Things Fall Apart: Proverbs, Fables, Myths, and Legends ...



Ms. Wicker Things Fall Apart Unit

Proverbs, Fables and Folktales: The Means of Oral Storytelling

1. Note taking Guide to Prezi: Background Information on Things Fall Apart

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*About the Author: Slides 1 & 2*

Where did Chinua Achebe grow up?

What type of life did he live there?

He was the son of ______________.

Learned English at age _____.

He entered college on a ______________.

He lived from _________- _____________.

In ______ he wrote Things Fall Apart in ____________.

Currently, Achebe teaches at ______ College in ___________.

*The Setting*

The _______ are the ___________ inhabitants of eastern __________. The occupied a region called “Iboland”

for at least ________ years before the arrival of the ______________.

*The Ibo of Nigeria*

They are the ______ largest ethnic group in Nigeria, behind the Hausa and _______.

They make up _____% of Nigeria’s population.

They live in ____________ villages with no __________ authority.

The Ibo is ruled by _________ consensus.

*Ibo Lifestyle*

Many Ibo farm for a __________.

Common staples include:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

*Ibo Religion*

___________ : Supreme God who appoints smaller gods to help Him

___________: daughter of Chuwu, goddess of morality & fertility, earth goddess (depended on for food & life)

___________: personal god, guardian, spirit, soul & spiritual double. A person’s other identity in the spirit land.

*The Colonization of Africa*

____________ missionaries arrive din the ______ century, but were repelled by tropical diseases such as

_______________.

By the mid-1800’s, Nigeria became part of __________ imperial expansion that focused on exploiting raw materials.

By the late 1800’s, Christian missionary groups returned to Africa behind the colonists and “______ the natives.”

*Purpose of Achebe’s Writing*:

Why does Achebe say he writes?

Why write in English?

*ORAL TRADITION*

“Proverbs are the _____________ which words are eaten”

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A Closer Look at Proverbs and Folktales

Important Definitions:

Proverbs – a short popular saying expressing an obvious truth

Fables – a fictitious story, usually about animals, meant to teach a moral lesson

Folktale - a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth

Legend – a story handed down for generations and popularly believed to have a historical basis

Myths – traditional story serving to explain some phenomenon, custom, etc.

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PART 1: Proverbs ()

What is a proverb?:

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Why do proverbs exist?

List some proverbs you try to live by.

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Proverbs in TFA: Now, let’s look at Proverbs in TFA. First we will look at one together and figure out what it is saying; then you will look at the rest in groups and decide what each proverb means. While you do not know exactly what is going on in the book during the time this particular proverb is said, you should still be able to decipher what message is trying to be displayed. Also, a short description of the context of the proverb in relationship to what is going on in the text at that time is provided.

Example #1:

“Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching” (22).

a. Means that as conditions or situations change, one must adapt to survive those changes.

b. Okonkwo is asking for seed yams from Nwakibie, and Nwakibie is saying how he has become more careful with loaning seed yams since young men have become soft.

c. This proverb applies to the tragedy of the Ibo culture because it was incapable of adapting to change, which contributes to its downfall..

Now, for each proverb below, in a group, decide what you think is trying to be conveyed. What is the message of each proverb? LOOK AT EACH PROVERB IN THE TEXT!

2. "A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness” (19). (Okonkwo explaining why he has come to Nwakibie.)

3. "The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree to the ground said he would praise himself if no one else did" (21). (Okonkwo, explaining his capacity for hard work before Nwakibie, his sons and neighbors.)

4. "Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble" (26). (Okonkwo's arrogance in calling Osugo a "woman" at the meeting of the people.)

5. "The Earth cannot punish me for obeying her messenger" (67).

6. "A child’s fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which its mother puts into its palm.” (67)  Okonkwo's role in Ikemefuna’s death.

7. "As the elders said, if one finger brought oil it soiled the others" (125). Obierika’s mourning over Okonkwo's exile, but his rationale that one could not ignore offenses against the earth.

8. "Living fire begets cold, impotent ash" (151). Okonkwo's analysis of the conversion of his "degenerate and effeminate" son, Nwoye.

9. "A man danced so the drums were beaten for him" (185).  (Rev. Smith’s intransigence and hostility towards anything traditional.)

10. "Whenever you see a toad jumping in broad daylight, then you know that something is after its life" (203). Said at the meeting of Umuohia after the imprisonment of the six elders.

11. "Eneke the bird was asked why he was always on the wing and he replied: "Men have learned to shoot without missing their mark and I have learned to fly without perching on a twig" (204).

Part 2: Fables/Folktales

Fable - a fictitious story, usually about animals, meant to teach a moral lesson

Folktale - a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth

The fables and folktales in Things Fall Apart demonstrate a central aspect of Igbo culture, reveal the values essential to the Igbo, and reflect the destructive relationship between the Igbo tribe and the Christian missionaries. We are going to look at four different folktales in Things Fall Apart. Each serves a slightly different purpose. Some are practical and explain daily phenomena. Others demonstrate values that are important to the clan and serve as a warning for the consequences of bad behavior, or to encourage knowledge before action.

Now, open your books, and let’s look at the following fables in TFA. For teach fable that we read, write down the message/point of that particular fable.

1. The Vulture and the Sky (Chapter 7, pg. 53-54)

2. The Mosquito and Ear (Chapter 9, pg. 75)

3. The Leaves and the Snakelizard (Chapter 9, 83-84)

4. How Tortoise Got His Bumpy Shell (Chapter 11, pg. 96-99)

Fables and Fairytales in Our Society

First, let’s look at some famous American fables; you might have heard some of these before. Read each fable and fill out the chart below for each fable, then go back and write down what you think the moral is for each fable on the line below.

1. The Lion and the Mouse

A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened

shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth

and set him free, exclaiming:

"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to con benefits

on a Lion."

Moral: __________________________________________________________________________

2. The Milk-Woman and Her Pail

A FARMER'S daughter was carrying her Pail of milk from the field to the farmhouse, when she fell a-musing. "The money for which this milk will be sold, will buy at least three hundred eggs. The eggs, allowing for all mishaps, will produce two hundred and

fifty chickens. The chickens will become ready for the market when poultry will fetch the highest price, so that by the end of the year I shall have money enough from my share to buy a new gown. In this dress I will go to the Christmas parties, where

all the young fellows will propose to me, but I will toss my head and refuse them every one." At this moment she tossed her head in unison with her thoughts, when down fell the milk pail to the ground, and all her imaginary schemes perished in a moment.

Moral:______ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. The Four Oxen and the Lion

A Lion used to prowl about a field in which Four Oxen used to dwell. Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way

he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. At last, however, they fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. Then

the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four

Moral: __________________________________________________________________________________

Fable Dissection Chart

|Name of Fable |Exposition (Characters and |Rising Action (Events |Conflict |Falling Action (Events |Moral |

| |Setting) |leading to conflict) |(Struggle in the Story) |Resulting from Conflict) |(Lesson) |

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