Things%20Fall%20Apart%20Chinua%20Achebe

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Things Fall ApartChinua Achebe
Introduction Background Discussion Starters
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Things Fall ApartChinua Achebe

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Things Fall ApartChinua Achebe
Turning and turning in the widening gyre The
falcon cannot hear the falconer Things fall
apart the centre cannot hold Mere anarchy is
loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is
loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence
is drowned The best lack all conviction, while
the worst Are full of passionate
intensity. Surely some revelation is at
hand Surely the Second Coming is at
hand. William Butler Yeats, "The Second Coming"
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Let me first make one general point that is
fundamental and essential to the appreciation of
African issues by Americans. Africans are
people in the same way that Americans, Europeans,
Asians, and others are people. Africans are not
some strange beings with unpronounceable names
and impenetrable minds. Although the action of
Things Fall Apart takes place in a setting with
which most Americans are unfamiliar, the
characters are normal people and their events are
real human events. - Chinua Achebe
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Things Fall Apart Introduction
Change is a part of life.
But when drastic changes transform the world you
knowhow do you deal with them?
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Things Fall Apart Introduction
Okonkwo is a member of the Ibo people in the
African country of Nigeria in the late 1800s.
Okonkwo is a wealthy farmer and is well respected
in his clan.
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Things Fall Apart Introduction
Okonkwo has a big family that follows the
traditions of the Ibo people.
He has three wives
a son, Nwoye
and two daughters, Obiageli and Ezinma.
He also cares for a young boy, Ikemefuma, who has
been brought to the village as a hostage.
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Things Fall Apart Introduction
Okonkwo believes in the Ibo traditions.
He values strength and hard work and looks down
on gentleness and compassion.
Okonkwo will do anything to be different from his
father, who was considered weak and died in
disgrace.
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Things Fall Apart Introduction
But Okonkwos desire to succeed and to stamp out
weakness leads him to commit many violent acts
some of which bring him into conflict with his
clan.
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Things Fall Apart Introduction
One day a senseless act changes his life. He and
his family are sent away from the village.
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Things Fall Apart Introduction
While Okonkwo and his family are away, changes
begin to take place in their village.
Christian missionaries arrivedetermined to
change the Ibo way of life.
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Things Fall Apart Introduction
After seven years, Okonkwo and his family return
home.
What changes will he find in the village?
Will Okonkwo be able to adjust to a world that
has fallen apart?
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Things Fall Apart Background
Things Fall Apart is set during a period of
British colonial rule of Nigeria in the late
1800s.
Nigeria became a British colony in 1886.
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Things Fall Apart Background
Christian missionaries arrived in Nigeria in the
mid-1800s, and by the end of the century had
begun a strong conversion campaign. They wanted
the African people to embrace Christianity.
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Things Fall Apart Background
Traditional Ibo religion was based on an earth
goddess and a creator god. Other deities and
spirits were also honored.
Animals were used as sacrifices in religious
ceremonies.
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Things Fall Apart Background
In Ibo culture, women grew food crops
The Ibo were subsistence farmers, which means
they grew crops to survive.
Men grew the important yam crop. Women grew other
crops.
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Things Fall Apart Background
An Ibo village was part of a clan network made up
of about five thousand people that were

• led by a council of men that made decisions
  democratically

• shared a common market and meeting place

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Conflicts to Watch
Generational Okonkwo vs. Unoka Okonkwo vs.
Nwoye Cultural Ibo vs. Western Tradition
vs. Christianity Assimilation vs.
purity Gender Okonkwo vs. his
wives Inner Okonkwo vs. himself
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The Tragic Hero

• 1. Enjoys an exalted position in society either
  by birth or extraordinary achievements
• 2. Demonstrates wisdom, moral or philosophical
  greatness -- sometimes physical prowess
• Adheres to and exemplifies a code of conduct
  including reverence toward the laws of God and
  the universe, loyalty to the family, and respect
  for government
• 4. Possesses a flaw in personality or psyche
  that ultimately brings about total destruction.

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Things Fall Apart Discussion Starters

• Okonkwo believes that strength and toughness are
  more important than compassion and gentleness.
• In what circumstances might this attitude help a
  person succeed?
• When could it cause problems?
• Does everyone have a tragic flaw?
• What is Okonkwos?
• What is yours?

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Things Fall Apart Discussion Starters

• The European missionaries want the Ibo to change
  their way of life.
• Why do some people want to impose their culture
  on another?
• Can one culture judge another by its own
  standards?
• When do you think its acceptable to encourage a
  group of people to change their way of life? When
  is it not acceptable?