Things Fall Apart

1. Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

2. About the Author Born in a village in Nigeria while that nation was still a colony of Britain, Chinua Achebe (1930- ) was named Albert in honor of a British prince and was educated in English. After World War II, Achebe dropped his English name and began writing stories of his people, the Ibo, as they emerged from colonial rule.

3. Setting • Nigeria: official British control began in 1861. In 1886, Nigeria became a separate British colony. The novel takes place during this early period of colonization. • European influence: Africans were educated in European run schools, attended European run churches, and began taking positions as ambassadors for Christianity and Britain's form of government. Of course, there were people/tribes that fought the assimilation to European ideals.

4. History: The Ibo Tribe • Ibo: third most populous ethnic group in Nigeria. Ibo are subsistence farmers – men only allowed to grow yams, women farm all other crops. • Ibo people traditionally live in villages based on lineage: the male heads of household were all related through their fathers’ sides. At marriage, women went to live with the men. Men would have two or three wives, each living in their own hut within a family compound. • The Ibo were a diplomatic people; no kings or even a single leader. Women, however, were excluded from community decision making.

5. Religion and the Ibo • Polytheistic, but there was a belief in a supreme god, Chukwu. • Natural resources were represented in all gods (i.e. god of sun, water, etc.) • Chi: a personal guardian spirit for an individual. A person’s chi affected his or her destiny, for the individual could influence the chi through his/her actions.

6. Themes • Individuals derive strength from the societies they are a part of. • In contacts between cultures, beliefs about superiority and inferiority are invariably wrong and destructive. • In spite of innumerable opportunities for misunderstanding, people must strive to communicate. • A social value – such as individual ambition – which is constructive by other values, can be destructive. • There is no static culture – change is continual, flexibility is necessary for successful adaptation.

7. What will make this novel challenging? • Ibo words and phrases: The good news is that they are are all italicized in the book and you have a glossary of terms. • Shifts in time: The narrative is filled with frame stories (story within a story). You have to be conscientious in regards to the narrator. • Proverbs and Folklore: There are many stories told by characters that were traditionally told by the Ibo. Often they are like fables and use animals as symbols. Read carefully – these stories are both allegorical and foreshadowing.

8. Unoka – father Okonkwo Ekwefi – 2nd wife Ojuigo – 3rd wife 1st wife Ezinma (girl) Obiageli (girl) Nkechi - girl Nwoye (eldest boy) Ikemefuna (adopted son from Mbaino)

9. Other Ibo members: Ukoye Obiereika Ogbuefi Ezuedu Nwakibie Gods and oracles: Agbala – oracle Ezeani – Ani’s priestess Chielo – Agbala’s priestess Other Mbanta members: Uchendu