Exam Prep Worksheet Exam Prep Worksheet
English AI English AI Author:
Author: Chinua AchebeChinua Achebe Title:
Title: Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart
Main Character(s) name and one sentence Main Character(s) name and one sentence description:
description:
Okonkwo, Out of awe and respect, the Ibo Okonkwo, Out of awe and respect, the Ibo tribe refers to Okonkwo as
tribe refers to Okonkwo as 'Roaring Flame.' Fiery'Roaring Flame.' Fiery of temper with a
of temper with a blazing appearancblazing appearance, Okonkwoe, Okonkwo strikes fear in the hearts of his clan members as strikes fear in the hearts of his clan members as well as his own family unit.
well as his own family unit.
While Okonkwo's appearance portrays a While Okonkwo's appearance portrays a man people fear, it
man people fear, it belies the terror Okonkwobelies the terror Okonkwo hides within himself. For his entire
hides within himself. For his entire life, Okonkwolife, Okonkwo has had to deal with having a father who is
has had to deal with having a father who is
considered weak and lazy—'agabala' in the tribe's considered weak and lazy—'agabala' in the tribe's terms. The tribe detests weak, effeminate men. terms. The tribe detests weak, effeminate men. Okonkwo is terrified to think that the tribe will Okonkwo is terrified to think that the tribe will liken him to his father. He is
liken him to his father. He is even more afraid of even more afraid of recognizing in himself some semblance of
recognizing in himself some semblance of weakness that he sees in his father. Thus, he weakness that he sees in his father. Thus, he despises gentleness, idleness, and
despises gentleness, idleness, and demonstration
demonstrations of s of sensitivity. He will not allowsensitivity. He will not allow himself to show love, to enjoy the
himself to show love, to enjoy the fruits of hardfruits of hard work, or to demonstrate concern for others, nor work, or to demonstrate concern for others, nor can he tolerate these in other men. He rules his can he tolerate these in other men. He rules his family unit with an iron fist and
family unit with an iron fist and expects everyoneexpects everyone to act on his
to act on his commands.commands.
The tribe sees Okonkwo as powerful. They The tribe sees Okonkwo as powerful. They respect him for his many achievements. Not only respect him for his many achievements. Not only has he overcome his father's weaknesses, but has he overcome his father's weaknesses, but also he has accomplished more than
also he has accomplished more than the averagethe average tribesman
tribesman. As a . As a young man, he wrestles andyoung man, he wrestles and beats one of the fiercest fighters in the beats one of the fiercest fighters in the land.land. Next, Okonkwo goes on to amass three wives and Next, Okonkwo goes on to amass three wives and two barns full of yams. Then, he
two barns full of yams. Then, he acquires twoacquires two titles and is considered the
titles and is considered the greatest warrior alive.greatest warrior alive. Two Important Minor Characters and their Two Important Minor Characters and their relationship with the main character:
relationship with the main character: Unoka is Okonkwo's father, the root of Unoka is Okonkwo's father, the root of Okonkwo's fear and problems. Unoka represents Okonkwo's fear and problems. Unoka represents all that the Ibo abhor—gentleness, lack of
all that the Ibo abhor—gentleness, lack of ambition, and sensitivity to people and
ambition, and sensitivity to people and nature. Henature. He is a gifted musician who loves fellowship, the is a gifted musician who loves fellowship, the change of the
change of the seasons, and children. Althoughseasons, and children. Although Unoka is tall, his stooped posture bears the Unoka is tall, his stooped posture bears the weight of the tribe's scorn.
weight of the tribe's scorn.
Okonkwo's son, Nwoye, disappoints him. Okonkwo's son, Nwoye, disappoints him. Nwoye shows all the signs
Nwoye shows all the signs of his grandfather'sof his grandfather's sensitivity and laziness, and Okonkwo fears that sensitivity and laziness, and Okonkwo fears that Nwoye will shame the reputable name Okonkwo Nwoye will shame the reputable name Okonkwo has worked so hard to achieve. Nwoye knows that has worked so hard to achieve. Nwoye knows that he should enjoy the masculine rites of his fellow he should enjoy the masculine rites of his fellow tribesmen, but he prefers his
tribesmen, but he prefers his mother's companymother's company and the stories she tells. He questions and is and the stories she tells. He questions and is disturbed by many of the tribe's customs. disturbed by many of the tribe's customs. Okonkwo beats and nags Nwoye, making
Okonkwo beats and nags Nwoye, making NwoyeNwoye unhappy and further distancing him from the unhappy and further distancing him from the ways of the clan.
ways of the clan.
The setting of the work (Time and Place) The setting of the work (Time and Place) and one sentence as to why it is important: and one sentence as to why it is important:
Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart is set in Umuofia, a tribalis set in Umuofia, a tribal village in the country of Nigeria, in Africa. It is the village in the country of Nigeria, in Africa. It is the late 1800s, when English bureaucrats and
late 1800s, when English bureaucrats and missionaries are first arriving in the area. missionaries are first arriving in the area. Although there is a long history of
Although there is a long history of conflictconflict between European colonists and the Africans, between European colonists and the Africans, they try to convert and
they try to convert and subjugate, by placing thesubjugate, by placing the novel at the beginning of this
novel at the beginning of this period Achebe canperiod Achebe can accentuate the clash of cultures that are just accentuate the clash of cultures that are just coming into contact. It also sets up
coming into contact. It also sets up a greatera greater contrast between the time Okonkwo
contrast between the time Okonkwo leaves theleaves the tribe and the time he returns, when his village is tribe and the time he returns, when his village is almost unrecognizab
almost unrecognizable to him le to him because of thebecause of the changes brought by the English. In a broader changes brought by the English. In a broader sense, Achebe sets this story about Okonkwo at sense, Achebe sets this story about Okonkwo at the end of the
the end of the nineteenth century whennineteenth century when
Europeans first began colonizing this region of Europeans first began colonizing this region of Nigeria on a large scale. By so doing, Achebe Nigeria on a large scale. By so doing, Achebe establishes a parallel between Okonkwo's establishes a parallel between Okonkwo's personal tragedy and colonialism's tragic personal tragedy and colonialism's tragic destruction of native
destruction of native African cultures.African cultures.
In chronological order, list the five most In chronological order, list the five most important events in the work:
important events in the work:
1.
1.
Umuofian’s notice Okonkwo’s Umuofian’s notice Okonkwo’s extraordinextraordinaryary talents and reward him by making him the talents and reward him by making him the guardian of Ikemefuna, a youngguardian of Ikemefuna, a young boy awardedboy awarded to Umuofia as compensation for wrongs
to Umuofia as compensation for wrongs committed by a
committed by a neighboring village.neighboring village. 2.
2. OkonOkonkwo ckwo commitommits his s his worsworst crt crime, ime, howevhowever,er, when he participates in the
when he participates in the sacrifice of sacrifice of Ikemefuna.
Ikemefuna. 3.
3. DespDespite ite OkonOkonkwo's kwo's numenumerous rous violaviolationtions of s of custom and violent behavior, he
custom and violent behavior, he ultimatelyultimately loses his prestigious position in Umuofia not loses his prestigious position in Umuofia not because of his misdeeds but because of an because of his misdeeds but because of an accident. During Ezeudu's funeral ceremony, accident. During Ezeudu's funeral ceremony, his gun misfires and
his gun misfires and accidentalaccidentally kills a ly kills a boy.boy. Therefore, he seeks refuge among his
Therefore, he seeks refuge among his mother's kinsmen in Mbanta.
mother's kinsmen in Mbanta. 4.
4. DuriDuring thng this tiis time, tme, the Brhe Britisitish begh begin colin colonizionizingng the surrounding areas, and this begins a the surrounding areas, and this begins a vicious cycle of mutual confrontation as the vicious cycle of mutual confrontation as the two cultures clash. Many tribesmen convert two cultures clash. Many tribesmen convert including Okonkwo’s son.
including Okonkwo’s son. 5.
5. WhWhen a meen a messessengenger fror from the gom the goververnmenmentnt arrives to stop their
arrives to stop their meeting, Okonkwo killsmeeting, Okonkwo kills the messenger, and the meeting ends in the messenger, and the meeting ends in chaos. The next day the District
chaos. The next day the District
Commissioner himself comes to arrest Commissioner himself comes to arrest Okonkwo, but Okonkwo has already Okonkwo, but Okonkwo has already committed suicide.
What is the dominant symbol in the work What is the dominant symbol in the work and give one specific example of where it is and give one specific example of where it is used:
used:
Yams, Yams are a
Yams, Yams are a crop grown exclusivelycrop grown exclusively by men. Growing yams is labor intensive, and the by men. Growing yams is labor intensive, and the size of a man's fields and
size of a man's fields and harvest say much aboutharvest say much about his work ethic. Yams are grown to gain wealth his work ethic. Yams are grown to gain wealth and to feed one's family. They are
and to feed one's family. They are a symbol of a symbol of masculinit
masculinity and y and ability as a provider.ability as a provider.
Describe the narrative style in the book and Describe the narrative style in the book and briefly explain how it is used effectively: briefly explain how it is used effectively:
Achebe develops
Achebe develops Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart throughthrough a third-person narrative—using “he” and “she” a third-person narrative—using “he” and “she” for exposition—rather than having
for exposition—rather than having the charactersthe characters tell it themselves. Often speaking in
tell it themselves. Often speaking in the pastthe past tense, he also narrates the story with little use of tense, he also narrates the story with little use of character dialogue
character dialogue. The . The resulting story reads likeresulting story reads like an oral tale that has been passed down through an oral tale that has been passed down through generations of
generations of storytellersstorytellers.. In addition, the book is
In addition, the book is divided into threedivided into three parts;
parts; Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart comprises manycomprises many substories. Yet Achebe holds the
substories. Yet Achebe holds the various storiesvarious stories together through his use of proverbs, the
together through his use of proverbs, the traditiona
traditional oral l oral tale, andtale, and leitmotif leitmotif , or recurring, or recurring images or phrases. Ibo proverbs occur
images or phrases. Ibo proverbs occur throughoutthroughout the book providing a unity to
the book providing a unity to the surfacethe surface
progression of the story. For example, 'when a progression of the story. For example, 'when a man says yes, his chi says yes' is the proverb the man says yes, his chi says yes' is the proverb the tribe applies to Okonkwo's success, on the one tribe applies to Okonkwo's success, on the one hand, but is also the proverb Okonkwo, himself, hand, but is also the proverb Okonkwo, himself, applies to his failure. Traditional oral tales always applies to his failure. Traditional oral tales always contain a tale within the tale. Nwoye's mother is contain a tale within the tale. Nwoye's mother is an expert at telling these
an expert at telling these tales—moratales—moralsls embedded in stories. The stories Achebe embedded in stories. The stories Achebe tellstells throughout
throughout Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart are themselves talesare themselves tales within the tale. Leitmotif is the association of a within the tale. Leitmotif is the association of a repeated theme with a particular idea. Achebe repeated theme with a particular idea. Achebe connects masculinity with land, yams, titles, and connects masculinity with land, yams, titles, and wives. He repeatedly associates this view of wives. He repeatedly associates this view of masculinit
masculinity with y with a certain stagnancy in Umuofia.a certain stagnancy in Umuofia. While a traditional Wester
While a traditional Western plot may not n plot may not bebe evident in
evident in Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart , a definite , a definite structurestructure with an African flavor lends itself to the overall with an African flavor lends itself to the overall unity of the story.
unity of the story.
How does the ending resolve t
How does the ending resolve the issueshe issues presented in the work:
presented in the work:
The book ends with Okonkwo’s suicide and The book ends with Okonkwo’s suicide and his burial. The people of Umuofia ask the
his burial. The people of Umuofia ask the commissioner to bury Okonkwo because it is commissioner to bury Okonkwo because it is against their custom to bury a man who against their custom to bury a man who hashas committed suicide. The commissioner orders his committed suicide. The commissioner orders his men to take down Okonkwo's body
men to take down Okonkwo's body because hebecause he has an interest in African customs, but he refuses has an interest in African customs, but he refuses to help personally because he fears
to help personally because he fears that cuttingthat cutting down a dead body might
down a dead body might give the natives a poorgive the natives a poor opinion of him.
opinion of him. Achebe's bitterly ironic conclusionAchebe's bitterly ironic conclusion to the novel describes the District
to the novel describes the District Commissioner
Commissioner's callous 's callous response to Okonkwo'sresponse to Okonkwo's tragedy.
tragedy.
Ironically, the District Commissioner thinks Ironically, the District Commissioner thinks that he has helped pacify the 'primitive' tribes of that he has helped pacify the 'primitive' tribes of the Lower Niger, but he is
the Lower Niger, but he is blind to his complicityblind to his complicity in destroying these tribes and provoking the in destroying these tribes and provoking the
chain of events leading to Okonkwo's suicide. The chain of events leading to Okonkwo's suicide. The District Commissioner's thoughts are doubly
District Commissioner's thoughts are doubly ironic because he claims to
ironic because he claims to understand Africaunderstand Africa enough to write a history of
enough to write a history of it, but he remainsit, but he remains thoroughly ignorant of the people he intends to thoroughly ignorant of the people he intends to write about. Okonkwo's tragic demise, like the write about. Okonkwo's tragic demise, like the tragic destruction of indigenous African people tragic destruction of indigenous African people and their traditions, is a long and complex and their traditions, is a long and complex
history, but the District Commissioner only sees it history, but the District Commissioner only sees it as a mere paragraph. For far too long, Europeans as a mere paragraph. For far too long, Europeans like the District Commissioner have ignored and like the District Commissioner have ignored and misrepresen
misrepresented the history ted the history of Africa, butof Africa, but Achebe's
Achebe's Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart begins to correct thebegins to correct the historical record by retelling the conquest of historical record by retelling the conquest of Africa from Okonkwo's
Africa from Okonkwo's African perspective ratherAfrican perspective rather than the District Commissioner's European one. than the District Commissioner's European one. Briefly describe the major theme of the Briefly describe the major theme of the work:
work:
Custom and Tradition, Okonkwo's struggle Custom and Tradition, Okonkwo's struggle to live up to
to live up to what he perceives as “traditionawhat he perceives as “traditional”l” standards of masculinity, and his failure to
standards of masculinity, and his failure to adaptadapt to a changing world, help point out the
to a changing world, help point out the
importance of custom and tradition in the novel. importance of custom and tradition in the novel. The Ibo tribe defines itself through the age-old The Ibo tribe defines itself through the age-old
traditions it practices in
traditions it practices in Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart . While. While some habits mold
some habits mold tribe members' daily lives,tribe members' daily lives, other customs are reserved for
other customs are reserved for specialspecial ceremonies. For exampl
ceremonies. For example, the head of e, the head of aa
household honors any male guest by praying over household honors any male guest by praying over and sharing a kola nut with him,
and sharing a kola nut with him, offering theoffering the guest the privilege of breaking the nut. They guest the privilege of breaking the nut. They drink palm-wine together, with the oldest
drink palm-wine together, with the oldest personperson taking the first drink after the provider has tasted taking the first drink after the provider has tasted it.
it.
Ceremonial customs are more
Ceremonial customs are more elaborate.elaborate. The Feast of the New Yam
The Feast of the New Yam provides anprovides an illustration
illustration. This . This Feast gives the tribe anFeast gives the tribe an
opportunity to thank Ani, the earth goddess and opportunity to thank Ani, the earth goddess and source of all
source of all fertility.fertility.
Tribal custom dictates every aspect of Tribal custom dictates every aspect of members' lives. The tribe determines a man's members' lives. The tribe determines a man's worth by the number of
worth by the number of titles he holds, thetitles he holds, the
number of wives he acquires, and the number of number of wives he acquires, and the number of yams he grows. The tribe acknowledges a man's yams he grows. The tribe acknowledges a man's very being by the gods'
very being by the gods' approval of him. Withoutapproval of him. Without custom and tradition, the tribe does not
custom and tradition, the tribe does not exist.exist. Why is this work important to read?: Why is this work important to read?:
Critics appreciate Achebe's development Critics appreciate Achebe's development of the conflict that arises when tradition clashes of the conflict that arises when tradition clashes with change. He uses his characters and their with change. He uses his characters and their unique language to portray the
unique language to portray the double tragediesdouble tragedies that occur in the story. Readers identify not only that occur in the story. Readers identify not only with Okonkwo and his
with Okonkwo and his personal hardships but alsopersonal hardships but also with the Ibo
with the Ibo culture and its disintegration. Chinuaculture and its disintegration. Chinua Achebe wrote
Nigerians
Nigerians, but , but for people beyond for people beyond his nativehis native
country. He wanted to explain the truth about the country. He wanted to explain the truth about the effects of losing one's culture. Published in 1958, effects of losing one's culture. Published in 1958, the book was not widely read by
the book was not widely read by NigerianNigerians or bys or by Africans in general. When Nigeria became
Africans in general. When Nigeria became independent in 1960,
independent in 1960, however, Africanshowever, Africans appreciated the novel for its important appreciated the novel for its important contribution to Nigerian history.
contribution to Nigerian history.
Find 3 quotations from the work that speak Find 3 quotations from the work that speak to you about one of the
to you about one of the following: theme,following: theme, characterization, symbol/metaphor,
characterization, symbol/metaphor, narrative styles, etc:
narrative styles, etc:
“Turning and turning in the widening gyre, The “Turning and turning in the widening gyre, The falcon cannot hear the
falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart;falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”
upon the world.”
“Does the white man understand our custom “Does the white man understand our custom about land?” “How can he when he does not about land?” “How can he when he does not eveneven
speak our tongue? But he says that
speak our tongue? But he says that our customsour customs are bad; and our own brothers who
are bad; and our own brothers who have taken uphave taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. his religion also say that our customs are bad. How do you think we can fight when our own How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The
brothers have turned against us? The white manwhite man is very clever. He came
is very clever. He came quietly and peaceablyquietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his
with his religion. We were amused at his
foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no
won our brothers, and our clan can no longer actlonger act like one. He has put a
like one. He has put a knife on the things thatknife on the things that held us together and
held us together and we have fallen apart.”we have fallen apart.”
“And at last the locusts did descend. They settled “And at last the locusts did descend. They settled on every tree and on every blade of
on every tree and on every blade of grass; theygrass; they settled on the roofs and covered the
settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground.bare ground. Mighty tree branches broke away under them, Mighty tree branches broke away under them, and the whole country
and the whole country became the brown-earthbecame the brown-earth color of the vast, hungry swarm.”
