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- Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
- Literature Notes
- Essay Questions
- Book Summary
- About Things Fall Apart
- Character List
- Summary and Analysis
- Part 1: Chapter 1
- Part 1: Chapter 2
- Part 1: Chapter 3
- Part 1: Chapter 4
- Part 1: Chapter 5
- Part 1: Chapter 6
- Part 1: Chapter 7
- Part 1: Chapter 8
- Part 1: Chapter 9
- Part 1: Chapter 10
- Part 1: Chapter 11
- Part 1: Chapter 12
- Part 1: Chapter 13
- Part 2: Chapter 14
- Part 2: Chapter 15
- Part 2: Chapter 16
- Part 2: Chapter 17
- Part 2: Chapter 18
- Part 2: Chapter 19
- Part 3: Chapter 20
- Part 3: Chapter 21
- Part 3: Chapter 22
- Part 3: Chapter 23
- Part 3: Chapter 24
- Part 3: Chapter 25
- Character Analysis
- Reverend James Smith
- Character Map
- Chinua Achebe Biography
- Critical Essays
- Major Themes in Things Fall Apart
- Use of Language in Things Fall Apart
- Full Glossary for Things Fall Apart
- Cite this Literature Note
Study Help Essay Questions
1. Why did Achebe choose to take the title of his novel, Things Fall Apart , from William Butler Yeats' poem "The Second Coming"?
2. What is the narrator's point of view and what values are important to the narrator?
3. Achebe presents details of daily village life in Umuofia, as well as details concerning the Igbo culture. Describe the setting of the novel.
4. What is chi ? Explain the importance of chi in shaping Okonkwo's destiny.
5. Obierika is a foil for Okonkwo. That is, when compared to Okonkwo, the contrast between the two characters emphasizes the distinctive characteristics of Okonkwo. Compare the two characters — Obierika and Okonkwo.
6. Achebe suggests that Igbo culture is dynamic (constantly changing). Find evidence in the novel to support this notion.
7. What is the significance of Nwoye's Christian name, Isaac?
8. In Things Fall Apart , Achebe includes stories from Igbo culture and tradition, proverbs, and parables. What is the significance of Achebe's integration of African literary forms with that of Western literary forms?
9. Achebe resents the stereotype of African cultures that is presented in literature, such as Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Identify instances in Things Fall Apart that portray variations in African cultures.
10. What is the role of women in the novel?
11. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the social structure portrayed in Things Fall Apart . For example, the culture is polygamous ; the husband, wives, and children live in their own compound; children are cared for communally.
12. Explain why you think Okonkwo kills himself.
13. In your opinion, what contributes most to things falling apart in Umuofia? Explain.
14. How are the womanly or feminine qualities of the Igbo culture important to its survival?
15. Compare Mr. Brown and Reverend Smith. How does the black and white thinking of Reverend Smith contribute to Umuofia's downfall? What would have prevented Umuofia's downfall?
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Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
- 75-page comprehensive study guide
- Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis
- Featured in our Colonialism Unit African History African Literature collections
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- Colonialism Unit
- African History
- African Literature
- Chapters 1-3
- Chapters 4-6
- Chapters 7-9
- Chapters 10-13
- Chapters 14-16
- Chapters 17-19
- Chapters 20-22
- Chapters 23-25
- Character Analysis
- Symbols & Motifs
- Important Quotes
- Essay Topics
- Further Reading & Resources
Things Fall Apart Essay Topics
Revisit the epigraph of novel, which is an excerpt from William Butler Yeats’ poem, “The Second Coming.” Why did Achebe select this epigraph to introduce his novel? What elements of the novel’s plot and language draw upon the content and emotion of Yeats’ poem?
Manhood and womanhood are emphasized throughout the novel, and not only in Okonkwo’s mind. How do the gendered elements of Ibo society empower and erode the community? Is masculinity a positive force in Okonkwo’s life?
What is the relationship between spiritual and physical life in Things Fall Apart ?
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'Things Fall Apart' Discussion Questions and Study Guide
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" Things Fall Apart " is a famous novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. It's considered an important work in world literature, albeit a controversial one—the book has been banned in some places for its critical portrayal of European colonialism . The book is split into three parts showing the reader the negative effects of colonization on the main characters' tribe. It also shows how Christian missionary work to convert the African population forever altered their culture. The book was written in 1958 and became one of the first books from Africa to become world-renowned. It is seen as an archetype for the modern African novel.
Plot Summary
Protagonist Okonkwo becomes a successful farmer and earns titles and respect in his community, even though his lazy father, Unoka, was a disrespected laughingstock. His father is a source of shame for Okonkwo, who's strived to be everything his father was not. He's domineering over his family as a result, and his overarching desire to always seem "manly" leads to his downfall.
Okonkwo takes in a ward, given to him to care for as a peace offering to avoid war with the neighboring Mbaino community. An oracle says the boy must be killed, but Okonkwo is advised not to do it himself; he does it anyway. But it's after the accidental killing of a leader in his community that he and his family are exiled for seven years.
When they return, they find that much has changed in their community because of white missionaries who have come to town. They've set up a prison, a European-style court of law, a church, a school, and a hospital. Okonkwo doesn't understand why the people haven't revolted against these oppressors. Then, the benevolent Mr. Brown is replaced by a strict reverend who isn't interested in the people's existing culture. Violence eventually ensues, and the local leaders are eventually taken down by the colonizers. Okonkwo cannot cope and ends his own life.
Main Characters
These are the main characters in the novel:
- Okonkwo: protagonist whose fatal flaw is his inability to adapt to change and his reverence for needing to appear tough and "manly"
- Ikemefuna: clever, resourceful boy; ward of Okonkwo given to avoid war; killed by him so Okonkwo does not appear weak
- Nwoye: son of Okonkwo who becomes a Christian; a sensitive boy
- Ezinma: daughter of Okonkwo; bold; her father's favorite; the only surviving child of Ekwefi
- Ekwefi: Okonkwo's second wife
- Unoka: Okonkwo's father, whom Okonkwo strives to be the opposite of; lazy and enjoys music and conversation; gentle, cowardly, and unambitious; does not have the respect of the townsfolk.
- Obierika: best friend of Okonkwo
- Ogbuefi Ezeudu: the elder of Umuofia
- Mr. Brown: missionary to Umuofia and Mbanta; patient, kind, respectful, open-minded person who builds a school and hospital in Umofia and encourages literacy so the people keep up with the rest of the world; represents colonization
- Rev. James Smith: missionary who contrasts with Mr. Brown in that he is strict and doesn't compromise; has no interest in the native peoples' culture; also represents colonization
Major Themes
In addition to the themes of the effect of colonization on African society and how cultures clash, there are also personal themes in "Things Fall Apart." Readers can examine how people's character leads to their outcomes, such as how adaptable (or unadaptable) they are to change, and how that can be considered a kind of destiny. An examination of the book can also look at human emotions and find commonalities and universals.
The destiny theme can be examined on a societal level as well. Achebe illustrates the complexity of the Igbo society and how it functions—unlike the authoritarian encroachers—without a strong central government. Is it destiny for the people to have been conquered, then? You can also examine how the community and people interact to find balance and function as a society.
Historical Impact
"Things Fall Apart" has become one of the most important books in African literature, as it was among the first major works to bring the African perspective to a worldwide audience and launched the continent's modern literature. It even made Western anthropologists realize they'd been getting the story wrong and led them to re-examine their methods and scholarship on Africa's history and peoples.
Though controversial to write a novel in the colonizers' language, the book was able to reach more people that way. Achebe was also able to work untranslatable Ibo words into the telling so that people would be able to understand them through context as they read, rather than have a translator not achieve adequate subtleties of meaning.
The book awakened pride in history and community for people in Africa and led them to realize that they could tell their own stories.
Discussion Questions
- What is important about the title: "Things Fall Apart?" Is there a reference in the novel that explains the title?
- What are the conflicts in "Things Fall Apart?" What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) are present?
- How do the story's themes relate to the plot and characters?
- What are some symbols in "Things Fall Apart?" How do they relate to the plot and characters?
- Are the characters consistent in their actions? Are they fully developed characters? Are some characters more fully developed than others? How? Why?
- Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters people you would want to meet?
- What is the primary purpose of the story? Is it important or meaningful?
- Do you think the novel is meant to be political? What point was the author trying to make? Did he succeed?
- Why is the novel so controversial? Do you think the book should be censored or banned? Should it be taught in schools?
- How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?
- What is the role of family and community in this novel? How does it change when the missionaries arrive?
- Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why? What point do you think the author was making with the conclusion of the novel? Does your perspective change knowing there is a sequel?
- Would you recommend this novel to a friend? Why or why not?
- How is religion portrayed in this novel? Do you think the Christian missionaries had a positive or negative impact on the characters?
- What is important about the time period the novel is set in?
- Why do you think the author's decision to write the novel in English rather than his native language caused controversy?
- What point is the author trying to make about the African identity? What problems does the author outline? Does he offer solutions?
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- 'Things Fall Apart' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices
- 'Things Fall Apart' Characters
- 'Things Fall Apart' Summary
- 'Things Fall Apart' Quotes
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- '1984' Questions for Study and Discussion
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Things Fall Apart
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Mini Essays
Why does Things Fall Apart end with the District Commissioner musing about the book that he is writing on Africa?
The novel’s ending is Achebe’s most potent satirical stab at the tradition of Western ethnography. At the end of Okonkwo’s story, Achebe alludes to the lack of depth and sensitivity with which the Europeans will inevitably treat Okonkwo’s life. Achebe shows that a book such as The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger , which the commissioner plans to write, reveals much more about the writers—the colonialists—than about the subjects supposedly being studied. The title of the book is also ironic, as it reflects the utter lack of communication between the Europeans and the Africans. Although the Commissioner thinks he has achieved the “[p]acification” of these tribes, he has only contributed to their unrest and increasing lack of peace.
Additionally, the artifice of wrapping up the narrative as fodder for an ethnographic study hearkens back to the close of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness . As Marlow, the teller of the main story in Heart of Darkness , concludes his tale about colonization in Africa, the initial narrator, waiting with Marlow to sail out to sea, returns and ponders the water, leaving the reader to wonder what atrocities beyond those in Marlow’s story the British Empire will commit. The conclusion of Things Fall Apart gives the impression of a similar story-within-a-story structure. When the account of how the colonizers have imposed themselves upon Umuofia concludes, the commissioner contemplates the account, leaving little doubt that he will now proceed to impose European values on his version of the account.
What is the nature of Okonkwo’s relationship with Ezinma?
Although Okonkwo is generally misogynistic, his favorite child is his daughter Ezinma. Of all Okonkwo’s children, Ezinma best understands how to handle her father’s anger. One example of her sensitivity to his needs is her comforting of him after he has killed Ikemefuna. Ezinma can tell that Okonkwo is depressed but, not wanting to upset him, she doesn’t address his sorrow directly. Instead, she brings him food and urges him to eat. His frequent remarks that he wishes Ezinma were his son because she has the “right spirit” suggest that he desires an affectionate attachment with his sons, so long as it is not openly shown or acknowledged. He values Ezinma not because she exhibits desirable masculine traits but because of their tacit bond of sympathy and understanding.
What does the repetition of the number seven suggest about the novel?
In several places (Mr. Brown’s conversations with Akunna, for example), the novel explicitly focuses on the theological and moral similarities between Christianity and Igbo religion. The repetition of the number seven—symbolically important to both religions—is another way of highlighting the similarities between the two cultures. The text seems to draw a parallel between the apparent randomness of the symbolic number often chosen by the Igbo and the determinism of Christianity’s reliance on the number seven in the Bible and in the myth of creation. Indeed, the text explicitly refers to resting on the seventh day; this return to the number seven marks a similarity between the two cultures’ belief systems.
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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
Achebe throughout the past has expressed his beliefs on what works of art should do if they should be considered great works, and heart of darkness fails his test by “dehumanized” and “depersonalized” Africa and its people, how Things fall apart properly describes and depicts Africans and how damaging heart of darkness truly was. Achebe has stated in the past that “the question of whether a novel which celebrates… dehumanization, which depersonalized a portion of the human race, can be […]
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 […]
Related topic
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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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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Use These Things Fall Apart Essay Questions to Prepare for a Test
My favorite essay themes.
Question 1) What role does the District Commissioner play in the novel?
Question 2) What cultural values do the native tribes and the colonizers share?
Question 5) In what ways is Okonkwo a tragic hero?
Question 6) What role does Ezinma play in the novel?
This post is part of the series: Things Fall Apart Study Guide
Study Africa’s most revered novelist with this study guide.
Things Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
Things Fall Apart Questions and Answers
Compare and contrast okonkwo and his father in things fall apart., what is the moral lesson of things fall apart, what is the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution for things fall apart, in things fall apart, why does okonkwo commit suicide and what is the final message of this work , what is the importance of the oracle of the hills and the caves in things fall apart, how does achebe foreshadow the ultimate fate of ikemefuna, what is the significance of the following proverb in things fall apart our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who under kneel under them., compare and contrast mr. smith and mr. brown., what do the flashbacks reveal about okonkwo's and unoka's relationship in things fall apart, what are the major lessons in chinua achebe's things fall apart, what was okonko's relationship with his wife ekewfi and his daughter ezinma in things fall apart by chinua achebe, what does "those whose palm-kernels were cracked by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble" mean, what is the purpose of storytelling in things fall apart specifically, what are the purposes of the following stories: vulture and sky (ch. 7), mosquito and ear (ch. 9), the snake-lizard and his mother (ch. 9), tortoise and the birds (ch. 11) are the stories meant to simply showcase nigerian culture, or do they have important metaphorical purposes, what is the conclusion of things fall apart, in chapter 2 of things fall apart, what effect does the night have on the people all i know is that it has something to do with some ghost or something with children., in things fall apart, how does the song in chapter 12 relate to the concept of change the song at the end of ch 12 is: if i hold her hand, she says don't touch if i hold her foot she says don't touch but when i hold her waist-beads she pretends not to know, what is the conflict in things fall apart by chinua achebe, what are the names of the nine villages in things fall apart, what does "living fire begets cold impotent ash" mean, in things fall apart, what is the setting, why is the simile “as slippery as a fish in water” successful in describing okonkwo during the wrestling match in things fall apart, justify the title things fall apart in relation to the text. how is it related to the protagonist and notions of community , why does okonkwo kill ikemefuna in things fall apart, what are six of okonkwo’s achievements in things fall apart, in things fall apart, what is the meaning of the proverb "a man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness", who are the egwugwu in real life (reference from things fall apart) , what causes the downfall of okonkwo in things fall apart, what is the significance of the wrestling matches in things fall apart what is an event in american society similar to this tradition, why does okonkwo kill himself, what influence did ikemefuna's death have on okonkwo and nwoye's emotions in things fall apart, how does okonkwo feel after killing ikemefuna, why did okonkwo hate his father, how does achebe create a dramatic atmosphere in the opening paragraph of things fall apart, proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten, why was okonkwo exiled, in what ways does the idea of "progress" shape the novel things fall apart, how does okonkwo's relationship with ekwefi and ezinma help develop his character in things fall apart, the pacification of the primitive tribes of the lower niger, in what ways does the idea of progress shape things fall apart by chinua achebe 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, in things fall apart, how did the character and personality of okonkwo change from the beginning of the story until the end of the story, what does this quote from things fall apart mean "the world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.", how does okonkwo's childhood impact his adult life in things fall apart, why is okonkwo’s defeat of amalinze the cat such a great achievement in things fall apart, in things fall apart, what did the men mean when they saw the goat and said that it was the way things should be done, how does chinua achebe use flashbacks to reveal different aspects of okonkwo's life in things fall apart, what was okonkwo's punishment for beating his wife, in things fall apart, what influence did ikemefuna have on nwoye from chapters 5-7., in things fall apart, there are two kinds of murder—male and female. what are these, and what do they mean to the novel does it matter that okonkwo committed the "female" kind of murder, describe the feast of the new yam in things fall apart., in things fall apart, can you explain exactly what titles are in the story simply can you summarize exactly what they are.
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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:
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- 15 Literary Terms You Need to Know to Write Better Essays
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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
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Things Fall Apart Essay Questions and Notes for Grade 11
Things Fall Apart Essay Questions and Notes for Grade 11 :
Questions and Answers
Essay question:.
Question 1:
In a carefully planned essay of 350–400 words (11⁄2–2 pages) in length, critically discuss to what extent the title of the novel is reflected in Okonkwo’s life and the lives of the villagers.
Short Question:
Question 2:
Read the extracts below and then answer the questions that follow:
Okonkwo’s prosperity was visible in his household. He had a large compound enclosed by a thick wall of red earth. His own hut, or obi, stood immediately behind the only gate in the red walls. Each of his three wives had her own hut, which together formed a half moon behind the obi. The barn was built against one end of the red walls, and long stacks of yam stood out prosperously in it. At the opposite end of the compound was a shed for the goats, and each wife built a small attachment to her hut for the hens. Near the barn was a small house, the ‘ medicine house’ or shrine where Okonkwo kept the wooden symbols of his personal god and of his ancestral spirits. He worshipped them with sacrifices of kola nut, food and palm-wine, and offered prayers to them on behalf of himself, his three wives and eight children.
So when the daughter of Umuofia was killed in Mbaino, Ikemefuna came into Okonkwo’s household. When Okonkwo brought him home that day he called his most senior wife and handed him over to her.
‘He belongs to the clan,’ he told her. ‘So look after him.’
‘Is he staying long with us?’ she asked.
‘Do what you are told, woman,’ Okonkwo thundered, and stammered, ‘When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia?’
And so Nwoye’s mother took Ikemefuna to her hut and asked no more questions.
As for the boy himself, he was terribly afraid. He could not understand what was happening to him or what he had done. How could he know that his father had taken a hand in killing a daughter of Umuofia? All he knew was that a few men had arrived at their house, conversing with his father in low tones, and at the end he had been taken out and handed over to a stranger. His mother had wept bitterly, but he had been too surprised to weep. And so the stranger had brought him, and a girl, a long, long way from home, through lonely forest paths. He did not know who the girl was, and he never saw her again.
- Briefly relate how Okonkwo’s visible prosperity (line 1) is the result of his upbringing and single-mindedness.
- Describe Okonkwo’s character as it is revealed in lines 1–11.
- Explain why Ikemefuna was brought to Okonkwo’s household.
- Refer to lines 15–19. What do you understand about the relationship between Okonkwo and his most senior wife (line 14)? (3)
- Ikemefuna could not understand what was happening to him or what he had done (lines 20–21). To what extent does Ikemefuna’s bewilderment reflect the way in which Okonkwo expects his wife to accept his decision? (3)
- Explain how the lonely forest paths (line 26) that Ikemefuna walks on his way to Umuofia are an ominous sign.
Watch: Things Fall Apart | Essay Topic Breakdown
Things Fall Apart Book Summary
Things Fall Apart is set in a fictional group of Igbo villages called Umuofia, around the beginning of the twentieth century. The first half of the novel is dedicated to an almost anthropological depiction of Igbo village life and culture through following the life of the protagonist Okonkwo. Okonkwo is the greatest wrestler and warrior alive in the nine villages and beyond. He has dedicated his life to achieving status and proving his strength to avoid becoming like his father Unoka – a lazy, improvident, but gentle man. Weakness is Okonkwo’s greatest fear. After men in another village kill a woman from Umuofia, a boy named Ikemefuna is given to Umuofia as compensation and lives in Okonkwo’s compound until the Gods decide his fate. Ikemefuna quickly becomes part of Okonkwo’s family; he is like a brother to Okonkwo’s son Nwoye and is secretly loved by Okonkwo as well. Over the next three years, the novel follows Okonkwo’s family through harvest seasons, religious festivals, cultural rituals, and domestic disputes. Okonkwo is shown to be more aggressive than other Igbo men and is continually criticized and rebuked by the village for his violence and temper. When the Oracle of the Hills and Caves decides that Ikemefuna must be killed, Okonkwo is warned by a respected elder to have no hand in the boy’s death because Ikemefuna calls him ‘father’. However, afraid of being thought weak, when Ikemefuna runs to Okonkwo in hope of protection, Okonkwo delivers the fatal blow. Ikemefuna’s brutal death deeply distresses Nwoye who becomes afraid of his father.
At the end of Part One, Okonkwo accidentally kills a clansman at a funeral after his faulty gun explodes and is exiled to his motherland, Mbanta. During his exile, British missionaries arrive in Mbanta and establish a church. Nwoye, disillusioned with his own culture and Gods after Ikemefuna’s death, is attracted to Christianity and is an early convert. This is a heartbreaking disappointment to Okonkwo. When Okonkwo and his family return from exile after seven years they find that the missionaries and colonial governors have established Umuofia as the center of their new colonial government. Clashes of culture and morality occur, and as the British make the Igbo more dependent on them through introducing trade and formal education, the Igbo way of life is continually undermined. When a Christian convert unmasks an egwugwu during a tribal ritual, a sin amounting to the death of an ancestral spirit, the egwugwu burn down the village church. The men who destroyed the church are arrested and humiliated by the District Commissioner, and Okonkwo beheads a court messenger at a village council in rebellion. When none of his clansmen rise with him against the British, Okonkwo realizes his culture and way of life is lost and commits suicide in despair. Suicide is a crime against the Earth Goddess, Ani , so Okonkwo is left to rot above ground in the Evil Forest, like his father Unoka – a shameful fate he spent his life desperate to avoid. The final paragraph, written from the perspective of the District Commissioner, reduces Okonkwo’s life to a single sentence about his death in his planned book The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of The Lower Niger . Achebe has filled an entire novel with evidence of the complexity and sophistication of Okonkwo’s individual and social life and the District Commissioner’s casual dismissal and belittling of him causes us to flinch with horror and dismay. This is a metaphor for the reduction of Igbo culture in the eyes of its colonizers.
The title gives away the plot of the novel and anticipates the collapse of Okonkwo and his society. Things Fall Apart is about the connection between the tragic downfall of Okonkwo, who fate and temperamental weakness combine to destroy, and the destruction of his culture and society as the Igbo way of life is assailed by forces they do not understand and are unprepared to face.
Things Fall Apart Character Analysis
Okonkwo is a man who values masculinity, strength, and respect above all else. He is seen as a leader within his clan and his family, which includes three wives and a number of children. A man of action, Okonkwo overcomes his poor background and achieves great success. Unoka, Okonkwo’s father, was lazy and a poor provider, and Okonkwo is driven to be everything his father was not. Okonkwo’s rigidity causes great harm, first within his family—the killing of Ikemefuna and the rift with Nwoye—and then within society. Okonkwo is unable to adapt when the white man/missionaries come to his village. He commits suicide rather than adhere to the rules of the changed society.
Unoka is viewed by Okonkwo and the clan as lazy, although he was also a gifted musician and a gentle man. Rather than working, Unoka preferred to play his flute and drink wine. He was seen as a coward because he was afraid of war. He had poor harvests because he was unwilling to put in the effort to care for the land. When Unoka died, he was in debt to all of his neighbors.Okonkwo cannot see his father’s good qualities and hates him. He lives his life with the intention of avoiding anything his father enjoyed.
Ikemefuna comes to the clan as a form of payment for a murder that one of his tribesmen committed. The elders place Ikemefuna with Okonkwo, who puts his first wife in charge of the boy. Ikemefuna misses his family but comes to feel at home in Umuofia. He becomes popular within the family, particularly with Okonkwo’s oldest son, Nwoye. Okonkwo is also fond of Ikemefuna, though he does not reveal his feelings and eventually participates in Ikemefuna’s murder.
Nwoye seems to have adopted some of Unoka’s traits, which upsets Okonkwo. Okonkwo worries that Nwoye will grow up behaving as his grandfather behaved. Because of his concern, Okonkwo is even harder on Nwoye and beats him regularly. Nwoye begins to change under the influence of Ikemefuna. When Ikemefuna is killed, Nwoye retreats into himself and is cut off from his father. With the arrival of the missionaries, Nwoye revives. He breaks away from his father and becomes a Christian convert.
Ekwefi is Okonkwo’s second wife. Ekwefi was attracted to Okonkwo when she saw him defeat Amalinze the Cat in wrestling. She could not marry him because he was too poor. After he achieves success, she leaves her husband and goes to Okonkwo, who takes her in with no questions. She is particularly close with her only child, Ezinma. After losing nine children, Ekwefi was a broken woman. When Ezinma lived beyond infancy, Ekwefi rejoiced. She treats her daughter more like an equal than a child. The loss of children has also created a connection to Okonkwo, who accepts behaviors from her that he does not from his other wives. He shows her more care and concern.
Ezinma is the only child of Okonkwo’s second wife, Ekwefi. She is particularly close to her mother. Okonkwo also favors Ezinma. He feels a connection to her and appreciates her boldness. Her behaviors and attitude make Okonkwo wish she were a boy. Ezinma feels a similar fondness for her father.
Obierika is the closest thing Okonkwo has to a confidant. Like Okonkwo, he has achieved status within the clan. He has multiple wives and children. He marries off one daughter, and his son is a wrestling champion. When Okonkwo is forced to leave Umuofia, Obierika cares for his land and property .Unlike Okonkwo, Obierika is more nuanced in his thinking and is able to express himself. He rebukes Okonkwo for participating in the murder of Ikemefuna, tells him to have patience with his children, and cautions him about the power of the missionaries. When Okonkwo dies, Obierika speaks up on his behalf and calls him a great man.
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/things/a-plus-essay/
https://www.vcestudyguides.com/blog/things-fall-apart
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Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Essay Example
Pages: 5
Words: 1509
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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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Home — Q&A — Literature — Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart - Questions & Answers
In “things fall apart” why was okonkwo famous, in “things fall apart” why is okonkwo a tragic hero, similar categories.
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- Things fall Apart: Chapter One
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 2,3
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 4,5
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 6,7,8
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 9,10
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 11,12
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 13,14,15
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 16,17,18
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 19,20,21
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 22,23,24
- Things fall Apart: Chapter 25
- Things fall Apart: Biography
- Things fall Apart: Characters
Things fall Apart: Essay Questions
- Things fall Apart: Metaphors
- Things fall Apart: Themes
- Things fall Apart: Top Ten Quotations
1. Summarise the events of the vigil and funeral of Meursault’s mother.
The novel begins auspiciously as Meursault recounts how his mother died today, or maybe yesterday and immediately he is cast as one who is at least indifferent to the meaning of events surrounding him.
As recounted in the court case, he shows little emotion during his time at the home and is seen to endure the vigil and funeral rather than be emotionally engaged with it. He remembers barely anything of the funeral itself, noting Pérez’s fainting fit, the heat and light, and the white roots mixed with earth that covers his mother’s coffin. Although he shows no grief at this time, the readers should consider, nevertheless, if he should be condemned for this. He acts authentically, rather than hypocritically, and the narrative demands that this should not be a reason for him being condemned.
2. Consider the effect of the sun on Meursault and offer an analysis.
The glare of the sun and the unbearable heat are described in each chapter that Meursault is free and it becomes a cipher for how he (or anyone) is unable to escape the effects of nature, and the universe. He is depicted as being a victim of the unforgiving light, and this in turn highlights how he (as is anyone) an insignificant absurdist creation.
The heat of the sun is also a reminder that the setting is based in French-controlled Algeria, and Meursault’s negative reaction to it serves to emphasize how he, like other French citizen, is an outsider in this country.
3. Analyze the court case.
The court case is depicted as one that borders on farcical and if it were not for the outcome of the death penalty, it would be seen as wholly laughable. Meursault is seen to be tried for his emotionless reaction to his mother’s death rather than for the murder of an Algerian (or, an ‘Arab’ as he is always referred to) and the court is complicit in such racist views of the native citizens.
Because of this, the moral condemnation of Meursault is seen to be not only inappropriate when it does not concern the murder he has committed, but also hypocritical as those who are judging him are also shown to be guilty of moral delinquency.
4. Consider the ending of The Outsider .
It is not until the last paragraphs of the novel that Meursault reaches some kind of understanding of his life and how to live it. After venting his anger on the chaplain, who refuses to allow him to be a non-believer, he feels cleansed.
He understands now that the ‘benign indifference of the universe’ should be lived with and accepted, and life should be experienced while still possible. His death is inevitable because of his death sentence, but he also sees that we are all born to die. It is of note that he also recognizes this by remembering his mother’s relationship with Pérez as he sees that she chose to start afresh again at the very end of her existence. It is thoughts such as these that inspire him to consider the crowds at his execution as easing his loneliness as they will remind him he is still alive until the last moment.
5. Examine the philosophy underpinning the novel.
This novel is shaded with the concept of the absurd and puts into practice what has already been seen in Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus . The insignificance of humanity and the meaningless of the world are highlighted by this way of thinking, as is the understanding that despite this it is still possible to live authentically and with good faith.
Meursault embodies both of these views as he lives from moment to moment with barely any regard for the future or for those around him, but goes on to understand that this need lead to meaninglessness. He is not morally condemned for this, but nor is he praised. It is not until his epiphany in the final paragraphs that he recognizes that despite the ultimate meaningless of our existence, it is possible to have hope and to experience existence as fully as possible.
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Things Fall Apart
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Things Fall Apart , first novel by Chinua Achebe , written in English and published in 1958. Things Fall Apart helped create the Nigerian literary renaissance of the 1960s.
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 white missionaries and colonial government into tribal Igbo society. Traditionally structured, and peppered with Igbo proverbs, it describes the simultaneous disintegration of its protagonist Okonkwo and of his village. The novel was praised for its intelligent and realistic treatment of tribal beliefs and of psychological disintegration coincident with social unraveling.
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Things Fall Apart
By chinua achebe.
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- Why does Okonkwo have no patience for his father? Why is he disappointed in his son Nwoye from the novel’s beginning?
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Eng130 discussion 6 (250 words) things fall apart achebe.
I don’t understand this English question and need help to study.
Last week, we talked about how cultural differences enhance literature. Many of you shared research on the writer and/or the culture. In completing that research, you read the ideas of others critics or people who have used various tools or lenses to talk about literature.
For the final Portfolio Project, you are asked to locate critics on Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart” and to incorporate those critical voices in your final paper.
For this weeks discussion, share the critical resources you plan to use in your final Portfolio Project. What are the key concepts of these critics (maybe looking at race, religion, class, or gender)? Did you decide to omit any critics? If so, why?
Please be sure to choose a unique topic for your discussion response.
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Things Fall Apart Essay Questions Study Help Essay Questions 1. Why did Achebe choose to take the title of his novel, Things Fall Apart, from William Butler Yeats' poem "The Second Coming"? 2. What is the narrator's point of view and what values are important to the narrator? 3.
Essays 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.
1. Compare and contrast the way Okonkwo treats Osugo, his wives, and his sons. Is Okonkwo harsher to men, women, or children? Support your points with examples. 2. Discuss the symbolic meaning of...
Things Fall Apart Essay Topics. 1. Revisit the epigraph of novel, which is an excerpt from William Butler Yeats' poem, "The Second Coming.". Why did Achebe select this epigraph to introduce his novel? What elements of the novel's plot and language draw upon the content and emotion of Yeats' poem? 2. Manhood and womanhood are ...
Updated on October 29, 2019. "Things Fall Apart" is a famous novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. It's considered an important work in world literature, albeit a controversial one—the book has been banned in some places for its critical portrayal of European colonialism. The book is split into three parts showing the reader the negative ...
Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe Study Guide Mastery Quizzes PLUS Flashcards PLUS Infographic PLUS Why are the villagers shocked when Okonkwo beats his wife during the Week of Peace? Why are the villagers excited whenever the locusts come? Why does Nwoye admire Ikemefuna? What warning does Ogbuefi Ezeudu give Okonkwo about killing Ikemefuna?
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.
1. Why did Achebe choose to take the title of his novel, Things Fall Apart, from William Butler Yeats' poem "The Second Coming"? 2. What is the narrator's point of view and what values are important to the narrator? 3. Achebe presents details of daily village life in Umuofia, as well as details concerning the Igbo culture.
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
This post is part of the series: Things Fall Apart Study Guide My Favorite Essay Themes Question 1) What role does the District Commissioner play in the novel? The District Commissioner embodies the racist attitudes of the colonizers. He believes to have pacified the tribes of the lower Niger, when in fact, he has created unrest.
In Things Fall Apart, what is the meaning of the proverb "A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness"? Who are the egwugwu in real life (reference from Things Fall...
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).
3 Things Fall Apart Character Analysis Questions and Answers Essay Question: Question 1: In a carefully planned essay of 350-400 words (11⁄2-2 pages) in length, critically discuss to what extent the title of the novel is reflected in Okonkwo's life and the lives of the villagers. Short Question: Question 2:
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."
Things Fall Apart Topics: Africa, Colonialism, Culture, Imperialism, Indigenous peoples Triumph and Tragedy: The Exploration of a Tragic Hero and The Consequences of Others that Contribute to The Overall Tragic Vision of The Peace "Things Fall Apart" 1241 words | 3 Pages
Students' Questions Answered by Experts . In "Things Fall Apart" why was Okonkwo famous? ... Answer: Okonkwo, the protagonist of Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart," is considered a tragic hero be ... Detailed answer. Similar Categories. John Donne ... If you fit this description, you can use our free essay samples to generate ideas, get ...
Things fall Apart: Essay Questions Summarise the events of the vigil and funeral of Meursault's mother. The novel begins auspiciously as Meursault recounts how his mother died today, or maybe yesterday and immediately he is cast as one who is at least indifferent to the meaning of events surrounding him.
Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart, first novel by Chinua Achebe, written in English and published in 1958. Things Fall Apart helped create the Nigerian literary renaissance of the 1960s.
Acclaimed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe's classic post-colonial novel Things Fall Apart was first published in 1958, and met with worldwide praise. It portrays late 19th-century Nigeria and the ...
Available to teachers only as part of the Teaching Things Fall ApartTeacher Pass Teaching Things Fall Apart Teacher Pass includes: Assignments & Activities; Reading Quizzes; Current Events & Pop Culture articles; Discussion & Essay Questions; Challenges & Opportunities; Related Readings in Literature & History; Sample of Discussion & Essay ...
Things Fall Apart Essay Questions Study com June 21st, 2018 - In this lesson we will examine some essay topics for Chinua Achebe s famous book Things Fall Apart These topics will be organized by theme to
English Language Arts, Grade 10: Things Fall Apart 211 UNIT: THINGS FALL APART ANCHOR TEXT ... Write a multi-paragraph essay that identifies a theme and analyzes how ... multiple-choice and constructed-response questions. 3. about the texts, using evidence for all answers. Sample questions: 1. Identify one tone of "Afro-American Fragment."
Things Fall Apart Springboard Essay Pdf When somebody should go to the ebook stores, search initiation by shop, shelf by shelf, it is in reality ... things fall apart suggested essay topics sparknotes web things fall apart chinua achebe study guide mastery quizzes plus flashcards plus infographic plus by
For the final Portfolio Project, you are asked to locate critics on Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart" and to incorporate those critical voices in your final paper. For this weeks discussion, share the critical resources you plan to use in your final Portfolio Project.