Things Fall Apart

IntroductionAnd

Study Guide

The AuthorChinua Achebe (1930-)

►Born in Ogidi, Nigeria to missionary parents who raised him Protestant, though still preserving some of the aspects of their traditional Ibo culture.

►Studied literature and medicine at the University of Ibadan; worked briefly as a teacher and then for the Nigerian Broadcasting Company.

►Things Fall Apart was his first novel- published in 1958.

►Many of his novels deal with the social and political problems of Nigeria.

The AuthorChinua Achebe (1930-)

►Worked in the service of the Biafran government during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-70).

►Has worked since 1967 in academics as a professor at universities around the world.

►Has received over twenty honorary doctorates from universities around the world.

►Received the Nigerian National Merit Award for intellectual achievement in 1987

►Married with four children and currently living in New York, where he holds a teaching position at Bard College.

The Setting

►The novel is set in Nigeria towards the end of the nineteenth century, in the period just before the arrival of the white man.

►It centers on the tribe of people known as the Ibo (or Igbo)

The Style of the Novel

Achebe has written this novel in order to show us what life was like in Nigeria in a specific historical period. He uses a number of techniques in order to make the writing authentic.

►Simple sentences– Achebe uses a simple style of writing in most of the novel, because he wants to tell the story in the way that it might be told by a member of the Ibo tribe.

The Style of the Novel

►Imagery– Achebe uses many similes and metaphors to bring the narrative to life and he uses the sorts of comparisons that relate to the Ibo way of life: ‘Okonkwo’s fame had grown like a bush-

fire in the harmattan.’ (simile Ch. 1) ‘Proverbs are the palm-oil with which

words are eaten.’ (metaphor Ch. 1) ‘He grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the

rainy season.’ (simile Ch. 7)

The Style of the Novel

►Proverbs– These wise sayings are very important, they are used to comment on human behavior and show the importance of oral communication within the community. Achebe uses them throughout the book, and they are drawn from Ibo experience. ‘The sun will shine on those who stand

before it shines on those who kneel under them.’

‘A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing.’

The Style of the Novel

►Folk Tales– These are another important feature of Achebe’s novel. They are important because they relate to the events of the novel and they show us the values of the society. The Mosquito and the Ear (Ch. 9) The Tortoise and the Birds (Ch. 11)

Pronunciation Guide

1. Chinua Achebe– CHIN-wa a-CHE-beh2. Aninta– ah-NIN-tah3. Chi– CHEE4. Chielo– CHEE-el-o5. Egwugwu– EH-gwou-gwou6. Ekwefi– ek-weh-FEE7. Ikemefuna– ikeh-Meh-fou-nah8. Mbaino– M-ba-EE-no9.Mbanta– m-BAHN-tah10. Nwoye– ng-WOY-yeh11. Obierika– O-byeh-REE-kah

Pronunciation Guide

12. Okonkwo– o-KON-kwo13. Umuofia– ou-mwoff-yah14. Unoka– OU-no-ka15. Uzuwulu– OU-zoh-WOU-lou