ThingsFallApart

ChinuaAchebe

AbouttheAuthorChinuaAchebe (1930–2013),thesonofaChristianminister,wasoneofNigeria’smostcelebratednovelists.BornanIboinOgidi,Nigeria,in1930,AchebewaseducatedinEnglish.AchebetaughtEnglishattheuniversitylevelatcollegesinAfricaandtheUnitedStates.Hisfirstandbest-knownnovel, ThingsFallApart,waspublishedin1958.Achebewroteseveralnovels,shortstorycollections,andbooksofessays.

AbouttheBook• Thenovelistoldinthirdpersonpointofviewwithanomniscientvoice(thenarratorknowsthethoughtsandfeelingsofall charactersinthestory.• Tragedy:Themaincharacterexperiencesareversaloffortune.Okonkwoisagreatpersonwhoexperiencesareversaloffortune.

– Beabletoexplainhow– Reviewthetragedyworksheetdiscussedinclass.– KnowAristotle'sdefinitionoftragedy– seeworksheet.

• History:– Nigeriagainedindependencein1960– itwasstillaBritishcolonywhentheauthorwrotethebook.– WhenNigeriabecameindependentreligiousandethnictensionsbecameamajorstruggleforthenewgovernment.– Post-Colonialcritique/tragedy

• Setting:– Igbo– LowerpartofNigeria/9Villages

• ThelargestvillageisIguedo.• Theyamisanimportantcrop.• TheNigerRiverisinNigeriamakingthelandfertile

• Customsandtraditions:– TribalcustomsdictateeveryportionofOkonkwo’slife.Hestrivestoliveuptotraditions.Heisunabletoadapttohischangingworld.Hemustfacethe

consequencesofhispoordecisions.– Wealthsymbolizedbylandandyamsaswellasthenumberofwives.– Theartofconversationwashighlyvalued.– Beingagreatwrester/earning(buying)titlesinordertoberespectedwithinatribe.– Clanswerecommittedtoworkingtogethertomaintainpeaceandavoidwar.– Thepracticeofsharingpalm-wineandkolanutsisrepeatedthroughoutthebooktoemphasizethepeacefulnessofIgboculture.– Achebechallengesstereotypicalrepresentationsisthroughlanguage.ThepeopleofUmuofiaspeakacomplexlanguagefullofproverbs,literary,and

rhetoricaldevices(Sparknotes).• Okonkwo:

– Protagonist– Okonkwoisdrivenbyhatredfrohisfatherandfearofbecominglikehisfather.– Hehasabadtemperandruleshishousewithfear.– HeisafraidofbeingweaklikehisfatherUnoka.Inhiseyesweakness=feminitity.

AbouttheBook• ChinuaAchebetookthetitleofThingsFallApartfromthe

poem“SecondComing,”byW.B.Yeats.• TFA wassetinNigeriaandthefictionalvillageiscall

Umuofia.• Listthethemesofthebook:Strugglebetweenchangeand

tradition,interpretationofmasculinity,languageasasignofculturaldifference,culturalclash

• Symbols:– Locust=colonists

• Allegoricaltermsthatprefigurethearrivalofthewhitesettlers,whowillfeastonandexploittheresourcesoftheIgbopeople.

– Fire• Okonkwoisassociatedwithburning,fire,andflamethroughoutthenovelalludingtohisintenseanddangerouspersonality

AbouttheBook• Motifs:

– Chi:• HelpsusunderstandOkonkwoasatragichero.• Chiisanindividual’spersonalgodwhosemeritisdeterminedbytheindividualsgoodfortuneorlackthereof.

• OnecanexplainOkonkwo’stragicfateastheresultofaproblematicchi.Theclanbelievesasthenarratortellsusinchpater 14,a“mancouldnotrisebeyondthedestinyofhischi.”However,chapter4conflictswiththisdefinition.Inchapter4,thenarratorrelatesaccordingtoanIboproverb,that“whenamansaysyeshischisaysyesalso.”Accordingtothisunderstanding,individualswillowntheirdestinies.Thisdependingonourinterpretationsofchi,Okonkwoseemseithermoreorlessresponsibleforhisowndemise(Sparknotes).

AbouttheBook

• Motifs:– AnimalImagery

• Intheirdescriptions,categorizations,andexplanationsofhumanbehaviorandwisdom,theIgbooftenuseanimalanecdotestonaturalizetheirritualsandbeliefs.Thepresenceofanimalsinfolklorereflectsanenvironmentinwhichtheylive– notyet“modernized.”Enoch’sallegedkillingandeatingofthepythonsymbolizesthetransitiontoanewformofspiritualityandanewreligiousorder.Enoch’sdisrespectofthepythonclasheswithIgbo’srevengeforit–incompatibility(Sparknotes).

Names• Achebe(Ah-chay-bay)• Chinua(Chin-oo-ah)• Ekwefi (Eh-kweh-fee)• Ezinma (Eh-zeen-mah)• Ikemefuna (Ee-keh-meh-foo-nah)• Obierika (Oh-bee-air-ee-kah)• Nwoye (Nuh-woh-yeh)• Ojiubo (Oh-jee-ooh-boh)• Okonkwo(Oh-kawn-kwoh)• Umuofia(Oo-moo-oh-fee-ah)• Unoka (Ooh-no-kah)• Mr.Brown• Rev.JamesSmith• TheDistrictCommissioner• Mr.Kiaga

AbouttheBook

• Introduction- Introducesthecharactersandthesettingofthestory:– ThemaincharacterOkonkwoisintroduced.Hehasrisenfromnothingtoahighpositioninthevillage

• RisingAction- Aseriesofeventsorstrugglesthattheprotagonistexperiencesandwhichleadstotheclimax,turningpointofthestory.– Enoch’sunmaskingofanEgwugwa,andtheDistrictCommissionerssneakyarrestoftheUmuofianleaders.

AbouttheBook

• Climax- Thedecisivemomentastorydeterminestheoutcomeoftheconflict:– Okonkwo’sfallfromgrace.

• FallingAction– Theeventsthatfollowtheclimaxleadinguptotheresolution.– Thevillageallowsthewhitegovernment’smessengertoescape.

• Resolution– Theoutcomeofthestory:– TheCommissionerconsiderswritingabookabouthisexperiences

Proverbsandfolktales• Proverbs and folktales areonepartofaculture’soraltradition.Peopleshareproverbsandfolktalesinordertoexpressimportantstories,ideas,andbeliefsabouttheirculture.

• Asyoureadthenovel ThingsFallApart,youwillencountermanyproverbsandfolktalesthatillustratethebeliefsoftheIbopeople.OnememorableIboproverbis“Proverbsarethepalmoilwithwhichwordsareeaten.”Explainwhatyouthinkthisproverbmeans.

ProverbsandFolktalesProverb Explanation

Ifachildwasheshishands,hecouldeatwith

kings.

Cleanlinessisavirtue(e.g.,cleanlinessisnextto

godliness).

Whenthemoonisshining,the cripplebecomeshungryfora walk.

Someopportunitiesarejusttoogoodtoresist.

Sincemenhavelearnedtoshootwithoutmissing,[thebird]haslearnedtoflywithoutperching.

Adaptationisthekeytosurvival.

Theclanwaslikealizard.Ifitlostitstailitsoon

grewanother.

Ifarolewithinthecommunitybecame

vacant,someonewouldsoonfillit.

Icannotliveonthebankofariverandwashmyhandswithspittle.

WhyshouldIsettleforless,whenIcouldhave

better?

Amanwhopaysrespecttothegreatpavesthewayforhisowngreatness.

Oneismorelikelytoreceiverespectwhenoneshowsrespecttoothers.

Asyouread,usetheorganizerbeloworcreateoneofyourowntocompareand

contrastOkonkwoandhisfather. Recordfactsanddetailsabouteach.

EntryTask

• Listentothesong“FatherandSon”byCatStevens.Jotdownthemainidea/themeofthesong.

• Howisthefatherarchetypeportrayedinthissong?

• HowisitsimilarordifferentthanhowthefatherarchetypeisportrayedinThingsFallApart?

Double-EntryJournalFeelingsandFears:PassagefromtheText PersonalResponseorInterpretation

Example:“Buthiswholelifewasdominatedbyfear,thefearoffailureandofweakness.”

(Ch.2)“Hehadnopatiencewithunsuccessful

men.”(Ch.1)

“Okonkwo’sfirstson,Nwoye,wasthentwelveyearsoldbutwasalreadycausinghis

fathergreatanxietyforhisincipientlaziness.”(Ch.2)

“Andindeedhewaspossessedbythefearofhisfather’scontemptiblelifeandshameful

death.”(Ch.3)“Okonkwonevershowedanyemotion

openly,unlessitbetheemotionofanger.Toshowaffectionwasasignofweakness;the

onlythingworthdemonstratingwasstrength.”(Ch.4)

IwonderwhyOkonkwoissoafraid.Howcouldhebeasuccessfulwrestlerifheisdominatedby

fear?Okonkwo’sfrustrationwithhisfather’sfaultscarriesoverintohisfeelingstowardsothers.

SinceOkonkwo’sfatherisdead,hissonistakingoverasafoil.Father/sontensionmaybeamotif.

Okonkwobecameprosperousbecauseofhisfearofbeinglikehisfather.Canalazyfatherbemore

inspiringthanahardworkingfather?

Okonkwo’scharacteriswarpedbyhisdesirenottoappearweaklikehisfather.Theonlyemotion

heiswillingtoshowisanger.

EntryTaskFebruary24,2016

• Listentothesong“Cat’sintheCradle”byHarryChapin.Jotdownthemainidea/themeofthesong.

• Howisthefatherarchetypeportrayedinthissong?

• HowisitsimilarordifferentthanhowthefatherarchetypeisportrayedinThingsFallApart?

CheckYourUnderstanding

• WhatconflictsalreadyexistedintheIboculturebeforethearrivalofthecolonists?

• HowisUnoka (Okonkwo’sfather)setupasafoiltoOkonkwo?

• Predicthowfather/sontensionscouldbeamotifinthisnovel.

CharacterinConflict

Okonkwo’sAchievementsandStatus NegativeTraitsandActions

AgreatwrestlerWealthyfarmerAgreatwarriorHardworkerReligious

RespectfultocommunityeldersSupportedhismotherandsisters

Doesn’tgiveupCarefulfarmer

Rosetogreatnessfrompoverty

HottemperFearofweakness

FearofbeinglikehisfatherNagsandbeatshissonInsultsunsuccessfulmenCan’tshowemotion

BeatshiswifeForgetstheWeekofPeaceWon’tadmitwrongdoing

Criticalofhissons

Okonkwo’sFamilyTree

Know

Respondtothefollowingquestion:• Whatisyourdefinitionofacivilizedsociety?Acivilizedsocietyisoneinwhich….• Bepreparedtoshareyourideaswiththeclass.

IstheIboculture,aspresentedinthenovel,acivilizedsociety?

Yes No

• Theyhavestrongreligiousbeliefs:theycelebrateandrespecttheWeekofPeace.

• Theirculturerewardshardwork:Okonkwoisrespectedandgivenauthorityduetohis

industriousnature.• Theyhaveastrongsenseof

communityandjustice:therearecustomsinplacetoavoidwar,suchasthetreatyin

whichIkemefuna wassenttoUmuofia asatonement.

• Theyrespectfamilialbonds:Okonkwosupportshismother

andtherestofhisfamilywhenhebeginstomake

money.

• Theyareviolent:Okonkwobeatshiswifeforaminor

offense.• Theykillhumanbeings:

Ikemefuna isslaughteredsenselessly,andtwinsareleft

todieintheforest.• Theyhaveflexible

matrimonialbonds:mentakemultiplewivesandEkwefi left

herfirsthusbandforOkonkwo.

• Theydrinkalcoholandadmiremenfortheirwrestlingskills.

ActsofViolenceWhileatpublicgatherings,observancesofrites,orfestivals,Okonkwooftencommitsactsofviolencethatruintheoccasion andgeneratepublicdisapproval.ReviewPart1andcompletethegraphicorganizerbelowtoidentifyOkonkwo’sviolentactsandtheir

consequences.

ViolentActs Consequences

BeatinghiswifeduringtheWeekofPeace.

KillingIkemefuna.KillingEzeudu’s sonbyaccident.

Heischastisedbythepriestandhastomakereparations.

HedistanceshimselffromhissonNwoye andiscriticizedby

clanelders.Heisexiledfromtheclan.

ExampleThesisStatement

• Okonkwo’sviolenttendenciesleadtohisalienationfromhisfamilyandcommunity.

• Otherexamples?

GenderViews

LearningTargets:• Analyzeculturalviewsofgenderreflectedinthenovel.

• Makeconnectionsamongdifferentcultures’ideasaboutgender.

GenderViews

• Inyourreadingof ThingsFallApart,youmayhavenoticedthatthecharactershaveclearideasabouthowmenandwomenshouldactorbe.Forexample,inChapter2,Okonkwoexpressesafearofappearingtobefeminine,acharacteristicheequateswithweaknessandineffectualness.

GenderViews

IdeasAboutGenderinPart1ofThingsFallApart

Quote MyComments

“Evenasalittleboyhe[Okonkwo]hadresentedhisfather’sfailureandweakness,andevennowhestillrememberedhowhehadsufferedwhenaplaymatehadtoldhimthathisfatherwasagbala.ThatwashowOkonkwofirstcametoknowthat

agbala wasnotonlyanothernameforawoman,itcouldalsomeanamanwhohadtakennotitle.”(Chapter2,p.

13)

Okonkwoisobviouslyupsetabouttheperceptionofhisfather.Heseemstohaveinhismindveryclearlydefinedrolesformalesandfemales,andheobviouslyseemstoconsiderfemalestobeoflowerclassorstaturethanmen.InOkonkwo’smind,themanistheheadofthevillage,andmust

fulfillaveryspecificgender-definedrole.

GenderViews

IdeasAboutGenderinChapter14ofThingsFallApart

Quote MyComments

“Amanbelongstohisfatherlandwhenthingsaregoodandlifeissweet.Butwhenthereissorrowand

bitternesshefindsrefugeinhismotherland.”

“Andthatiswhywesaythatmotherissupreme.”

Uchendu recognizesthestrengthandpowerofthefemaleroleinhisculture.

Okonkwoislikeachildbecausehecanonlyrecognizethemale

powerofsuccessandleadership.Thisrevealsanewperspectiveofthegenderroles

intheIboculture.

AfterreadingCh.14…

Preparetodiscussthefollowingquestionswithasmallgroupbyhighlightingtextualevidencefromeachcharttosupportyourresponses:• HowandwhydotheviewsofgendershiftfromPart1ofthenoveltothefirstchapterofPart2?

• Howdoyoufeelabouttheattitudestowardgenderthatareexpressedinthenovel?

• Howaretheideasofgenderexpressedinthenovelsimilartoanddifferentfromthoseinyourownculture?

EntryTask

• Howwouldyoudefinetheterm“tragichero?”• Whichcharactersinliteratureorfilmmeetyourdefinitionofatragichero?Explain.

ATragicHero?

LearningTargets:• UnderstandandapplytheconceptofatragicherotoOkonkwo.

• WritetoexplainthedegreetowhichOkonkwoisatragichero.

Aristotle’sDefinitionofaTragicHero

• Hehasamixtureofgoodandbadinhispersonality.

• Hehasafatalflaw,orhamartia,whichleadstohisdownfall.

• Heusuallygoesonajourneyorparticipatesinaquest.

• Hehasalargecapacityforsuffering.• Hisdownfallisoftenprecededbyself-realization.

CompletethechartbyprovidingexamplesfromOkonkwo’slifeaswellasthelivesofothercharactersfromliteratureorfilm.

Aristotle’sDefinitionofaTragicHero

ExamplesofOkonkwo’sHeroicBehavior

ExamplesofHeroicBehaviorfromBooks/Film

Hehasamixtureofgoodandbadinhispersonality.

Heisahardworker,butheisalsocrueltohiswivesand

children.

InShakespeare’s RomeoandJuliet,Romeoisaloyalfriend,butalsoisquick-tempered.

Hehasafatalflaw,orhamartia,whichleadstohisdownfall.

Okonkwo’sviolenceishishamartia.

Romeo’stragicflawishisimpulsiveness:heisimpulsiveinmarryingJuliet,killingTybalt,

andkillinghimself.

Heusuallygoesonajourneyorparticipatesinaquest.

Okonkwoisexiledtohismotherland.

RomeoisexiledfromVeronaafterkillingTybalt.

Hehasalargecapacityforsuffering.

Hesuffersvisiblyoverhisfather’slaziness,Ikemefuna’s

death,hisexile…

Romeoisoftenverydepressedandcomplainsabouthisfate(Rosaline,Juliet,hisexile)

throughouttheplay.

Hisdownfallisoftenprecededbyself-realization.

AtthebeginningofChapter13,OkonkworemembersEzeudu’swarningaboutIkemefunaand“acoldshiver”ranthroughhim.

HetriestoavoidfightingwithTybalt,butgetsdrawnintoitanywayafterMercutio’sdeath.

Chapter14-19Review• Whatisthequestionthegroom’sfamilyasks?• WhatdoesOkonkwo’scousinsgivehim?• Whathappenstotheiron-horse?• WherearethepeopleofAbame whentheyareshot?• Whatphrasedoesthemissionaryusefor“myself”?• HowdoesNwoye joiningthemissionariesaffecthisrelationship

withhisfather?• WhydoesNneka convert?Whymightthisbeimportant?• Whatcontroversialgroupofpeopleisallowedintothechurch?• Whokillsthesacredpython?• Whatisthepurposefeast?• Whichcharacteriscalled“Salt”?

Chapter20- 25Review• WhatdoesOkonkwoaskEzinma nottodo?• Whatarethekotma (courtmessengerscalled?• WhatdoesEnoch,thezealousconvert,dothatissobad?• HowisMr.SmithdifferentfromMr.Brown?• Whatdotheegwugwu tellMr.Smith?• HowmuchdotheypaytheDistrictCommissioner?• Whatmessageisbroughttothevillage?• HowdoesOkonkworespond?• WhathappenstoOkonkwoandhowdotheydealwithhis

body?Whattroubledotheyhave?• HowandwheredoesOkonkwodie?

WritingPrompt

• IntheUnit3,respondtothefollowingprompt:

TowhatdegreedoesOkonkwofitAristotle’sdefinitionofatragichero?Whatflawleadstohisdownfall?

Chapters16-19

In Chapter 15, Uchendu says, “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”

Part 2 of Things Fall Apart introduces the cultural conflict when white men come into contact with the Ibo. Predict what aspects of each culture might appear as an “abomination” to the other.

KeyEventsofChapter WhyEventsAreImportant

Chapter15– Second yearofexileThe Abame clan is destroyed after they kill a

white man who appeared suddenly.

Theyforeshadowpossiblenegativeconsequencesofinteractionswithwhite

men.

Chapter16– Fourth yearofexileMissionaries come to Umuofia and Mbanta. The first converts are “worthless” men, but

Nwoye is also intrigued.

Theclan’soutcastshavefoundacceptanceandbelonging.Theoutsiderisoftenthe

beginningofarevolution.

Chapter17Missionaries build a church in “evil forest”

land. Nwoye joins them, is beaten by Okonkwo, and then leaves to attend the

missionary school.

Nwoye andothersfindanswerstotheirdoubtsabouttheclan’scustoms.Nwoye isfinallylosttoOkonkwobecauseofhis

father’sviolence.

Chapter18Converts are beaten when they threaten shrines. Outcasts are included in church.

Sacred python is killed. Converts are ostracized from the clan.

Byunderminingthevaluesandsocialorderofthevillage,thechurchpavesthewayfortakingadvantageofthelooseningofthesocialorderandcreatinganeworder.

Chapter19Okonkwo prepares to return to Umuofia

with an extravagant feast of thanks.

Okonkwohasnotchangedmuchinthesevenyearsintermsofhisvaluesandtemperament,butlikelyUmuofia has

changedagreatdeal.

Chapter20-23—During/AfterReading

• Usethefollowingcharttocompareandcontrastthetwomissionaries,Mr.BrownandMr.Smith.Recordwhateachsaysanddoes,alongwiththeirattitudesandbeliefs.Continueonaseparatepageifneeded

COMPAREANDCONTRASTChapters20– 23:Usethefollowingcharttocompareandcontrastthetwomissionaries,Mr.BrownandMr.Smith.Recordwhat

eachsaysanddoes,alongwiththeirattitudesandbeliefs.Continueonaseparatepageifneeded.

Mr.Brown Mr.Smith

Restrainsconvertsfromprovokingtheclan.

Makesfriendswiththegreatmenoftheclan.

Talkstotheclanleadersaboutreligion.Buildsaschoolandhospital.

Begspeopletosendchildrentohisschool.

Doesn’tattacktheclan’sreligion.

Believesthatthechurchshouldbeselective.

Suspendsawomanforallowingherhusbandtomutilateherdeadchild.

Encouragesthe“overzealous”converts.ProtectsEnochafterhe“kills”an

ancestralspirit.Doesn’tcommunicateeffectivelywiththe

clan.

COMPAREANDCONTRASTChapters20– 23:Usethefollowingcharttocompareandcontrastthetwomissionaries,Mr.BrownandMr.Smith.Recordwhat

eachsaysanddoes,alongwiththeirattitudesandbeliefs.Continueonaseparatepageifneeded.

.

FinalReview• Unoka – Okonkwo’sfather• Umuofia– VillagewhereOkonkwolived• Ikemefuna – Youngboywhowasmurderedbytheclan• Mr.Brown– FirstmissionaryinUmuofia• Ezinma – Okonkwo’sfavoritechild• Nwoye – Okonkwo’slazyson• Obierika – Okonkwo’sfriend• Chukwu – majorgodofthevillagers• Chielo– Priestessfortheoracle• Mbanta – villagewhereOkonkwowentintoexile

FinalReview• Howdidpeopleviewyams?

– Yamsstoodforwealthandmanliness,andonewhocouldfeedhisfamilyonyamsallyearwasagreatman.

• DescribeOkonkwo’sphysicalappearanceandpersonality.– Hewastallandhuge.Hisbushyeyebrowsandwidenosemadehimlooksever.Hewalkedas

thoughhewerereadytopounce.Hewasimpatient,andquicktoanger.Okonkwowashard-working,andhadalargecropofyams.

• WhatdidOkonkwodowheneverhethoughtofhisfather’sweaknessandfailure?– Hethoughtofhisownstrengthandsuccess.

• DescribewhathappenedtoIkemefuna.– Theoracledecidedthatthevillagersshouldkillhim.Thementoldhimhewasgoinghome,

andtheyallleftthevillage.OneofthemenstruckIkemefuna frombehind.WhenhecalledouttoOkonkwothathehadbeenkilled,Okonkwopanickedandkilledhimwithhismachete.

• DescribethesearchforEzinma’s iyi-uwa,andexplainitssignificance.– Thiswasaspecialkindofstonethatformedthelinkbetweenanogbanje andthespiritworld.

Ifitwerediscoveredthenthechildwouldnotdie.Ezinma didn’treallyknowwhattheyweretalkingabout,butshedutifullyledOkagbue andtheothersthroughthebush,thenbacktotheroad.Shepointedtoaspotunderanorangetreeandsaidheriyi-uwa wasthere.Okagbue andOkonkwoduguntiltheyfoundastonewrappedinacloth,whichOkagbue saidwastheiyi-uwa.ThenthepeopleknewEzima’s troubleswereover.

FinalReview• DescribetheeventsthathappenedatEzeudu’s funeral.

– Hewastheclanelder,sotherewasagreatceremony.Therewasalotofshouting,drumbeating,andfiringofguns.Okonkwoaccidentallyshotaboyandkilledhim.

• WheredidthemissionariesinMbanta buildtheirchurch,whyweretheygiventhatparticularpieceofland,andwhathappenedtothem?

– ThevillagersgavethemissionarieslandintheEvilForest,becausetheydidn’treallywantthem,andtheythoughtthemissionarieswoulddeclinetheoffer.Whenthemissionarieswerealiveandwellwhenthevillagersexpectedthemtobedead,theywonmoreconverts.

• DescribethechangesthathadcometoUmuofiainthesevenyearsthatOkonkwowasinexile.

– TheChristianchurchhadmanyconverts.Thewhitemenhadbroughtagovernmentandbuiltacourt.Thenewprisonwasfullofmenwhohadbrokenthewhitemen’slaws.

• HowdidOkonkwofeelwhenhereturnedfromthewhiteman’sprison?– Hewasfullofhateandbitterness,andwantedrevenge.

• WhathappenedtoOkonkwoattheendofthestory?– Hehangedhimself.