Apart”?
- What Are the Conflicts in “Things Fall Apart”?
- How Is Foreshadowing Used in “Things Fall Apart”?
- Is “Things Fall Apart” a True Story?
- What Is the Cave Called in “Things Fall Apart”?
- What Are Some Symbols in “Things Fall Apart”?
- What Does Okonkwo’s Suicide Symbolize in “Things Fall Apart”?
- Why Is “Things Fall Apart” Important in African Literature?
- What Are Cowries in “Things Fall Apart”?
- Why Is Okonkwo Important in “Things Fall Apart”?
- What Is the Story “Things Fall Apart” About?
- What Is the Historical Background of “Things Fall Apart”?
- Who Is the Narrator in “Things Fall Apart”?
- How the Tribe Changes in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe?
- Who Is the Antagonist in “Things Fall Apart”?
- What Are the Moral Lessons in “Things Fall Apart”?
- How Is Colonialism Shown in “Things Fall Apart”?
- What Are Two Major Conflicts in “Things Fall Apart”?
- How Is “Things Fall Apart” a Tragedy?
- What Does the Last Paragraph of “Things Fall Apart” Mean?
- What Does the Tortoise Symbolize in “Things Fall Apart”?
- Who Is the Hero in “Things Fall Apart”?
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Things Fall Apart Essays
Things fall apart masculinity.
Masculinity has a huge impact on the lives of the Ibo tribe. For instance, Ibo tribes in Africa highly support male masculinity and dominance. From a young age the individuals of the Ibo tribe are molded to understand the concept of male superiority. For anyone who digresses away from this idea, is thought of as weak by the community. In Things Fall Apart, the protagonist’s life, Okonkwo, is derived from his obsession with masculinity and his fear of failure and […]
White Missionaries and the Igbo People
In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the author brings white missionaries into the Igbo people’s land. These missionaries have caused the Igbo people to convert into a new religion and a new government. Therefore Chinua Achebe uses the missionaries to convey the theme that the legacy of colonialism leads to a shattered community. Even though the Igbo people had tried to resist the missionaries’ beliefs, they underestimated the missionaries’ power. This book was published in 1958 and […]
Gender Roles in Things Fall Apart
The role of women has always been surrounded by controversy, some people believe women should get married, have children and take care of the household. Others believe women should have the choice between working a nine to five job, being a stay at home mom or both. Things Fall Apart was written by African writer Chinua Achebe in 1959, it came from the stories that Achebe’s mother used to tell him about the Igbo people. Things Fall Apart tells the […]
Comparative Study on Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness illustrate the various ways of representing Africa in the form of literature. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad presents Africa through the perspective of colonization by the Europeans who depict the African continent as savages, uncivilized, and underdeveloped. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, on the other hand, tend to respond to Conrad’s perception of Africa by portraying the native Africans as focused, cultured, and productive. Through Okonkwo, Achebe depicts Africans as proud […]
Okonkwo is the Legend of the Novel Things Fall Apart
Things fall apart is a disaster novel formed by Chinua Achebe. Okonkwo, who is the legend of the novel and a champion among the most powerful men in the Ibo tribe routinely falls back on violence to make his centers appreciated. Down in his heart, Okonkwo is genuinely not a savage man, anyway his life is directed by his inside conflict, the fear of dissatisfaction and of inadequacy. Okonkwo made it a point in his life to isolate himself from […]
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About Westernization in “Things Fall Apart”
Things Fall Apart”Things Fall Apart” a book written by Chinua Achebe is set in Nigeria in the 1890’s and portrays the clash between Nigeria’s white colonial government and the traditional culture of the native Igbo people. Many of the characters in this book clearly conveyed the effects of westernization at this time. In “Things Fall Apart” Nwoye, Okonkwo’s son, was positively impacted by the western culture collision by breaking away from his father and his culture to pursue his dreams. […]
Complex Culture in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe the author teaches us how the Ibo and the British are both uncivilized in their own ways. The Ibo being uncivilized in their technology. While the British are uncivilized in their world view and the way they treat other people. The text states He had and old rusty gun made by a clever blacksmith who came to live in Umofia long ago pg.38. This shows how technologically primitive the people of Umofia are. […]
Imperialism in “Heart of Darkness” and “Things Fall Apart”
Throughout the novels, Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart, both illustrate the complexity and the morality surrounding imperialism, which struck the continent of Africa in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. By comparing and contrasting the two different perspectives on the effects of imperialism shown in Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart, the authors’ messages correspond to the overarching message of the evils of imperialism, yet the little action that could be done to end it. In […]
Colonism in Things Fall Apart
Nigerian author named, Chinua Achebe, authored a novel which was entitled as Things Fall Apart,’ which was published in the year 1958. The novel was an attempt by the author to present the true image of the African society, through the literature, which has always been depicted as an uncivilized and backward society in the literature of the foreign languages. The author included the story, as well as the transition of a Nigerian tribe from the traditional society to the […]
About Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Introduction The book Things Fall Apart was written by Chinua Achebe with the aim of depicting a lower tribe in Nigeria. The book is thrilling because it narrates about the Igbo society. Chinua Achebe uses Okonkwo when giving a detailed account of the Igbo society. Okonkwo was a focused man who wanted to avoid the mistakes of his father. Unlike his father who spent all his life accumulating debts, Okonkwo was a focused man who aimed at improving his life. […]
Colonialism and its Aftermath: Changing Realities
Surfacing in readings of twentieth-century British literature is the theme of colonialism and its aftermath, which provides texts for analysis of historical viewpoints. Literary theorists respond to the subject of colonialism and its aftermath in twentieth-century British literature where observations and analysis are found in the writings of Edward Said, Homi Bhabha, and others.Their texts define relations between the colonizers and the colonized, demonstrating aspects of colonialism and its aftermath. In a reading of twentieth-century British literature a return to […]
Collision in Conrad’s and Achebe’s Novels
In Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart, Joseph Conrad and Chinua Achebe employ characters caught between colliding cultures which can be seen through the use of literary techniques such as symbolism and imagery, ultimately revealing the theme of culture and traditions. The authors Joseph Conrad and Chinua Achebe have main characters that live in different continents, but experience similar cultural collisions. Although Marlow and Okonkwo have different lifestyles, they are led to question their identities and make decisions that […]
Novels Kanthapura and Things Fall Apart
Raja Rao and Chinua Achebe through the depiction of the respective philosophies in their novels Kanthapura and Things Fall Apart brings out the perception of social, cultural and traditional aspects of Nigerian village Umuofia and Indian village of Kanthapura. Moreover, both the authors through these philosophies put light on the issue of colonization which the African natives and Indian natives suffered at the hands of white missionaries and Britishers. Rao who was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, paid respect […]
Heart of Darkness & Things Fall Apart
Authors write to tell stories to the reader, but they also write to communicate personal opinions and ideas to show the reader. Readers are able to be bias with their own personal beliefs that they have in common with the novel, usually with their own race or religion. Throughout the novel, Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad expresses his opinions through the main characters Marlow and Mr. Kurtz with their attitudes and actions. By the same way, Chinua Achebe displays his […]
The European as a Savior of Native Africans
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness remains as one of the greatest works in English literature. The novel has received many reviews since it was published with some praising it while others are criticizing. One of the critical reviews was written by Chinua Achebe in his book Things Fall Apart. Achebe argued that Conrad is a racist after depicting the African culture negatively. The author of the Heart of Darkness stresses that the western religion is better in civilizing the Africans […]
Okonkwo from “Things Fall Apart”
Things Fall Apart is a story of a man named Okonkwo who is from the village of Umofia. He was a hardworking man but despite all the hard work he didn’t achieved much in life. His father was a laid back man who was nothing for good and Okonkwo was opposed of his father way of living. He had three wives and was also one among the egwugwu which is considered as the masked spirit of the descendants. He was […]
Fight for Equality between Men and Women
The fight for equality between men and women has been an ongoing battle for years. While many opt to turn a blind eye and believe there is equality, there are so many situations not only nationally, but globally that prove otherwise. While respect towards women has grown, there is still a lot of tension fueled by the male perception of what a “women’s role” is in society. In today’s society, women are not strongly represented in executive roles, experience significant […]
Colonialism Depicted in Things Fall Apart
Postcolonialism is the scholarly investigation of the social heritage of expansionism and dominion, concentrating on the human outcomes of the control and abuse of colonized individuals and their territories. Postcolonialism is a basic hypothesis examination of the history, culture, writing, and talk of European royal force. The name postcolonialism is demonstrated on postmodernism, with which it shares certain ideas and techniques, and might be thought of as a response to or takeoff from expansionism similarly postmodernism is a response to […]
Things Fall Apart Tragic Hero
A classical tragedy is meant to evoke emotions on the reader and make them sympathize for the tragic hero and recognize their humanity. Tragedies are characterized by the tragic hero overcoming obstacles only to inevitably reach their downfall. The hero’s fatal or tragic flaw is accountable for the hero’s demise. The hero can be viewed as a man who is a leader but who is also weak when it comes down to difficult situations. In Chinua Achebe’s Novel, Things Fall […]
Things Fall Apart Analysis
Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Chinua Achebe that shows the conflicts in Nigeria during the nineteenth century. During this time, missionaries from Great Britain arrived in Nigeria. In this novel, the main character, Okonkwo, resists changes brought about by the British missionaries. Okonkwo’s close friend, Obierika, shares the same dislike towards the change, but isn’t as willing to fight them. Instead, Obierika, along with the tribe, is forced to accept the changes to their culture. Their attitude […]
Culture in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
Just imagine, something or someone that annoys you the most and you were stuck with that thing or person for the rest of your life. That type of situation occurred in the book, Things Fall Apart and the poem “Beat! Beat! Drums!” Things Fall Apart was written by Chinua Achebe and the story sets around the life of Okonkwo, a prominent man living in the village of Umoufia. Then, all of a sudden, newcomers arrive into town that changes the […]

Justice in Things Fall Apart
Throughout the whole story, Okonkwo’s life was dominated by “the fear of failure and of weakness” (Achebe, 13). He tried so hard to become better than his father and raise his standings in the village. Spending his whole life doing this, Okonkwo could not let change occur because change meant things would no longer be the same, and all his respect he gained in his village would go to waste. So when the white men came and started disrupting the […]
The Fall of National Identity in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
The protagonist in “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, is Okonkwo he is a man who grew up with little to nothing in his pocket, nothing to inherit but, he made a name for himself. He was the first person to beat the fiercest wrestler in the village, “Amalinze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten, from Umofia to Mbaino.”(Pg.1) Okonkwo was very strong and helpful to his village, but he was very mean […]
Author’s Style in Things Fall Apart and Lord of the Flies
The writing in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, is different than what I normally read. I think this has to do with the proverbs that are used. Achebe uses lyrical and visual language through the use of proverbs and short stories to provide a photographic view of the Ibo’s culture. “Yam, the king of crops, was a very exacting king. For three or four moons it demanded hard work and constant attention from the cock-crow till the chickens went […]
Become Gendered in “Things Fall Apart”
The book Things Fall Apart is a fiction novel written by Chinua Achebe in 1958. The story documented the pre- and post-colonial life in Nigeria between the characters like Okonkwo, Nwoye, Ezinma and etc including their internal feeling, before and after the arrival of the colonist. In the story, Achebe revealed many traditions of the Igbo culture such as how the gender roles between men and women are very prominent in this culture. In fact, their lives were gendered because […]
Religion and Ideology in Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe begins by introducing the main character of this story, Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a strong and wealthy warrior of the Umofia clan. He was well respected because he was the ideal man of their tribe, in that he was extremely masculine and an extraordinary wrestler. However, he was ignorant when it came to verbal communication. Achebe states, “He was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a severe look…He had […]
A Cultural Note on Okonkwo’s Suicide in Things Fall Apart
In the novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is willing to break the prohibition against suicide because he lost all hope when he realizes Umuofia will not support going to war with the missionaries. The statement that Okonkwo is making by committing suicide in the manner that he does is that he’d rather die on his own terms than being ruled by white men and submitting to their culture. One of the themes of Things Fall Apart is change. In the […]
Masculinity in Societies in Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold explore the theme of violent masculinity through the actions of major characters such as Okonkwo and the Vicario twins. Achebe’s Okonkwo displays his masculinity by obtaining titles and accomplishments and hiding his emotions. Marquez’s Vicario twins validate their masculinity by murdering the man responsible for dishonoring their sister. While both authors make violent masculinity a core component of their characterization of Okonkwo and the Vicario twins […]
Things Fall Apart Dehumanization by Matthew Register
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Extremes in Literature and Real Life: why Moderation is a Good Idea
The key to a healthy lifestyle is to enjoy things in moderation because an abundance of anything could be detrimental to one’s health. This applies to everything in life, from french fries to philosophy. As the popular idiom goes, you can have too much of a good thing, and this is illustrated in Pangloss and Candide’s optimism in Candide, Okonkwo’s drive-in Things Fall Apart, and modern Islamic extremism. Optimism is generally thought of as a good character trait, as it […]
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Essay About Things Fall Apart ‘Things Fall Apart’ is a very well-written novel written by Chinua Achebe which took place during the nineteenth century. The setting of the story was Igboland. Throughout this essay, I am going to explain how the protagonist had a life before his world “falls apart” (hence the title), how the outside forces change his life, how he responds to the situation. I will also include how the poem “The Second Coming’ by William Butler Yeats sets the tone and inspiration for the novel Things Fall Apart. The story begins with Okonkwo, who at a very young age, strived to be perfect which is contrary to his father. His father was lazy, to say the least. He built his home and reputation as a hardworking farmer and wrestler. His hard work paid off as he became wealthy. He had a natural son, Nwoye, and an adoptive son, Ikemefuna, who he loved more than his real son. Things changed when he has to kill his adoptive son as to what his tribe has decided. Okonkwo showed no emotion as he wants to be seen as the image of masculinity although inside, he was guilty, hurt, and regretful. During the funeral, he accidentally shot and killed a boy which caused him to be exiled in Mbanta, his mother’s homeland. During his stay in Manta, news came to him that the White Missionaries has arrived in his tribe. These White Missionaries bring Christianity with them and has convinced a lot of Igbo people to be converted to Christianity. Just when Okonkwo was allowed to go back home, his son converted to Christianity which made him disown his own son. The Igbo people tried to make peace with the missionaries but the latter captured the leaders of the Igbo people and was only freed when the Igbo people had enough ransom money with them. They wanted revenge, thus they held a war council. But in the midst of the council, the missionaries’ court messenger arrived and ordered them to stop the meeting. It dawned to Okonkwo that they can never go against the white, and as proud as himself, he hung himself to death. Things Fall Apart is a story of a culture on the verge of change. It talks about how the different characters have responded to the call of change. More often than not, the strain of whether the change is more important than tradition entails personal status questions. For example, Okonkwo is against the new religious and political order. This is because he believed that accepting the new religious and political order means that they are not man enough. In addition, this is also due to his fear that he might lose his social status once he accepts and joins them. For him, his self-worth depends on the traditional standards of society. But these traditional standards of self-evaluation has caused a lot of outcasts to embrace Christianity where they enjoyed a higher status. Generally speaking, the villagers are in between choosing or resisting change. They are wrapped with fear as to what these changes will bring them and how will they adapt to such changes in as much as they are also excited with the new opportunities and techniques that come with it. However, the White Missionaries wanted to eliminate the need to master the traditional ways of cooking, farming, harvesting, and building which were crucial for survival to the Igbo people. In the entire novel, Achebe showed how these traditions are slowly being changed and forgotten. The novel does not have a direct antagonist, but the entire world seems to be against Okonkwo. His own family can’t live up with his expectation and his fellow villagers did the same by embracing change rather than protecting and preserving their culture and tradition. In addition to the internal antagonists found inside their village, the presence of the Europeans is also considered as an external antagonist. The novel is also symbolic. The two symbols that were used in the story is fire and locusts. The fire symbolizes Okonkwo’s personality – fierce and destructive. On the other hand, the locusts symbolize the white colonials whom the Igbos thought are good but actually have a different intention. It is worth noting that Things Fall Apart’ is written in English. This is because Achebe wanted the people of the West to read and understand it. He wanted to critique and amend what other writers of the colonial period have painted about the image of Africa. In order to achieve his goal, the need to use the language of these colonials is necessary. Geography plays a pivotal role in the novel as time does. The novel dates back in the 1890s, the time when the British colonials have reached Igboland. The story happened just when British imperialism started in the region, which started not with guns but with Bibles.
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Essay Service Examples Literature Things Fall Apart
Igbo Society In Things Fall Apart
- Topics: Things Fall Apart
- Words: 2796
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Things Fall Apart focuses and analyses Igbo society as shown in the novel, before and after arrival of missionaries to Umuofia, which led to clash of cultures. It also incorporates critical theory to analyze the novel. It is based on post-colonial criticism, as it is relevant to Achebe’s writings in Things Fall Apart. For example, post-colonial criticism chiefly deals with literature critiques from countries subjected to colonial rule. As Achebe hailed from Nigeria, a colony of Britain, some elements of writings in the story are influenced by this such as style.
The different features of identity represented by the views of Okonkwo, a main character in the novel, about what it is to be a man and to be an African. When the colonizing forces of white Christians invade the village, he considers this a threat to his people’s and his own way of life and to their identity of being Africans. The English also bring a new language, religion and forms of governments, which is a threat to their pre-existing culture which Okonkwo and others in the village resist the change finally became accustomed to, as they mostly saw these changes as a threat to their identity that makes them what they are as Africans. (Achebe, 2014) states, “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” The character of Okonkwo in the novel, Things Fall Apart is presented as honorable and determined person whose major flaws catch up with him. Okonkwo was infatuated with the notions of attaining same characters as his father. This is the major flaw of Okonkwo, which gets him exiled and makes it difficult for him to accept the changes taking place in the village. In many ways, Okonkwo is shown as a respectable individual and thus was famous person in the village and surrounding villages. His successes were due to his personal achievements (Jeyifo, 1993). The current paper explores the character of Okonkwo considering his cultural perspectives.
We can learn from statements of Achebe that his main theme was about Igbo society’s complexity prior to arrival of Europeans. Descriptions of justice system and trial procedures, family and social customs, marriage rituals and processes of food preparations, shared leadership in the community, religious practices and opportunities available to all to succeed in the clan by one’s own efforts (Ikuenobe, 2006).
Critical Analysis Demonstrating the interpretation
Things Fall Apart deals collapse, chaos and confusion of Igbo culture, which suffered at white man’s entry in Umuofia, bringing their religion. The views of white men and that of Igbo about life are very different. The things which are deemed to be acceptable in Igbo culture are not so to white missionaries. They wanted to change some such elements in Igbo culture that they found unacceptable and inappropriate. While doing so, they failed to see that these elements of Igbo culture had kept the Igbo together and live peacefully with one another.
For example, it was held in Igbo culture that a “real” man would have two or more wives. “The world is large, I have even heard that in some tribes a man’s children belong to his wife and her family” (Achebe, 2014). This quote illustrates that women in the clan have also accepted this tradition and sometimes, the first wife may even ask his man to get younger wife. The younger ones are required to respect the older wives. The women live peacefully with their husband and help one another in doing household chores and taking care of children. The white missionaries oppose polygamous marriages as such act is forbidden for Christians in New Testament. Much of writings in Things Fall Apart feature the explanation of Igbo myths and proverbs unacceptable to the Europeans. Achebe shrewdly uses the characters by speaking proverbs in conversations. Using proverbs in conversations is important to Igbo, as they think that it shows wisdom and respect.
From the beginning of the novel, Achebe introduces importance of proverbs in Igbo conversation. When Unuoka is met by Okoye to settle the debt, Okoye does not show anger, though Unuoka was late in payment. Instead, the neighbors offer kola nut, thank the ancestors and then discuss debt with reference to proverbs. This creates goof relations though while discussing such issue capable of creating conflicts. Achebe’s novel is different from other colonial novels is that in this novel Igbo society is thoroughly examined including undesirable aspects of Igbo culture. Achebe also predicts the culture’s future and where it leads if white missionaries take control of Umuofia.
By using English language, Achebe successfully details life of Okonkwo, who is shown in the beginning as a famous young person among nine villages in Umuofia. “Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness” (Achebe, 2014). This shows the deeper details of Okonkwo illustrated by Achebe. As the novel develops and after arrival of white missionaries in Umuofia, with their institutions and government, Okonkwo tries to oppose the changed and is buried in the end with no dignity or respect and his fame is forgotten soon as taking one’s own life is considered greatest sin in Igbo culture.
Clash of Cultures
In contrast to theme of cultural complexity of Igbo, his theme focused on clash of the cultures. This occurs both at community and individual levels and there is cultural misunderstanding on both sides similar to views of Reverend Smith on Africans as “heathens” and criticism of Christians as “foolish”. According to Achebe, the West about Africans should realign misperceptions of Africans about Europeans and themselves the same ways as about misperceptions. Presenting the view of an African who is “Europeanized”, Things Fall Apart is an act of atonement and homage to the culture by its prodigal son. Setting an example, he encouraged others, especially those having Western education to understand that they may be misrepresenting their culture (Osei-Nyame, 1999).
One of the factors that hastened the decline of Igbo society was their tradition of marginalizing some members of their clan, and creating the existence of an outcast group, and making their women subordinated in the households and in community involvement and considering them as their property and acceptance of their physical abuse as normal. When some representatives of foreign culture, starting with Christian missionaries, enter the territory of Igbo clan, and accepted such marginalized groups, including twins, by giving them full human value, the shared traditional leadership of Igbo found itself not able to control the whole population. The absence of a clear and sustaining central authority in the Igbo community may be a quality that Achebe referred to for his title from the poem by Yeats, “The Second Coming”. The recurring phrase in the poem is Things Fall Apart, the center cannot hold” (Quayson, 1994).
These cultural themes have an underlying theme of destiny or fate. The theme plays out both at the societal and individual levels and the readers are often reminded about the theme while referring to Chi, the personal god of the individual and his ultimate destiny and capability. At his best, Okonkwo believes that his chi to achieve his ambitions supports him by stating “When a man says yes, the Chi also says yes”. Okonkwo at his worst thinks that his chi has not supported him and that his Chi was not destined to achieve great things. For, a man cannot rise over the destiny of his Chi. He thought that his chi said No, in spite of his affirmation. At the level of society, the lack of Igbos to have a unifying image and central authority and their weaknesses shown in the treatment of few of their own members, which are previously discussed, show the unavoidable fate of being victim of the colonization by the powers greedy to exploit the resources (Rhoads, 1993).
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An attentive reader may be able to identify yet other theme apart from the three themes in the novel that are of universal nature, human motives and emotions. Besides these three themes discussed, a through reader will also be able to recognize other themes such as emotions across different cultures and eras and the need to balance between the needs of the individuals and community.
Languages as Sign of Cultural Difference.
In Things Fall Apart, language is a recurring important theme on different levels. While showing the imaginative and formal language of Igbo, the writer emphasized that Africa is not incomprehensible continent as portrayed in “Heart of Darkness”. In fact, he laces the language with Igbo language, which is very complex to present direct English translation. Likewise, it is not possible to understand Igbo culture in European framework of colonial thinking. Achebe also shows that there are several languages in Africa; for example, Umuofia’s villagers make fun of translator of Mr. Brown, as their language is somewhat different from their own (Jeyifo, 1993).
The stresses regarding whether the change should predominate over the tradition usually involves the question of individual status. For example, Okonkwo resists new religious and political order as he feels that they are not considered manly and he will not be considered manly if he joins them or even if he tolerates them. To an extent, the resistance to cultural change by Okonkwo is due to his own fear that he may lose societal status. His sense of self-value depends on the conventional standards over which the society judges him (Whittaker & Msiska, 2007). The system to evaluate the self has inspired many of outcasts of the clan to accept Christianity. They were long scorned, and thus they found in the Christian system, a refuge from Igbo culture which placed them below others. In the new community, these converted enjoyed a more honored status.
The villagers face the dilemma of choosing resistance or embracing the change and have to find how best to adapt to the change. Many are excited about new techniques and opportunities offered by the missionaries. This influence can end the need to master traditional ways of farming, building and cooking. They were crucial for survival once and now are dispensable to some degree. Achebe shows how traditions depend on language and storytelling, which are now eradicated by abandonment of Igbo language in favor of English language. Another related theme in cultural clash is regarding the rigidity or flexibility of characters (both of Igbo and British) define their destiny (Rhoads, 1993). Due to inflexible character of Okonkwo, it appears that he was destined for his own self-destruction, much before arrival of colonizers from Europe. Their arrival simply hastened his tragic fate.
In Things Fall Apart, language is an important theme. By showing the formal and imaginative language of Igbo, the author points out that Africa is not incomprehensible as made out by books like Heart of Darkness. By filling the book with Igbo words, he shows that the language is highly complex to be translated. In addition, that Igbo culture may not be understood on platform of colonial values. He shows Africa has many languages: Umuofia villagers make fun of translators of Mr. Brown, as their language is different (Osei-Nyame, 1999).
For Achebe to write Things Fall Apart in English is very significant as he wanted it to be read by Westerners as much as Nigerians. He wanted to analyze the portrayal of Africa, which was painted by many writers during colonial period that he felt required to be interpreted in the English language. By including folktales, proverbs and songs of Igbo language, he managed to convey the structure, rhythm and beauty of Igbo language.
Discussion. Fall of the Igbo culture and that of Okonkwo is not to be attributed to the strong belief system rooted in their culture. The book explores the imperfections in the Igbo culture and the strengths. Achebe depicts the imperfections that contribute to their culture’s destruction. However, the main reason is due to their reluctance and inability to learn English as they felt that they would never use the language in everyday lives. As the missionaries, because of advancement in education and modern life, were stronger than Igbo, they exerted stronger influence and had power to control Igbos and their land. They showed hostile approach for taking over Igbo lands by use of their influence in spreading the gospel and abolished the traditional routines and beliefs of Igbo. In this way, missionaries were superior to Igbo as explained by the writer.
The white missionaries viewed Igbo as uncivilized who needed their help desperately. Though their motive of the white missionaries to Umuofia was to establish their rule over the people, they must have also seen as a method of cultural exchange between these two cultures, as both missionaries and Igbo had never known each other’s culture until now.The analysis illustrates that cultural exchange might have benefitted the Igbo people more as they did not shown any interest in knowing about the world that existed outside of Umuofia. If the white missionaries had not at all arrived to their land, they would be completely ignorant about existence of civilizations elsewhere. Without a doubt, the white missionaries assumed themselves superior to the Igbo and because of this; some of the converts to Christianity were to the messengers of missionaries. It was the perception of the white people that the Igbo were a burden, as they were required to take their care by educating and informing Igbo of the things, which they had no knowledge of.
As the white men believed that their culture was morally superior to that of Igbo, this caused conflict between these two cultures. Though these problems appear to be resolved in the current period, they still exist and are cause for clash between these two cultures. It is very important to understand the benefits and the challenges resulting from European colonialism on the Igbo society. Igbo society had highly benefitted from the schools and education in the society, which reduced the illiteracy rate in the village. Due to this development, most Igbos is educated today, has expanded the knowledge, and become more enlightened. The Europeans taught their culture also to Igbo, though they found it to be a challenge to make the transition from their culture to that of strangers, yet they could learn some new aspects from it.
Things Fall Apart focuses and analyses Igbo society as shown in the novel, before and after arrival of missionaries to Umuofia, which led to clash of cultures. It also incorporates critical theory to analyze the novel. It is based on post-colonial criticism, as it is relevant to Achebe’s writings in Things Fall Apart. Post-colonial criticism dealt with literature critiques from countries subjected to colonial rule. As Achebe hailed from Nigeria, a colony of Britain, some elements of writings in the story are influenced by this such as style. The message given by the British was that their own society was much superior and the conversion of locals should not only be from their religion but in the entire way of life that was intermingled with it. This resulted in their endeavor to change every aspect about Igbo culture. By the adaption of the English culture and their religion, many aspects of Igbo culture were sacrificed by their discarding their cultural heritage and division between the clansmen who adapted to new culture and those continued with the traditional ways (Jeyifo, 1993). Firsthand experience of Achebe of such attack on his identity as presented with the character Okonkwo, showed the inability to adapt to the new environment. The aim of white missionaries for coming to Umuofia was to rule over it and as Igbo people were compassionate, and thus were unsuspecting of their intentions they welcomed white missionaries to their land and gave their land with no idea that these people will become cause for their culture to collapse. In the absence of culture, the Igbo society is coming to an end which depicts the significance of Okonkwo falling apart that led to his suicide.
- Achebe, C. (2014). Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe. New York, NY: Spark Publishing.
- Ikuenobe, P. (2006). The Idea of Personhood in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Philosophia Africana, 9(2), 117–131. doi: 10.5840/philafricana2006924
- Jeyifo, B. (1993). Okonkwo and His Mother: Things Fall Apart and Issues of Gender in the Constitution of African Postcolonial Discourse. Callaloo, 16(4), 847. doi: 10.2307/2932213
- Osei-Nyame, G. K. (1999). Chinua Achebe Writing Culture: Representations of Gender and Tradition in Things Fall Apart. Research in African Literatures, 30(2), 148–164. doi: 10.1353/ral.2005.0076
- Rhoads, D. A. (1993). Culture in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart. African Studies Review, 36(2), 61. doi: 10.2307/524733
- Whittaker, D. (2007). Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart. doi: 10.4324/9780203496404
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The Importance of Adapting to Changes in "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe
- Subject: Life , Literature
- Category: Writers , Books
- Essay Topic: Change , Chinua Achebe , Things Fall Apart
- Published: 18 October 2018
- Downloads: 134
Adapting to Change
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Things Fall Apart
- Things Fall Apart Gender Roles and Toxic Masculinity Thesis

Things Fall Apart: Gender Roles And Toxic Masculinity Thesis

Excerpt from Thesis :
In the midst of his failures, the father is given the term “agbala”: “That is how Okonkwo first came to know that agbala was not only another name for a woman, it could also mean a man who had taken no title” (Achebe, 1996 p. 10). This quote showcases a very revelatory aspect of the society and their perspective upon the worth and value of a woman. A man who has no title is one who has made a minimal financial contribution and essentially has the flimsy value of a woman to society. This piece of evidence serves yet again to demonstrate how the dysfunctional treatment of women within this society is only helping to sow the seeds of their own destruction and the ultimate weakness and demise of the village. Furthermore, the fact that the society Okonkwo is a member of, so readily demeans his father only helps to create an obsession within the protagonist to become a champion of masculinity, something that ultimately turns toxic (Osei-Nyame, 1999). “Okonkwo’s masculinity becomes a defensive resource and his adherence to a masculine philosophy will thenceforth order his world . In articulating his identity and justifying his actions, he cultivates his masculinity as a defense of personal honor in the face of potentially overwhelming circumstances in an antagonistic universe” (Osei-Nyame, 1999, p.10). And the universe of this village is indeed antagonistic: by constructing such severe gender roles and societal boundaries between genders, the village ensures there is subjugation, fear and tension. Femininity becomes feared and reviled as masculinity becomes a shield to defend oneself with (Osei-Nyame, 1999). Okonkwo’s preoccupation with all things masculine is consistently manifested in his overdramatic assertiveness and his outrageous rejection of particular qualities considered female, such as being gentle or idle. This is just another manifestation of how this society rejects all things feminine and in doing so, rejects a side of its very self and its very history . As one scholar writes, Okonkwo has a complex and tortured relationship with his father, but the book only makes one direct mention of his mother, presumably the person who spent the most time with him as a child (Jeyifo, 1993). Okonkwo refers to telling the boys of the village stories of violence and bloodshed as they sat with him in his obi, and his son, Nwoye “knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories his mother used to tell him, and which she no doubt still told to her younger children, stories of the tortoise and his wily ways…” (Achebe, 1996, p.38). This excerpt demonstrates the sadness inherent in this toxic masculinity. Young boys are encouraged to dismiss the wonder and imagination of their childhood in exchange to cultivate a thirst of bloodshed. This passage also demonstrates how unnatural forcing this violence and bloodshed is on these young boys: they don’t naturally take to it and instead miss the charming and imaginative stories of their youth . Achebe further demonstrates the lengths of this toxic masculinity that is taken…
Sources Used in Documents:
References Ogede, O. (1996). Achebe's Things Fall Apart. A&C Black. Anyadike, C. (2007). Duality and Resilience in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Philosophia Africana, 10(1), 49-58. Jeyifo, B. (1993). Okonkwo and his mother: things fall apart and issues of gender in the constitution of African postcolonial discourse. Callaloo, 16(4), 847-858. Osei-Nyame, G. K. (1999). Chinua Achebe Writing Culture: Representations of Gender and Tradition in Things Fall Apart. Research in African Literatures, 30(2), 148- 164.
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The unpolluted picture of Ibo people comes to life with the helps of such things as the detailed description of New Yam Festival that opens Chapter 5. While some things may appear corny and affected such as sentences like this one: "Drums beat violently, and men leaped up and down in a frenzy" [86], most of the comments are meant to highlight the true meaning of these otherwise demeaning observations.
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Okonkwo seems full of passionate intensity to preserve things as they are, and to preserve his sense of masculine, patriarchal authority. But although this sense of passion seems to have its origin sense of nostalgia for traditional forms of control, it is also too tied up the man's ego to be called a conviction. A true conviction about justice is not self-interested. It is also worth remembering that Okonkwo's
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" Okonkwo inflexible traditionalism pitted him against his gentle son Nwoye, who joined the Christian European missionaries. In the book, Oknokwo had to participate in a ceremonial human sacrifice and endure a seven-year exile after his gun accidentally killed the son of the deceased warrior Ezeudu. He also lost part of himself when he lost Ikemefuna. Upon returning to the village, he found it torn apart by Western Imperialism. Finally, he
Things Fall Apart Hubris and the Suicide
Things Fall Apart Hubris and the Suicide of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart This novel by Chinua Achebe was first published in 1958. Set on the continent of Africa this is the story of Okonkwo, a member of the Umuofia clan, one of nine villages of a tribe in Nigeria. Okonkwo is an esteemed tribesman who, despite the stigma of his cowardly father who died in disgrace leaving many unsettled
Things Fall Apart Is a
Therefore, Okonkwo rejected his father, and hence, the womanly element of himself. He turned out to be a leading wrestler and warrior in his people to make available the facilities of life for his family at a very small age. Simultaneously, he established a new farm and began to collect his own riches, and ultimately a name. His uphill struggle confirms itself in his victory, and he rapidly became
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Book Review
Book Review: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Author: Chinua Achebe
Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Classic, African Literature
First Publication: 1958
Major Characters: Okonkwo, Ikemefuna, Ezinma, Nwoye
Theme: Tradition vs. Change, Fate vs. Free Will, Masculinity, Religion
Setting: Pre-colonial Nigeria, 1890s
Narrator: Third-person omniscient
Book Summary: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Okonkwo is the greatest wrestler and warrior alive, and his fame spreads throughout West Africa like a bush-fire in the harmattan. But when he accidentally kills a clansman, things begin to fall apart. Then Okonkwo returns from exile to find missionaries and colonial governors have arrived in the village. With his world thrown radically off-balance he can only hurtle towards tragedy.
First published in 1958, Chinua Achebe’s stark, coolly ironic novel reshaped both African and world literature, and has sold over ten million copies in forty-five languages. This arresting parable of a proud but powerless man witnessing the ruin of his people begins Achebe’s landmark trilogy of works chronicling the fate of one African community, continued in Arrow of God and No Longer at Ease.
Things Fall Apart is the kind of book that makes reading so enjoyable. Not only did it have a captivating story to tell, it also had a great deal of meaning hidden within its text, giving me plenty of reasons to come back to this book long after finishing it. This is an insightful novel that makes you think about a variety of themes and morals while simultaneously entertaining and captivating readers with its characters and setting. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is one of those books that I will constantly look back on and think about for years to come, for such was its level of quality on both a narrative scale as well as in terms of its rich subtext.
“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
Things Fall Apart tells two concurrent stories that overlap and counterbalance each other throughout the novel. One of the novel’s focuses centers around the protagonist Okonkwo, a fierce warrior who represents traditional African culture. The other focus is on Okonkwo’s tribe, Umuofia, as it undergoes a drastic change in all areas of life once European missionaries enter the fray. The stark divide in ideologies between Okonkwo and Umuofia becomes the focal point of the story and leads to some very contentious moments in the book.
What is one to do when their home has turned against them, when it has done away with your long-held beliefs and values? What is one to do when they are powerless to stop a seemingly unstoppable force from ravaging their essence? These are the conflicts present in Things Fall Apart as seen through Okonkwo’s battle against his ever-changing tribe in the midst of a European takeover. What follows is an entertaining yet poignant tale that will not soon be forgotten.
“Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”
Okonkwo’s story was excellent. I felt firmly attached to this character the whole time reading, always anxious to see what happens next in his journey or where he would find himself at its conclusion. Granted, Okonkwo may not be the nicest character in literature, nor would you be necessarily wrong in assessing him as a bad person. He does some pretty rotten things in the novel, but context means everything, and though he may have done wrong by conventional standards, he did these things with good intentions, as deluded as they may have been.
In my view, Okonkwo is a tragic hero whose actions are taken in the best interests of his family and tribe, never out of any selfish or vain reasons that would usually lend themselves to an unlikable or evil character. He is tremendously flawed, but so are a lot of tragic figures in literature, which makes them all the more interesting to follow. More to that point, his flaws were completely relatable and forgivable since everything that happened to Okonkwo was the result of circumstances beyond his control. Okonkwo was one of the strongest, most well-developed, and fascinating literary characters I have come across.
“The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”
The brilliance of Things Fall Apart is how objective it manages to be while at the same time establishing an intimate feel throughout the entirety of the novel. That is to say, Chinua Achebe was able to shine a light on the culture of the missionaries as well as the Africans and point out their strengths and weaknesses, all the while engaging the readers in a very personal tale of one tribesman’s struggle to come to terms with this newly imposed way of life.
Achebe never once painted Umuofia and its people as being the “good guys,” or the helpless and innocent victims of colonialism. Likewise, he never made the European missionaries out to be the heartless “bad guys” who sought only to inflict damage and pain unto the Africans. Instead, Achebe balanced these two sides out and demonstrated that nothing is ever merely black and white, and that complexity exists everywhere and cannot be stereotyped or callously assumed. That is the magic behind Things Fall Apart – that it is capable of being many things to many people while maintaining an objective ambiguity about it, thus leaving the interpreting up to the readers rather than having its meanings blatantly shoved down our throats. This diversity of perspective and opinion make books like Things Fall Apart all the more worthwhile a reading experience.
“Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching.”
Another aspect of Things Fall Apart that made it great was its historical and cultural significance in the field of literature. Though the events of the novel were purely fictitious, they resembled the real-life events which occurred all throughout Africa during a time when the British were colonizing across the globe. This novel gave many readers, such as myself, an accessible means by which to learn about the infringement of these African cultures and the assimilation which took place thereafter by the British. Beforehand, I was not too knowledgeable on African affairs in the early 20th century, nor was I fully aware of the intentions of the Europeans as they colonized new lands.
However, after reading Things Fall Apart, I came away from it learning a lot about the history and culture of the African people and their plights, as well as about the motivations of the missionaries. Although I would not recommend this book as a substitute for a textbook on the subject, I can say that it conveys a good deal of historical context that would satisfy those hoping to get more involved in African literary studies.
This is a relatively short novel, and its chapters fly by so fast that you will be through with it in no time at all, which may be the only bad thing I can say about this book. Though as short a read as it may have been, its impact was anything but fleeting with a memorable story and a plethora of subtext in which to indulge for a long time to come.
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Things Fall Apart Essays

Things Fall Apart
interesting and help explain the theme and plot. Without a strong list of characters a book becomes dull. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart the characters help explain the lost Ibo culture, from strong to lazy, to women and a sacrifice to prevent war. The main character sets up the plot of a book, through their life and point of view the story is told. The main character in Things Fall Apart is a strong and culture hearted man named Okonkwo. He can be described as a tragic hero from his journey and life
Okonkwo is a tragic hero in "Things Fall Apart" Question ( 2 ): Discuss Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe 's “Things Fall Apart” is a tragic hero. Answer: In Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” Okonkwo is a tragic hero. Aristotle’s Poetics defines a Tragic Hero as a good man of high status who displays a tragic flaw ‘hamartia’ and experiences a dramatic reversal ‘peripeteia’, as well as an intense moment of recognition ‘anagnorisis’. Okonkwo is a leader and hardworking member of the Igbo community
differently by two different readers? Things Fall Apart Language and Literature Things fall apart is a novel written by Chinua Achebe. It is set during the late 19th, early 20th century in a small village named Umuofia situated in Nigeria. This time period is important because it was a period in colonial history when the British were increasing their influence economic, cultural, and political influence in Africa. The novel deals with the rise and fall of Okonkwo, a man from the village of
Based off the book Things Fall Apart, the videos we watched in class, and the poem “The White Man’s Burden”, the white man’s burden of spreading Christianity was more harmful than helpful. In both the book and the film the African Tribes were already fully functional as a whole. They had systems in place such as forms of government, art, social systems, and economic systems. After the whites came to convert them, things started to fall apart and become chaotic. As we saw in the videos, there were
The author of “The Women of Things Fall Apart, Speaking from a Different Perspective: Chimamanda Adichie’s Headstrong Storytellers,” Anene Ejikeme, claims that Chinua Achebe successfully introduces Ibo culture to a Western audience; however, even Achebe would agree that there cannot just be one story to represent such a complex society, and Ejikeme argues that Things Fall Apart is too centered upon the male’s reaction to English powers. Therefore, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Headstrong Historians”
moment it opens with W.B. Yeats’s haunting poem, pieces are being chipped away and fall silently to the dust. However, things do not truly fall apart until the final act and freezing conclusion. Although the storytelling and plot is very straightforward, (usually erring on the blunt side of the rhetorical spectrum) the true genius of the book lies in its subtleties. By the end of the story things have fallen apart for Okonkwo and his people, but it's not until that ending that the reader can put
Things fall apart
Reflection on the novel Things Fall Apart The Idea of Culture in Things Fall Apart The novel Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe is a story about personal beliefs, customs and also about conflict. There is struggle between family and within culture and it also deals with the concept of culture and the notion of the values and traditions within a culture. The word culture is Latin and means to cultivate. To cultivate has several meanings; it can mean to plow, fertilize, raise and plant, to
Society (Things Fall Apart) Women are often thought of as the weaker, more vulnerable of the two sexes. Thus, women’s roles in literature are often subdued and subordinate. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, women are repressed by an entrenched structure of the social repression. Women suffer great losses in this novel but, also in certain circumstances, hold tremendous power. Achebe provides progressively changing attitudes towards women’s role. At first glance, the women in Things Fall Apart may
English oral presentation Cultural strengths of the Ibo society before the invasion of the colons. The novel "Things fall apart" by Chinua Achebe describes the social and cultural traits of a culture based on the principles of labor and masculinity, conformity and kinship and finally on solid juridical system. The worth of a man was measured by his strength and the amount of work he could accomplish and how efficiently feed his family, the concepts of masculinity is strictly related with
Around the late 1800s, African communities resisted against the attempts to colonize their countries and force foreign domination . In Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, colonizers come to the villages of Umuofia and Mbanta. The title is a reflection of the effect of colonialism on the novel’s protagonist, Okonkwo. He fights to stop the colonizers from taking control of his village. Throughout the novel, he struggles to not become lazy, like his father, and works desperately to keep his the
Okonkwo Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a novel about a man in West Africa. It tells about his triumphs and trial ultimately leading to his demise. It explains how the “white man” came into his country and took over. It show you how the “white man” mad things fall apart. Okonkwo was a very large and tall man. He had big bushy eyebrows and a huge nose. As stated in Things Fall Apart, “He was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look (3-4).” He was extremely
which have gradually faded away over time. In the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, an African society is introduced to Western culture and faces a strong clash between those who want to keep the tribe’s tradition and those who want to change to adapt to the new customs. If this text would have been written in a different time of place, there would be a significant amount of changes in the way the plot unravels. If Things Fall Apart had been written in the 1490s with Native American tribes
Things Fall Apart, a novel by Chinua Achebe, highlights the fight between colonialism and traditional societies. The protagonist Okonkwo is a man of high status throughout the nine villages and even beyond due to his many achievements, such as gaining fame as a young person when he defeated the undefeatable, a wrestler nicknamed “the cat”. He is strong and hard-working, unlike his father, Unoka, who has a tainted legacy of being effeminate and cowardly. Unoka died and left many unpaid debts, so
someones personality and life. I wouldn’t say they define us but they shift and mold who we are going to be when we grow up. If you strip away the core of traditions or activities that were considered normal, it could really affect someone. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is a perfect example of this theory. He was torn that Missionaries came into Umofia while he was gone and changed everything. Okonkwo felt betrayed by how much change took toll in Umofia. He isn’t used to the new rules and regulars given
Culture plays an important role in society, it is what makes a people unique. In the book Things Fall Apart, author Chinua Achebe wrote the book using proverbs and traditions of the Ibo to reveal the uniqueness and wisdom of the culture, which ends up getting interfered with another culture. Throughout the book, proverbs are used to illustrate the wisdom of the Ibo people. On page 19, a man says, “We shall all live. We shall pray for life, children, a good harvest and happiness... let the kite
Book Report Things Fall Apart, the first book of the African Trilogy, is written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. The classic narrative depicts Africa’s interactions with Europe as Europe begins to have an influence on the country (culture, religion, etc.) Throughout the story the reader will peruse about Okonkwo’s, the protagonist, fictional encounters. Okonkwo is the beloved leader of the Igbo community of Umuofia in eastern Nigeria. Throughout the book there is a reoccuring theme that Okonkwo
Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe was set in pre-colonial Nigeria during the constant battle against the way the country was run. The main character Okonkwo, was very famous in the surrounding village for being a wrestling champion. In the story, Okonkwo was portrayed as a hard-working, and strived to show no weakness like his father, Unoka. His father, has tainted Okonkwo’s family as being effeminate. The bad reputation of Okonkwo’s family caused him to be diligent in building his wealth
In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe tells a story set during the British colonialism of Nigeria in the late 19th century. Of the descriptions that Achebe makes, one of the most significant is the British District Court officers and the egwugwu. There are several superficial similarities between the District Court officers and the egwugwu. These similarities include their relationship with the people of the culture. The egwugwu are masqueraders who impersonate the gods of the Igbo
The word hero means a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. In the book “Things Fall Apart “ by Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo is a hard-working leader in the village of Umuofia during the time of British colonialism of Nigeria. He is portrayed as a tragic hero because he allows inner and outside forces to contribute to his downfall and gains the sympathy from the reader. Okonkwo allowed his inner and outside forces to contribute to his downfall
A novel extremely fascinating yet exceptionally ambiguous. Things Fall Apart is a novel by Chinua Achebe that takes place in Nigeria, Africa where the story is mainly about how the main character’s life is falling apart. Therefore, if there were two different readers are someone from the African Culture and someone from the American culture reading it in modern time they would interpret the novel differently. In the novel the text could be interpreted differently by two different readers through
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Aristotle is a Greek philosopher who made significant contributions to many different aspects of literature. In Aristotle’s philosophical treatise, Poetics, a tragedy is depicted as the downfall of a tragic hero, which is conveyed through the unification of hubris, free choice, and an error of judgement. Aristotle defines a tragic hero as a person of noble prestige and greatness. Although the tragic hero is notably great, he or she is not perfect because they possess a tragic flaw. The hero’s intention to accomplish a goal inevitably leads him to confronts multiple challenges or limits. Aristotle acknowledges that the tragic hero must have a tragic flaw, or hamartia…
Things Fall Apart- Achebe
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is a tragic hero. Aristotle’s Poetics defines a Tragic Hero as a good man of high status who displays a tragic flaw (“hamartia”) and experiences a dramatic reversal (“peripeteia”), as well as an intense moment of recognition (“anagnorisis”). Okonkwo is a leader and hardworking member of the Igbo community of Umuofia whose tragic flaw is his great fear of weakness and failure. Okonkwo’s fall from grace in the Igbo community and eventual suicide, makes Okonkwo a tragic hero by Aristotle’s definition.…
- Things Fall Apart
Question ( 2 ): Discuss Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe 's “Things Fall Apart” is a tragic hero.…
Okonkwo Defeated Amalinze The Cat Rhetorical Analysis
Okonkwo defeated Amalinze the Cat, becoming famous, and creating a place in the villagers heart; praised as the almighty for years.…
Argument Essay - Is Okonkwo (of Achebe's Things Fall Apart) a Hero?
In addition to his bravery, Okonkwo is a very powerful person. In the beginning of the text, we learn that Okonkwo “had brought honor to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat…the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten” (page 3). Okonkwo’s strength in wrestling is a symbol for his personal power, which grows as he ages in the book. Achebe points out how powerful Okonkwo is on page 8, saying “he was a wealthy farmer and had two barns full of yams, and had just married his third wife. To crown it all he had taken two titles…he was already one of the greatest men of his time”. To the Ibo people, taking a title is the equivalent of becoming a…
To What Extent Is Okonkwo Responsible For His Own Downfall
Okonkwo is a man of many problems. He has only himself to blame for his downfall. Throughout the book, Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo struggles to maintain his sanity, and strives to become the man his father never was. As a result of trying to distance himself from his father, he becomes an aggressive, rage filled, violent person. Being the leader of his community, Okonkwo is watched and judged by his community. His fury and violence cause him to commit acts that harm his reputation. The more he achieves, the less he enjoys it due to his constant fear of failure. There are only a few events out of Okonkwo’s control that lead to his downfall. When Ogbuefi dies, Okonkwo’s gun accidently goes off at his funeral, killing Ogbuefi’s son. This leads…
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Book Review: Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
The novel concerned in this book review is a novel by Chinua Achebe entitled Things Fall Apart. The novel’s main character is a man named Okonkwo; at the beginning of the novel, the protagonist is portrayed as a strong man, capable of doing good things for his village and his people (Achebe). However, the protagonist is living in his father’s shadow, as his father often borrowed money from those in the village with the complete inability to pay it back. In his attempt to seem strong, Okonkwo participates in the killing of a young boy who views him as a father figure; after the death of the boy, things begin to go wrong for Okonkwo, and he is sent into exile (Achebe). Once he returns from exile, he is confronted with the presence of colonialism in his village; he and others react violently against this colonial presence, eventually burning down a Christian church. At the end of the novel, Okonkwo hangs himself rather than be tried in the colonial court (Achebe). The protagonist, Okonkwo, is the primary focus of the novel . However, the boy named Ikemefuna that Okonkwo participates in killing is also a key character in the story, as his death is the impetus for all action. In addition, Okonkwo’s lazy son, Nwoye, is designed to be a character foil against his father’s strength and stubbornness. Finally, the white characters, including the Reverend and Mr. Brown, are key players in the story, as they are the ultimate reason for Okonkwo’s death. Achebe’s writing style is very poetic. He does not hold tightly to traditional conventions, but the resulting text is one that flows like poetry while keeping the reader engaged in the story. Achebe gives the reader a feeling as well as an image, as exemplified in this quote: “And at last the locusts did descend. They settled on every tree and on every blade of grass; they settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground. Mighty tree branches broke away under them, and the whole country became the brown-earth color of the vast, hungry swarm” (Achebe). The reader gets a clear picture of the scene, but also a feeling of desolation and of impending doom because of the locusts. The novel’s diction is beautiful, and certainly one of its strengths. If it has weaknesses, the weaknesses of the novel lie in the shallow, almost caricature-like nature of the characters. Rather than developing full characters, the characters are stylized, almost symbolic in nature. Overall, this is an excellent novel that deals with some complex themes, particularly the themes of colonialism and gender. Without a keen understanding of history and the issues of colonialism , the reader may miss some of the details that make this novel so excellent. Even today, the lessons and the impacts of the novel can be felt; it is a timeless book, and one that should continue to be part of any classic collection.
Works cited
Achebe, Chinua. Things fall apart. New York: Anchor Books, 1994. Print. Gik and Simon I. “Chinua Achebe and the invention of African culture.” Research in African Literatures, 32. 3 (2001): 3–8. Online. Osei-Nyame, Godwin Kwadwo. “Chinua Achebe writing culture: representations of gender and tradition in Things Fall Apart.” Research in African Literatures, 30. 2 (1999): 148–164. Online. Owusu, Kofi. “The Politics of Interpretation: The Novels of Chinua Achebe.” MFS Modern Fiction Studies, 37. 3 (1991): 459–470. Online.
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Good Research Topics about Things Fall Apart

- Culture and Humanity: Things Fall Apart and “The Gods Must Be Crazy”
- Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Harrison’s The Black Man’s Burden : Self-Motivation, Courage, and Sacrifice
- Marginality, Dichotomy, and Hegemony in Things Fall Apart
- The Relationship Between Cultural Relativity and Superiority in Things Fall Apart
- Self-Motivation, Courage, and Sacrifice in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
- Achebe’s Things Fall Apart : Tension and Conflict Between Traditional and Modern Views
- Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart : A View of the Impacts of Imperialism
- The Specific Gender Roles in the Village Environment in the Novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Imperialism and the Allegory of the Cave in Things Fall Apart
- The Positive and Negative Aspects of European Assimilation in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Big Picture, Small Picture: Context for Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
- Personal and Cultural Identity in Things Fall Apart and “I Lost My Talk”
- Internal Conflict Leading to the Downfall in the Ibo Culture in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
- Okonkwo, the Power Hungry Warrior in Things Fall Apart
- The Problems Facing the Ibo People in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart : Inevitable Suffering in Tragedies
- Ways of Colonialism and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
- British Imperialism and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart : Exploring the Ibo Culture – Spiritual and Traditional Aspects
- The European and African Narrative Techniques Used in Things Fall Apart and Petals of Blood
Simple & Easy Things Fall Apart Essay Titles
- Things Fall Apart : Cultural Changes After African Colonization
- Tragedy in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Things Fall Apart and African Stereotypes
- Female: The Stronger Gender in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
- Political and Religious Threats in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart : And Intercultural Communication
- Problems and Challenges for Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart
- Colonialism: Comparisons Between Things Fall Apart and Historical Accounts
- Achebe’s Things Fall Apart : Orientalism and Gender Roles
- Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and the Character of Nwoye
- Africa Fall Apart: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Pre-modern Era Africa
- Chinua Achebe’s Novel Things Fall Apart : Theology and Religion
- The American Attitudes Towards the Peasants and the Lower Classes in “The Great Gatsby” and Things Fall Apart
- Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart : Finding Unoka in the Mirror
- The African and Ibo Culture in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
- Things Fall Apart and the Influences of Family, Culture, and Society
- Achebe’s Things Fall Apart : The Culture Collision and Its Impact on Okonkwo
- Relationship Between Character and Society in Things Fall Apart
- Fate and Free Will in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
- Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart : A Discussion of Women In Igbo Society
Things Fall Apart Essay Questions
- What Are Two Themes in Things Fall Apart ?
- What Is the Most Important Message in Things Fall Apart ?
- How Does Achebe Depict Ibo Culture in Things Fall Apart ?
- What Is Things Fall Apart Main Idea?
- What Happens in the End of Things Fall Apart ?
- Why Is Things Fall Apart Historical Fiction?
- What Is the Conclusion of Things Fall Apart ?
- Who Is the Most Important Character in Things Fall Apart ?
- Why Achebe Chose the Title Things Fall Apart ?
- What Are the Conflicts in Things Fall Apart ?
- How Is Foreshadowing Used in Things Fall Apart ?
- Is Things Fall Apart a True Story?
- What Is the Cave Called in Things Fall Apart ?
- What Are Some Symbols in Things Fall Apart ?
- What Does Okonkwo’s Suicide Symbolize in Things Fall Apart ?
- Why Is Things Fall Apart Important in African Literature?
- What Are Cowries in Things Fall Apart ?
- Why Is Okonkwo Important in Things Fall Apart ?
- What Is the Story Things Fall Apart About?
- What Is the Historical Background of Things Fall Apart ?
- Who Is the Narrator in Things Fall Apart ?
- How the Tribe Changes in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe?
- Who Is the Antagonist in Things Fall Apart ?
- What Are the Moral Lessons in Things Fall Apart ?
- How Is Colonialism Shown in Things Fall Apart ?
- What Are Two Major Conflicts in Things Fall Apart ?
- How Is Things Fall Apart a Tragedy?
- What Does the Last Paragraph of Things Fall Apart Mean?
- What Does the Tortoise Symbolize in Things Fall Apart ?
- Who Is the Hero in Things Fall Apart ?
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A thesis statement should be placed in the first or second paragraph of your essay. It should be specific, clear and original. Thesis Statement Examples: Thesis Statements examples on the...
Suggested Essay Topics. 1. Think about the role of weather in the novel. How does it work, symbolically or otherwise, in relation to important elements of the novel such as religion? Are rain and draught significant? Explore the ways in which weather affects the emotional and spiritual realms of the novel as well as the physical world. 2. Women ...
Outline. I. Thesis Statement: Things Fall Apart recreates the conflict between European and Igbo cultures at the turn of the twentieth century by focusing on the cataclysmic changes introduced by ...
Introduction The book Things Fall Apart was written by Chinua Achebe with the aim of depicting a lower tribe in Nigeria. The book is thrilling because it narrates about the Igbo society. Chinua Achebe uses Okonkwo when giving a detailed account of the Igbo society. Okonkwo was a focused man who wanted to avoid the ]
In Things Fall Apart, the tension between tradition and change is one of the major themes. The community of Umuofia certainly has a traditional way of doing things at the beginning and through the middle of the book. Everything from leadership to gender roles, and spirituality to punishment is approached from a traditional viewpoint.
HIRE A WRITER! I. Introduction: Thesis Statement: "Things Fall Apart" is about a struggle between change and tradition, as the protagonist Okonkwo suffers from many cultural conflicts that lead to his ultimate downfall. II. "His Whole Life Was Dominated by Fear, the Fear of Failure and Weakness.". Being Seen as Effeminate.
⭐ Good Research Topics about Things Fall Apart We will write a custom essay specifically for you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Culture and Humanity: "Things Fall Apart" and "The Gods Must Be Crazy" Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" and Harrison's "The Black Man's Burden": Self-Motivation, Courage, and Sacrifice
Themes and Colors LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Things Fall Apart, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The novel's title is a quote from a poem by the Irish poet W.B. Yeats called "The Second Coming": "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; / Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world."
Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness illustrate the various ways of representing Africa in the form of literature. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad presents Africa through the perspective of colonization by the Europeans who depict the African continent as savages, uncivilized, and underdeveloped.
Thesis. Things Fall Apart focuses and analyses Igbo society as shown in the novel, before and after arrival of missionaries to Umuofia, which led to clash of cultures. It also incorporates critical theory to analyze the novel. It is based on post-colonial criticism, as it is relevant to Achebe's writings in Things Fall Apart.
Things start to take a sour turn for Okonkwo. This novel is different from most western novels making it difficult for students to write Things Fall Apart essay topics. There are sample papers that give an outline, introduction, and conclusion of the book. Students can use these samples to help them writing the work on Things Fall Apart essay ...
The basic and major reason behind " Things fall apart " for the Ibo villages is the cultural collision and complexity. Achebe presents the clash of culture as his major theme in the book Things fall apart. This clash not only occurs on the individual level‚ but also on the society level. In this way the cultural misunderstanding cut both the ways.
In the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Western missionaries introduce new thoughts and beliefs into the Ibo society. The changes that were brought into the Ibo society caused major conflict between the two cultures and eventually led to the downfall of the Ibo culture. Throughout the book, there were several complex relationships.
Things Fall Apart What falls apart and why? The title of Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart refers mainly to the integrity of the Nigerian tribal cultures: to their customs, traditions, and ways of life, all of which fall apart as the result of internal and external conflicts.
Things Fall Apart Essay (Hook, Intro, Body Paragraphs and Conclusion) by Kaitlin Dery Things Fall Apart Essay Work Time! Rough Draft Due Wednesday! Body Paragraphs (It doesn't have to be like this.) Your body paragraphs must develop and support your main idea by presenting supporting ideas, examples, evidence, and explanation.
Things Fall Apart tells two concurrent stories that overlap and counterbalance each other throughout the novel. One of the novel's focuses centers around the protagonist Okonkwo, a fierce warrior who represents traditional African culture. The other focus is on Okonkwo's tribe, Umuofia, as it undergoes a drastic change in all areas of life once European missionaries enter the fray.
In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart the characters help explain the lost Ibo culture, from strong to lazy, to women and a sacrifice to prevent war. The main character sets up the plot of a book, through their life and point of view the story is told. The main character in Things Fall Apart is a strong and culture hearted man named Okonkwo.
In Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is a tragic hero. Aristotle's Poetics defines a Tragic Hero as a good man of high status who displays a tragic flaw ("hamartia") and experiences a dramatic reversal ("peripeteia"), as well as an intense moment of recognition ("anagnorisis"). Okonkwo is a leader and hardworking ...
The novel concerned in this book review is a novel by Chinua Achebe entitled Things Fall Apart. The novel's main character is a man named Okonkwo; at the beginning of the novel, the protagonist is portrayed as a strong man, capable of doing good things for his village and his people (Achebe). However, the protagonist is living in his father ...
Good Research Topics about Things Fall Apart. Culture and Humanity: Things Fall Apart and "The Gods Must Be Crazy". Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Harrison's The Black Man's Burden: Self-Motivation, Courage, and Sacrifice. Marginality, Dichotomy, and Hegemony in Things Fall Apart. The Relationship Between Cultural Relativity and ...
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