Things+Fall+Apart

Your source for all things related to __Things Fall Apart__.

Biographical questions about the author.

1. What is the greatest influence on Chinua Achebe's writing? 2. What is a theme that runs through Achebe's writings? 3. What was Chinua Achebe's original name?
 * Chinua Achebe **
 * Chinua Achebe**

Words to know...

Yam __ Kola nut __ : a nut inside the kola, which looks like a green grapefruit. Nuts are silver or pink and their juice contains caffeine. Kola nut picture Harmattan - [] __ Palm oil __
 * __ Palm wine __** : a sweet wine made form the sap of the raffia palm tree.

__Chapter 4__

1. Okonkwo had no patience for less successful men. Does hard work deserve success? 2. How did the Ibo judge a person? 3. At one point, Okonkwo says that affection is a sign of weakness. Do you agree? 4. How did Okonkwo break the Week of Peace? 5. What emphasis is placed on the "gods" in the tribe?

Chapter 7


 * 1) Who are the Igbo people? Where do they live? Describe an average day in an Igbo village.
 * 2) pg. 53-54 What is the author’s purpose in telling the story about the vulture, Earth and sky?
 * 3) pg. 56 What does the word “harbinger” mean in line 3?
 * 4) What does Ogbuefi Ezedu warn Okonkwo about? What are his reasons?
 * 5) What is Ikemefuna told is going to happen and how does he feel about it?
 * 6) Why does Okonkwo kill Ikemefuna?

Chapter 8


 * 1) Why does Okonkwo think Ezinma should have been a boy?
 * 2) How do the roles of men and women appear in the story?
 * 3) pg. 67 – What is meant by “A child’s fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which its mother puts into its palm?” Relate this statement to something in your life.
 * 4) Why is it a big deal for the men to decide the terms of the marriage? What did this do or guarantee for the community?
 * 5) pg. 74 – What is the discussion about when the men are talking about bride prices and children? Why is it significant?

Chapter 9


 * 1) What is happening to Ezinma? What is the explanation (pg. 78-80)?
 * 2) What is the significance in the names of Ekwefi’s children?
 * 3) What happened to the third child? Why?
 * 4) What is the iyi-uwa and why was it a big deal?
 * 5) Which literary device is used to tell Ezinma’s history in Chapter 9?

Chapter 10


 * 1) What is the dispute in Chapter 10? How is it settled? What are the cost/benefits in having a “judicial system” like this? (At least 8 sentences)

Chapter 11


 * 1) What is the moral or purpose of the story about the tortoise, the birds and the feast? Why tell it to children?
 * 2) Who is Agbala? Why does Chielo come to Okonkwo’s compound? What is the reaction to her visit?

Chapter 12
 * 1) Who pays the bride price? How are other cultures different? Why would the suitor’s family pay for the bride?
 * 2) What role does magic play in the Igbo society? Why?
 * 3) Why is it a big deal to marry someone from a different town? What are the advantages and/or disadvantages?

Chapter 13
 * 1) What do you think should have happened to Okonkwo?
 * 2) pg. 122 – “The land of the living was not far removed from the domains of the ancestors.” Connect that statement to what you know about other cultures.
 * 3) Where do the villagers get guns?
 * 4) Obierika (pg. 125) begins questioning some of the traditions/beliefs of the village. What, if anything, will come from this? Why?

Chapter 14
 * 1) Discuss the differences between the motherland and the fatherland.
 * 2) Explain/Describe Okonkwo’s new life. Pay careful attention to similarities and differences to his former life.

Chapter 15
 * 1) Describe/recount the news that Obierika brings to Okonkwo. What happened to Abame? Why? What is their explanation?
 * 2) What is an iron horse?
 * 3) What was the white man most likely doing in Abame?
 * 4) Explain the last exchange between Obierika and Okonkwo on pg. 142.

Chapter 16
 * 1) Missionaries. Where are they coming from and why are the coming? What impact do they hope to have on the Igbo people? What other effects might occur? Who is impacted first? Why? Does it make sense? Why does Nwoye join the missionaries?
 * 2) How does the language difference impact the effectiveness of the missionaries’ message?
 * 3) What is threatening the Igbo culture? What could happen to society?
 * 4) Predict what will happen when Okonkwo finds out Nwoye was interested in the missionaries.

Chapter 17
 * 1) What piece of land do the villagers give to the missionaries? What are the expectations of both parties?
 * 2) How do the villagers explain strage events or things that they don’t understand?
 * 3) “Living fire begets cold, impotent ash,” (pg. 153). Explain the literal meaning of the quote and what it means in the story.

Chapter 18
 * 1) On page 155 it says that they “brought a religion but also a government,” What does the author mean? Is this historically accurate? Hint – think colonialism

Chapter 19
 * 1) Describe the events surrounding Okonkwo’s return to Umoufia.
 * 2) Why does Okonkwo’s uncle say that they are better than animals?

Chapter 20
 * 1) What is Okonkwo’s reaction to Nwoye’s decision?
 * 2) Why doesn’t Ezinma want to marry? What does Okonkwo think about this?
 * 3) Besides the Church, what else does the white man bring? What does this do to society?
 * 4) pg. 176 – “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” Explain what he is talking about.

Chapter 21
 * 1) Describe Mr. Brown. How and why is he respected by the clan?
 * 2) What problem does Akunna find in the religion?
 * 3) What is Nwoye’s new name?

Chapter 22
 * 1) Who is Mr. Smith? How is he different than Mr. Brown?
 * 2) What’s the story with Enoch? What does he do and what happens because of it?
 * 3) Describe the events with the //egwugwu//. What is the result?

Chapter 23
 * 1) What happens to the six men at the District Commissioner?
 * 2) What was supposed to happen to Okonkwo and why didn’t it?
 * 3) Do you think that the title fits the story? Why or why not? Use at least 3 specific examples.