Part One - WORLD LITERATURE



THINGS FALL APART

Chapters 1-5

Part One

The narrator of Things Fall Apart says that Okonkwo’s life is ruled by fear of his own weakness and failure. In what ways do you think these fears affect Okonkwo’s life? His choices and actions? His personality? Write for several minutes about your thoughts on this.

Part Two

Do you personally fear being weak? Or failing in some way? How do you think this fear affects your life and the decisions you make?

Part Three

With a partner, share your responses to parts one and two. Write down what your partner shares for part two of this assignment. Do not simply copy your partner’s answer! Listen and jot down notes.

Things Fall Apart Okonkwo & Unoka Character Traits

Directions: Illustrate your understanding of the differences between Okonkwo and Unoka. Use words, quotations, and symbols (a minimum of two each for each character) to represent the important characteristics of each man; be sure to reflect the different values and behaviors of the father and son.

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Activity 1

The way of life presented in the novel

1 Work with your group to determine the lifestyle of Okonkwo and his extended family of three wives and many children.

Make some notes on the following five aspects of life:

● Tradition: how important is tradition in the way Okonkwo lives his life?  What are the traditions mentioned in this section?

● Respect: for family, chi (personal god), community, friends and enemies.

● Personal goals and ambitions: write down three of yours and three of Okonkwo’s. What are the differences?

● Relationships: between men and women, adults and children, friends and enemies, black and white.

● The role of women: in most things subservient, but supreme in matters of life and death.

2 What five features of the lifestyle described in the novel are different from your own?

Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe Characterization

Activity 2

Okonkwo: heroic or not?

1 Write down five qualities you would associate with a hero or heroine, for example

‘courage’. You might like to think about a personal hero or heroine and focus on the qualities they possess which you admire. _______________________________________________________________________

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2 Now apply your heroic qualities to Okonkwo. Where in the novel do they apply?

For example, you might consider:

● His position of trust, power and authority in Umuofia. We learn on the first page that when Okonkwo threw Amalinze the cat he became famous throughout the nine villages and beyond. ________________________________________________________________________

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Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe Characterization

Activity 2 prompts

1 Below is a list of qualities you should discuss with your group.

● Courage

● Humanity

● Integrity (i.e. they say what they mean and mean what they say; they are what they seem to be)

● Honesty

● Principle

● Loyalty

● Endurance

● Maturity (a high degree of self knowledge)

● Defiance of what is predicted or fated.

2 Below are some questions about Okonkwo’s Character.

● How he is respected:

● How is he a fearless warrior

What does he hate?

● How do we see okonkwo’s strong sense of duty?

Why is Okonkwo the ideal character to represent tradition and values of the Igbo people?

Is he prepared to stand up for what he believes?  How do you know?

Things Fall Apart: Foreshadowing

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Section 2

Activity 1

The scenario and events in this chapter 6 outline the importance of wrestling matches to the Ibo tribe. The author’s description helps the reader visualize and understand the event.

1. Describe how the villagers create the arena.

2. Who sits during the event? Who stands during the event?

3. How is order among the crowd maintained?

4. Describe the teams.

5. Describe the day’s events.

6. What role does music play in the event?

7. How is the winner honored?

What roles does Chielo play in the village?

Eulogy

Activity 1

At the end of the chapter 7‚ members of the Ibo tribe‚ along with Okonkwo‚ kill Ikemefuna, the young man placed under Okonkwo’s care. Imagine that Okonkwo has been instructed by the elders to deliver the eulogy at Ikemefuna’s funeral. Assume the persona of Okonkwo and write the eulogy. Eulogies should offer some insight into how Ikemefuna lived and how he died. Your eulogy should be approximately one page in length.

Activity 2

Locate a copy of your local newspaper and read through the obituaries to understand the purpose and style of the article. Write an obituary for Ikemefuna.

1. Personal Response Nwoye listens to Okonkwo’s stories to please his father. Describe something you do just to please your family.

2. Setting Reread pages 56–61. How is the village transformed during the wrestling contest? Why is the wrestling contest important to Okonkwo? Use the word tradition in your response.

3. Cause and Effect What causes Okonkwo to view himself as weak and womanly?

4. Generate Questions Write a question about this section for someone else reading this book. Exchange questions with them. Do you agree with their answer?

5. Analyze Character In Chapters 6–9, you learn more about Okonkwo through his actions and feelings. Fill in what Okonkwo does and feels in the Details Web.

Details Web

Okonkwo’s Actions and Feelings

What do Okonkwo’s actions and feelings reveal about him?

Study guide questions for section 2:

1. How has Nwoye begun to "act like a man"?

2. What values does Okonkwo associate with manliness?

3. How does Nwoye relate to these values?

4. How does the village react to the coming of the locusts?

5. Why is Okonkwo asked not to take part in the killing of Ikemefuna?

6. Why does Okonkwo act as he does?

7. What is Okonkwo's attitude toward his daughter Ezinma?"

8. How is the notion of white men first introduced into the story?

9. Why does Ekwefi prize her daughter Ezinma so highly?

10. In this chapter the notion of the ogbanje is treated at length. What is an Ogbanje?

11. What ceremony is taking place in chapter 10?

12. In whose favor do the Egwugwu rule?

13. What does this say about women?

Things Fall Apart: Chapters 9-12

Answer the following questions in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper. Make sure you absolutely respond to each part of the question!

Chapter 9:

Describe the relationship between Ekwefi and Ezinma. Why does Ekwefi value Ezinma so much? Give an example of how Ekwefi gives Ezinma special treatment.

Is it clear whether or not the author Achebe Chinua validates the idea of the ogbanje? In other words, is it clear whether or not the reader is to believe that the ogbanje is real? Explain how Chinua either validates or invalidates the idea of the ogbanje through his descriptions in chapter 9.

Describe how Okonkwo uses the medicine to treat Ezinma. What is the required process that makes Ezinma cry?

Chapter 10:

Who is Mgbafo? Briefly summarize why she and her husband are on trial before the egwugwu. What are their arguments against each other?

Who are the egwugwu? How do the women and children respond to the sight of the egwugwu? Why might they behave this way—what does it show about their attitude toward the egwugwu?

What seem to be the main functions of the ceremony? How does Evil Forest refute the argument of Uzowulu that he beat his wife because she was unfaithful to him?

Chapter 11:

What is the moral of the folktale about the tortoise? How does the tortoise trick the birds into trusting him? Why might Chinua have used this specific story in his novel? Who is the tortoise supposed to represent?

Why does the priestess wish to take Ezinma away? How does Okonkwo and Ekwefi respond? What might this show about their attitude toward their child?

Ekwefi follows Chielo into the forest. How does the author describe Ekwefi’s night that shows the reader it was a tough run for her? List a minimum of 5 quotes.

Chapter 12:

How is the importance of family emphasized in the uri ceremony? Briefly describe the uri.

Briefly describe what happens to the man who went to sell a goat. How does Obierika explain the reasoning behind this?

TFA: Discussion Questions for Chapters 14-16

1. “But it was like beginning life anew without the vigor and enthusiasm of youth, like learning to become left-handed in old age” (131).

Why not simply state that work for Okonkwo became hard? Why does the author make use of similes? What is the effect?

Write a simile of your own. “Okonkwo and his family worked very hard to plant a new farm. But it was like ___________.”

2. Read the story on page 140 about Mother Kite, what is Uchendu trying to say? How is this related to how the villagers of Abame killed the white man?

3. Read the last paragraph on page 147 about Nwoye. Why is Nwoye so drawn to this new religion?

Question:

In Mbanta, Okonkwo is scolded for not understanding the Ibo proverb that “Mother is Supreme.” In what ways does Okonkwo ignore or refuse to acknowledge the female virtues (good qualities) in himself and others? How does this one-sidedness create problems create problems for him in life?

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Example Explanation

“Nwoye knew that it was right to be Nwoye learns from his father through

masculine and violent” (53). his tales of war that violence is valued. This asserts that Okonkwo is proud to be a violent man (and thus capable of killing his own son).

Before Ikemefuna is killed at the end of chapter seven, it is clear to the reader and the other characters in the book that his death is coming well before it happens. In the box below, list all the signs that foreshadow his gloomy end. Think of the general atmosphere that is created by this chapter—how was this atmosphere created? Include character actions and behaviors, setting changes, dialogue, etc. under “Example”. Then on the right, explain what feeling, thought, or mood is generated from your example.

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