Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Transcription

1 Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Author Background Chinua (Chin oo ah) Achebe (Ah chay bay) is one of Nigeria s most celebrated authors. Born into the Ibo tribe in 1930, Achebe was educated in English and has composed many novels, short stories, and essays. Most notably, he wrote his first (and best known) novel, Things Fall Apart in In addition, Achebe has lead an extensive teaching career in Nigeria and the United States as an English Literature professor. Cultural Background The Ibos live in Iboland in central Nigeria. The language of the Ibos is based on pitch, vocal inflections, and context when defining the meaning of a word. A single word can have numerous meanings depending on these factors. Proverbs play an important role in the Ibo language. Ibos live in villages that have anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand people comprised of numerous extended families. There is no single ruler or king, instead, decisions are made by including almost everyone in the village. The Ibos are profoundly religious. These polytheistic people worship many gods. They believe that there are three levels of divine beings: the highest level is the supreme god, or Chukwu. Underneath Chukwu are lesser gods, called Umuagbara, and under these are the Ndi Ichie, the spirits of dead people. The Ibos also believe in reincarnation. Each village has priests and priestesses who help in all spiritual matters, conducting ceremonies and rituals. Unfortunately, since the British invaded and settled Iboland in the beginning of the 16th century, things have changed drastically, mostly to the disadvantage of women. Today, women are considered second-class citizens, and subservient to men, and sometimes treated as slaves. Women are also forced to study certain womanly subjects in school 1

2 Language Laws/ Values Sports and Games Clothing CULTURE Gender Roles Religion/ Ceremony Food, Music, Art, Dance Economics 2

3 Themes in TFA: Violence and Consequence: Throughout the novel, you will witness multiple characters faced with violent actions that impact society as a whole. How do the characters react? How does this theme influence the novel as a whole? Fate vs. Free Will: Although the Igbos believe that Chukwu is the supreme god, they also believe that a person has influence over his or her own Chi or personal energy. How do these two ideas influence the characters and the novel as a whole? The Importance of Status and Reputation: In Igbo culture, status and reputation are everything. Men are able to move up and down in the community based on personal achievements and personal flaws. How does status impact characters and the novel as a whole? It is your job to help trace one of our three themes throughout Things Fall Apart. This assignment will require you to record ten quotes from the novel and HOW the quote TEACHES us about the theme. You will then meet with your group to discuss your quotes, and how your theme is developing in the novel. You will be graded by your group members so make sure that you re prepared! Prepared means: having your quotes ready to share, having some information to teach your group about your theme, as well as being an active participator in your group s discussion. I am responsible for tracing the theme of in Things Fall Apart. Quote with Chapter and page # How it relates to the theme and the novel as a whole 3

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5 Okonkwo: Achievements, and Flaws ch. 2, 3, 4 Throughout the novel, you will notice that although Okonkwo is a brave man of high status in the tribe, he also has many character flaws. When you notice one of the three, please write down your examples in the appropriate column. Okonkwo s Achievements and Status (example, pg #, context) Character Flaws (Example, pg#, context) Ch. 5 6 Activity: In both of these chapters, we learn more about many characters, how they relate to Okonkwo and how each functions, AND about the importance of ceremony. In the space below, draw three pictures that represent important scenes from the reading with a brief explanation. 5

6 Ch. 7 Activity: As you read and take notes, be on the lookout for answers to the following questions. Be ready to discuss in class! Make sure to record the pg # you found the info. 1. How has Nwoye changed and what has caused his changes? 2. Describe the arrival of the locusts. How do the people of Umuofia react? 3. Do you think that Ikemefuna suspects that he is going to be killed? Why or why not? 4. How does Okonkwo feel about Ikemefuna s death? How does Okonkwo feel? 5. How do you think the death of Ikemefuna will affect the relationship between Okonkwo and Nwoye? 6. Okonkwo does not heed the advices of the old man, Ogbefi. What consequences do you think there may be for his part in the death of Ikemefuna. 6

7 Chapters 8 10 Activity: As you read and take notes, be on the lookout for answers to the following questions. Be ready to discuss in class! Make sure to record the pg # you found the info. 1. What did Okonkwo do whenever he thought of his father s weakness and failure? 2. What did Okonkwo tell himself about his part in Ikemefuna s death? 3. What did Obierika tell Okonkwo about his part in Ikemefuna s death? 4. The men began discussing rumors about white men. Who did the men think the white men were? 5. Describe the relationship between Ekwefi and Ezinma. 7

8 6. What did the medicine man tell Okonkwo after the death of Ekwefi s second child? 7. Describe the burial of Ekwefi s third child, and the reason for it. 8. Explain the significance of Ezinma s iyiuwa. 9. How did Okonkwo cure Ezinma s iba illness? 10. What was the purpose of the ceremony described in Chapter 10? 8

9 Chapters Activites: As you read and take notes, be on the lookout for answers to the following questions. Be ready to discuss in class! Make sure to record the pg # you found the info. 1. What did Chielo want with Ezinma? 2. What did Okonkwo do when Chielo took Ezinma? What did Ekwefi do? 3. What was the purpose of the uri ceremony? 4. What was the significance in the amount of wine the family brought? 5. What happened at the end of the ceremony? 6. Describe Ezeudu s funeral. 9

10 7. How did the author describe a man s life? 8. What happened during the frenzy? 9. What was the result of Okonkwo s action? 10. What was the reason for the clan s actions against Okonkwo? 11. What did Obierika think about after this calamity, and what was his conclusion? 10

11 Difficulties in reading: LANGUAGE! One of the beauties of the novel is Achebe s commitment to using authentic Igbo Language. Place the vocabulary words into the graphic organizer on the following page, this will help you to better understand the context of each word. Character Name Pronunciation: Okonkwo (Oh kawn kwoh) Ekwefi (Eh kweh fee) Ikemefuna (EE keh me foo nah) Obierka (Oh bee air ee kah) Unoka (Ooh no kah) Nwoye (Nuh wah yeh) Umofia (Oo moo oh fee ah) Ezinma (Eh zeen mah) Vocabulary: Agbala Ani Chi Efulefu Egwugwu Ekwe Foo foo Ilo Iyi uwa Jigida Kola nut Kwenu Ndichi Obi ochu Ogbanje Ogene Osu Oye palm wine udu Yam Woman, also used for a man who has taken no title Earth goddess Personal god Worthless man Masked tribe member who impersonates an ancestral spirit of the villiage Type of drum made from wood Food made from yams that serves a major role in the annual feasts Village green where assemblies are held Special stone that connects the obanje and spirit world String of waits beads worn by women Food used to greet visitors and guests Shout of approval and greeting Elders Large living quarters for the head of a family Murder or manslaughter Changeling; a child who repeatedly dies and returns to its mother to be reborn A gonglike musical instrument Outcast (having been dedicated to a god, the osu was baboo and not allowed to mix with the freeborn) One of the four market days Fermented palm sap used for celebration and ceremony Musical instrument; a type of drum made from pottery Edible root; most valuable cash crop grown in the village 11

12 8 th Proverbs and Folk Tales 9 th Creating a Culture 15 th 16 th Rubber Chicken Con Foil Micro Essay Read Chapter 3 10 th Creating a culture map and flag 17 th Culture War Reading Day Chapter 4 11 th Danger of a Single Story 18 th Week of Peace Activity 12 th MLK Con Chapter 1 and 2 19 th Reading Day Chapter 5 (out loud) Chapter 6 silently Weekend (make sure that you have chapters 1&2 done) Weekend (keep up with packetshould be through page 5) 22 nd Read chapter 7 Complete activity in packet 23 rd Prep question for Socratic seminar 24 th Finals 1, 3, 5 25 th Finals 2, 4, 6 Socratic Seminar Okonkwo s Family Tree Micro Essay 26 th NO SCHOOL Weekend Enjoy a brief rest before second semester Reading Calendar Things Fall Apart Part 1 Second semester reading schedule TBD 12