MRS. CONTRERAS Language Arts 9 th Grade – Eng I IGCSE Honors Room C209

1. Welcome Braddock Bulldogs!!! MRS. CONTRERASLanguage Arts9th Grade – Eng I IGCSE Honors Room C209 2006-2007

2. Weekly Forecast 4/9/07 – 4/13/07 • Monday – Class Filing. Writing Samples Folder Arrangement. Dorothy M. Johnson "A Man Called Horse". Grammar:Usage this kind to reason is through respectfully - where at 225-228). • Tuesday – Cyprian Ekwensi "A Stranger from Lagos". Open Book Quiz (Renaissance 2: Macbeth & As You Like It) • Wednesday – Introduction to "Things Fall Apart" (1890s) Ch 1-6. Open Book Quiz (Romantic & Realist Short Works) • Thursday – "Things Fall Apart" (1890s) Ch 7-12. Open Book Quiz (The Crucible) • Friday – "Things Fall Apart" (1890s) Ch 13-18. Open Book Quiz (Frankenstein & Grammar- Verbs-Capitalization)

3. Home Learning By Monday, 4/16: • Read Things Fall Apart Ch 19-25. • Read Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" pg 1108 • Read Virginia Wolf "Professions for Women" pg 1156 • James Joyce "Eveline" pg 1166 • Read Maya Angelou's "Caged Bird" (IGCSE packets) • Bring grammar hdts 141-150 next week to class for quiz/finals Review! Have a great week!

4. Extended Home LearningAssignment (Due 5/7/07). • In an effort to enhance student writing skills and performance, all students are to rewrite (retype) all essay writing samples editing flaws and incorporating feedback provided. This assignment includes all hand-written essays in class as well as both research paper(s). Staple updated final draft on top of previous drafts. • Recap Sheets must be updated and placed on top of all drafts which must be compiled in date order. • A student reflection must be attached to the top evaluating your written work this year. Obviously this should take into consideration the feedback that has been provided throughout the course of the year.

5. Class Response…Monday • In "A Man Called Horse," what is the significance of envy to the beginning of the story?

6. Class Response…Tuesday • In “A Stranger from Lagos,” how does Lilian’s love relationship mirror the nature of her existence?

7. “A Stranger From Lagos”By: Cyprian Ekwensi Luis Mouriño IGCSE English P.6 Mrs. Contreras Courtesy of http://www.cs.rutgers.edu

8. Vocabulary Branded- “To mark with disgrace or infamy; stigmatize” (Dictionary Reference). Compound- “(in Africa) a similar enclosure for native laborers” (Dictionary Reference). Roundabout- “circuitous or indirect, as a road, journey, method, statement or person” (Dictionary Reference). Frond- “an often large, finely divided leaf, esp. as applied to the ferns and certain palms” (Dictionary Reference). teetotaller- “a person who abstains totally from intoxicating drink” (Dictionary Reference). Courtesy of http://ccms.wcpss.net

9. It is located in an African town named Onitsha Town. The narrator is Lillian, an African woman from this town (Wade 45). She is sewing when she realizes there is a stranger who is going around asking questions (45). She remembers his look during the Umu-ogbo dance and claims that “Only a stranger would look like that at the Umu-ogbo dance, and only a man who had fallen would linger on her movements that way” (45). Lillian is quick to realize that the stranger has fallen for her and her intrigue in him seem to imply she is falling for him as well. Review and Analysis Courtesy of http://www.sacredhoopjourney.com

10. She doesn’t know if she should help him or not (45). The reason for her indecisiveness is that her mother and fiancé's mother are present (45).Thus, it seems as if older generations are regarded with greater respect. She decides not to and begins to sew anew after glancing at his face and seeing his look, full of the “agony of desire” (45). She also states that “in Onitsha Town there were eyes on the wall” (45). She is thus saying that the people are in a state of surveillance and are nosy, thus, any action she took could be misinterpreted and she could have a bad reputation. She looks up and the stranger is gone; she asks her mother as to what he wanted and her mother does not provide a clear answer, only says that he is from Lagos (46). Review and Analysis Courtesy of Wikipedia.org

11. She asks her mother if he gave a name and her mother responds by saying “He is not of a family I know” (46). Lillian makes a reference at her mother’s habits saying she cared little about the family she knew and instead judged men by what her instincts told her (46). This shows how the mother seems to think highly of herself and reputation and doesn’t give any one a chance unless they come from a family with good reputation. Lillian then goes on her way to find him and she does; as she expected, the whole town was watching (47). She also says that strangers were prone to “scandalize… and [leave] you to the gossip” (47). Therefore explaining why her mother was cautious with the information she gave (so that her daughter would not ruin the family’s reputation) and harsh about the stranger. It also explains why Lillian is so cautious as to how to act. Review and Analysis Courtesy of http://www.nesegallery.com

12. Review and Analysis • She talks to him in a hurry, to which she only learns that he is a stranger from Lagos that desperately needs to talk to her (47). • She explains how it is rude to talk in the streets, asking him to wait until evening and he agrees (47). • When she arrives home, she finds her angry mother saying what she had heard through gossip. Her mother is appalled by Lillian’s actions and tells her that she can not bring scandal to her father’s name and that she should not give her fiancé any reason to “brand” her (48). It also shows how quick gossip spread throughout the town. • Her fiancé had been her fiancé for three years, during which they had a son. However, they quarreled and she left to Lagos. When she came back, he was so impressed by what he saw that he wanted her back (48). Courtesy of http://www.fiona.co.

13. She only accepts him back because “she did not much care either way” (48). It gives emphasis to her promiscuous ways. The fiancé also seems to treat her as an item which can be easily won and bought. Her fiancé appears and she even notices that he treats her as if he owns her (49). She hears a sound and thinks it is the stranger; it is her friend Alice instead (49). Lillian seems to have a better time now but then the stranger arrives (49). Oddly, her fiancé greets him and says that they had met once in Lagos (50). Alice and Lillian leave the men alone and could not tell whether they were offending each other (50). Review and Analysis Courtesy of www.wredes.com

14. Review and Analysis • The Stranger leaves and Lillian confronts her fiancé. Her fiancé explains that his being there was due to the stranger’s arrival (50). In a way, the fiancé was defending his prize. • He also exclaims to Lillian that the stranger was “one of your lovers from Lagos” (50). This gives more emphasis to Lillian’s promiscuousness as she had several lovers. • The fiancé leaves and Alice talks to Lillian (51). She seems to have the same views that Lillian holds as she believes the town has many eyes and that they treat her as a child, not a woman (51). Courtesy of http://www.lazytd.com

15. Themes • Promiscuity (Lillian) • Customs and Traditions (Town and mother) • Gossip (Town and mother) • Reputation (mother) • Property (Fiancé) • Lack of trust (Fiancé) • Lack of courage (Lillian and stranger) • Jealousy (Fiancé) • Relationships (Everyone) Courtesy of Courtesy of http://bergoiata.org

16. Cyprian Ekwensi • Cyprian Ekwensi was born on September 26, 1921 in Minna, Nigeria (Cyprian Ekwensi 1-2). • He attended a government college in Ibadan (2). • He then switched to the field of forestry and became a forestry officer for two years (2). A drawing of the Author. Courtesy of http://www.sunnewsonline.com

17. Cyprian Ekwensi • He was also a science professor, worked at a radio station, and even studied pharmacy both Lagos School of Pharmacy and the University of London (2). • He received the Dag Hammarskjold International Award for Literary Merit in 1968 (Killiam 1). • During his life, he has written hundreds of short-stories, a couple of novels, television and radio scripts and even children’s books (Cyprian Ekwensi 2). • His works focus on love, infatuation, infidelity, war, adventure, fantasy, politics, childhood, marriage, death, and ritual sacrifice (Emenyonu). Courtesy of http://www.gumtreegetaway.com

18. Other Works • People of the City (1954) • Jagua Nana (1961) • Burning Grass (1962) • Beautiful Feathers (1963) • Survive the Peace (1976) • Divided We Stand (1980) • Jagua Nana's Daughter (1986) • King for Ever! (1992) Courtesy of http://pictures.ezpics.net

19. Social Influences • Cyprian Ekwensi wrote the story “Jagua Nana” which tells the story of “a socially ambitious prostitute” (Killiam 2). • “Jagua Nana’s daughter”, a later novel, talks about the daughter of his famous character and how her education allowed for social elevation (4). • Thus, it allowed her to get more lovers from the higher class (4). • He is implying how in society, women needed a “highly placed professional” in order to receive “security and protection” they desire (4). Courtesy of yahoo.com

20. Nigeria-Biafra war • The Nigeria-Biafra war was “a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra” (Nigerian Civil War 1). • This war “sensitized Ekwensi's restless imagination” (Killam 3). • He questions the war and its periods of supposed peace in the book “Survive the Peace” (3). • In “Divided We Stand”, he shows how “ethnicity, division, and hatred bring about distrust, displacement, and war itself” (3). Courtesy of http://www.sacredhoopjourney.com

21. Douglas Killiam and Ruth Rowe They talked about the author’s life and the novels he has written. They also explain how Cyprian does not “[stand]… very high” with critics. They also note that critics also say that his characters “learn little or nothing of themselves during their quests” (Killum 5). Charles R. Larson He talks about how Cyprian Ekwensi developed into a Nigerian/African writer. He also spoke of his focuses and the purposes of his books, also noting Cyprian’s style. Critics Courtesy of http://a1259.g.akamai.net

22. Marie Umeh She is proving her point that African women are not irresponsible. She then makes reference to Ekwensi by saying he depicts them as “passive, unimaginative, powerless, passionless and irresponsible” (Umeh 1). “Overview of Cyprian (Odiatu Duaka) Ekwensi” This critic goes into details about Ekwensi’s fans and their favorite novel. He also goes into detail about Ekwensi’s most famous work, Jagua Nana and the controversy it caused. Critics Courtesy of http://www.wombat.zaq.ne.jp

23. Lindfors Bernth This critic talks about the American and African influences in his stories. He says that Cyprian is good at imitating “popular literary forms”, but says that his stories are “an excellent way on how not to write fiction” (Bernth 1). Ernest N. Emenyonu He defends Cyprian and declares that Cyprian’s works should be carefully reviewed with patience. He also states that "[Cyprian Ekwensi] is the father of the modern Nigerian novel” (Emenyonu 2). Critics Courtesy of http://www.wombat.zaq.ne.jp

24. Outline Thesis statement: Women are portrayed as characters which are composed of faulty characteristics, are promiscuous and give no respect to themselves, however, they also care for the traditions which their people follow. • Throughout the story, the women display flawed behavior and attributes. • The women in Onitsha Town (the city in Nigeria where the story takes place) maintain a high level of observation on what is happening in the town and who is causing it. • Women also seemed to spread deceitful news throughout the village; news that was based on the truth, but altered into a white lie. • Lastly, Lillian gave too much thought into what others would think of her. • Another important aspect which Lillian was demonstrating and allowed for a story to take place was the promiscuity involved in her character. • During the whole story, Lillian is practically depicted as a “whore”.

25. Outline • She seems to want guys; she gets them, they do their way with her and later, she or they leave. • Lillian also does not reveal any signs of caring for her body, much like a prostitute would. • Lillian is also the perfect example for the definition of promiscuous. III. As a final point, the women are careful to preserve the traditions which are closely followed by society and its members. • Lillian’s mother believes the stranger is not suitable for Lillian. • Lillian also makes notice of street etiquette as it was not an honorable custom to stop and talk on the streets. • Throughout the story, Lillian’s mother is concerned on what her daughter is doing and tries to disable any connections with the newly arrived stranger. Conclusion: Given the evidence from the story, one can see the malicious, commanding, promiscuous and irresponsible personalities that describe the women in Nigeria.

26. Bloom’s Taxonomy Questions Level 1: Knowledge • Where was the stranger from? • What was Lillian doing while the Stranger asked questions to the women? Level 2: Comprehension • What do you think could have happened if the Fiancé had arrived after the Stranger? • What differences exist between Lillian and her mother? Are they in any way similar?

27. Bloom’s Taxonomy Questions Level 3: Application • What would you change of the characters’ personalities? • Would you ask Lillian any questions? If so, explain as to why you would ask them. Level 4: Analysis • What were some of the motives behind the Fiancé's visit? • What could have been another outcome to the story if it had continued in the direction it was headed?

28. Bloom’s Taxonomy Questions Level 5: Synthesis • Can there be a solution to allow for a friendship between the stranger and Lillian? Level 6: Evaluation • Judge whether Lillian should move away to Lagos with the Stranger or stay at Onitsha with the fiancé. • Do you think the stranger was a lover from Lagos?

29. Works Cited “Africa.” Online Image. March 27, 2007. http://ccms.wcpss.net/students/projects/africa/virkars/images/Africa_from_space.jpg> “African Animals.” Online Image. March 28, 2007. http://a1259.g.akamai.net/f/1259/5586/5d/images. art.com/images/-/African-Animals--C10064392.jpeg “African Elephant.” Online Image. March 27, 2007. <http://www.lazytd.com/travel/ec/ec-african-elephant.jpg> “African Mask.” Online Image. March 28, 2007. <http://www.gumtreegetaway.com.au/images/african_tribal_mask.jpg> “African Plains.” Online image. Art.com. March 27, 2007. <http://www.sacredhoopjourney.com/images/African_plains__rainbow.jpg> “African Sunset”. Online Image. March 27,2007. <http://www.cs.rutgers.edu/pub/hirsh/africa- photos/Elephants/Africa%20Photos%20284.jpg> “African Tribe.” Online Image. Nese Gallery. March 27, 2007. <http://www.nesegallery.com/art/26_African Tribe_1.jpg> Carrington, Carrolleannea “Crocodile.” Online Image. Big Game Animals. March 28, 2007. http://pictures.ezpics.net/Photos/Art/ezpics.net /carrington/BigGame/5.jpg?05024Cz5pR31l3N "Cyprian Ekwensi." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 2007. March 26, 2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprian_Ekwensi>

30. Works Cited “Ekwensi”. September 27, 2006. Online Image. The Sun News Online. March 26, 2007. <http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/meandmybook/2006/sept /27/meandmybook-27-09-2006-002.htm> Emenyonu, Ernest N."CyprianEkwensi."  DISCoveringAuthors. Online Detroit: Gale, 2003.  Student Resource Center - Gold. Thomson Gale. Miami-Dade County Public High Schools. 28 Mar. 2007  <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve &tabID=T001&prodId=IPS&docId=EJ2101203418&source=gale&srcprod= SRCG&userGroupName=miamidade&version=1.0>. Huet, Michel. “Dances of Africa.” Online Image. Abrams. March 27, 2007. <http://www.fiona.co.jp/GENERAL_BOOKS/images/INTEREST BOOKS/DANCES_OF_AFRICA.jpg> Killiam, Douglas and Ruth Rowe. "Cyprian Ekwensi profile." 2000 Africa Book Centre March 26, 2007.<http://people.africadatabase.org/en/profile/2429 .html> Larson, Charles R. "Fame and Poverty - The career of Nigerian novelist Cyprian Ekwensi exemplifies the plight of the African writer." World and I 15.10 (Oct 2000):  254. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. Miami-Dade County Public High Schools. 28 Mar. 2007  <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents &type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=IPS&docId=A68927025&source= gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=miamidade&version=1.0>.

31. Works Cited Lindfors, Bernth "Cyprian Ekwensi: An African Popular Novelist." DISCovering Authors. Online Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - Gold. Thomson Gale. Miami-Dade County Public High Schools. 28 Mar. 2007  <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type= retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=IPS&docId=EJ2101203420&source= gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName=miamidade&version=1.0>. “Lion.” Online Image. March 27, 2007. <http://bergoiata.org/fe/felins/African%20Male%20Lion,%20Kenya.jpg> “Map of Africa.” Online Image. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. March 27,2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Afryka_1890.jpg> "Nigerian Civil War." Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. 29 Mar 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_civil_war>. "Overview of Cyprian (Odiatu Duaka) Ekwensi." DISCovering Authors. Online Detroit: Gale ,  2003. Student Resource Center -Gold. Thomson Gale. Miami-Dade County Public High Schools. 28 Mar. 2007  <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet =GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=IPS&docI d=EJ2101200717&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroup Name=miamidade&version=1.0>. “Metallic Animals.” Online Image. March 28, 2007. http://www.wombat.zaq.ne.jp/japanarrow/Postcard/african_animals.jpg

32. Works Cited “Metallic Lion.” Online Image. March 28, 2007. http://www.wombat.zaq.ne.jp/japanarrow/Postcard/kilimanjaro.jpg Umeh, Marie. "Signifyin(g) the griottes: Flora Nwapa's legacy of (re)vision and voice.(Special Issue on Flora Nwapa)." Research in African Literatures 26.n2 (Summer 1995): 114(10). Student Resource Center Gold. Thomson Gale. Miami-Dade County Public High Schools. 28 Mar. 2007 <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet =IACDocuments&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=IPS&docId=A 17156436&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName= miamidade&version=1.0>. “Vocabulary Definitions“. www.dictionary.reference.com Wade, Barrie. Into the Wind: Contemporary Stories English . New Ed. Nelson Thornes Ltd, 1998 Wrede, Helene. “African Hunter.” 2004. Online Images. Wredes. March 27, 2007. <http://www.wredes.com/Bas/Tavlor/a.AfricanHunter.jpg>

33. Things Fall Apart: The joy of success overcomes the pain of struggle Natalie Borrego Pre-Aice English I April 11, 2007 Period 6 ImagesCourtesyofGoogle

34. Chinua Achebe • Chinua Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930. • He grew up in the village of Ogidi, Eastern Nigeria. • He is a Nigerian poet, novelist, and a literary critic. • He attended the University of London, which was known as the University of Ibadan. • He has published a wide variety of works including children’s books, novels, short stories, and essays. • “Cited in the London Sunday Times as one of the 1,000 Markers of the Twentieth Century for defining a modern African literature that was truly African and thereby making a major contribution to world literature” (Achebe 213). • He has earned several honors for his books from all around the world (214). • Additionally, he was the recipient of the Nigerian National Merit Award, one of the highest awards for intellectual achievement (214). Image Courtesy of Google Images

35. Chapter 1 • About twenty years ago Okonkwo threw Amalinze the Cat who for seven years was unbeaten (3). • Okonkwo’s fame grew. He had no patience, and a low temper (4). • Unoka as a child loved to play the flute, music, and feasting. On the other hand, Unoka the grown-up was poor, and a debtor (4-5). Additionally, Unoka was not pleased with the thought of war (6). • One day Unoka’s neighbor, Okoye brings him a “kola nut, some alligator pepper, and a limp of white chalk”(6). • Unoka like Okoye was a musician, but he did not fail as he grew older like Unoka had. Instead, he has “a large barn full of yams and he had three wives”. He also hoped to attain the Idemili title (6).

36. Chapter 1 Continued • Okoye visits Unoka to get back the two hundred cowries, which Unoka had borrowed from him two years before. The only problem was that Unoka did not have the two hundred cowries to give back to him. On top of that, Unoka owed several other people many cowries, which he needed to give to them also. Okoye said that he needed to pay his bigger debts first before he paid the smaller ones. Okoye remembered all of this through the chalk writings on his wall (7-8). • Okonkwo was nothing like his father Unoka. Okonkwo was successful; he had a family, he was wealthy, respected, and had achieved “two titles and had shown incredible prowess in two inter-tribal wars” (8). • This led him to have to take care of Ikemefuna; “the doomed lad who was sacrificed to the village of Umuofia by their neighbors” (8).

37. Analysis • Analysis- Unoka seemed to be grateful for the deed of Okoye. He seemed as if he felt he had to break the kola, but then did. This was because of the consistency of Okoye. Then, Unoka prays for the safety of their ancestors. This included their “life and health, and for protection against their enemies” (6). • Okoye was a poor man who had never achieved much. Unfortunately Okonkwo inherits this status of his dad. On the other hand, Okonkwo quickly begins to try to move up in society (7-8). • It is shown that Okonkwo is allowed to grow fame and respectability due to the democratic system in the society (1).

38. Chapter 2 • All the men of Umuofia are asked to gather at the market place. That night there was silence throughout the town, unlike the moonlight nights, which were filled with happiness and joy (9-10). • Ogbuefi Ezeugo at the gathering tells the people “those sons of wild animals have dared to murder a daughter of Umuofia” (10-11). • A choice was given to Mbaino to ask the people to choose between war or “the offer of a young man and a virgin as compensation” (11). • Due to the medicine agadi-nwayi (the old woman with one leg) and its power in war all the surrounding clans feared Umuofia (11-12). • They would go to war only if it was accepted by the Oracle, and would have to accept it if not they would be beaten (12). • Okonkwo went to Mbaino and two days later he returned to Umuofia with a lad of fifteen named Ikemefuna and a young virgin (12). • They decided that the girl should go replace Ogbuefi Udo’s murdered wife, and Ikemefuna would stay with Okonkwo (12).

39. Chapter 2 Continued • Okonkwo had strict rules in his household and was fierce, thus his wife and children were frightened of him (13). • Okonkwo was scared to fail at life (13). • Okonkwo had three wives each with their own hut, and eight children whom he would pray for. He also worshipped his “wooden symbols of his personal god and of his ancestral spirits” “with sacrifices of kola nut, food and palm-wine” (14). • Okonkwo told one of his wives, Nwoye’s mother, to take care of Ikemefuna (15).

40. Analysis • This society was very powerful, and it was mainly ran by the Oracle. Everyone listened and went to consult the Oracle for advice. • Okonkwo “rules his household with a heavy hand” in order to make sure that he succeeds. Okonkwo is strict on his family, which leads his family to be terrified and scared of their father (13). • Okonkwo has an intrapersonal fear where he fears failure and weakness. He does not want to end up like his father. He does not want the title his father has of being an agbala (13).

41. Chapter 3 • Several people would come from far away lands to consult and talk to the Oracle who was called Agabala, and everyone who would crawl into his shrine would come out with fear of his power (16). • Unoka had once gone to consult Agabala and at the time the priestess was Chika. Unoka had gone to ask why he was not successful with his crops like other men were. Chika quickly realizes Unoka’s faults and tells him. Unoka had weakness in his machete and his hoe. Unoka would never sacrifice anything in order to have a successful farm, but instead he was a failure. He needed to work like a man in order to succeed (17-18). • Thus, Unoka had a shameful death were he did not even have a grave, and had a bad chi or personal god (18). • Due to Unoka’s unsuccessful and shameful life, Okonkwo always feared ending up like his father. He had to start off all on his own since he did not inherit anything from his father, and did not have a good reputation as others may have at the start of their lives (18). • Okonkwo began to start his own life when he first took a palm-wine and a cock to Nwakibie. He had gone to pay his respects to those people and to ask Nwakibie a favor. Nwakibie was a wealthy man from his village whom had three large barns, nine wives. and thirty children (18-19).

42. Chapter 3 Continued • All the neighbors brought out their drinking horns and had Okonkwo drink first and then all the neighbors proceeded (19). • They called the other wives to come in, in order for them to drink. Anasi was the wife whom had to drink first, Nwakibie’s first wife, and wore the anklet of her husband’s titles (20). • Okonkwo asks Nwakibie for yam seeds. He promises Nwakibie that he will not fail him if he helps him out (21). • Nwakibie decides to give Okonkwo his yam seeds even though he usually says no to the other because he felt that he could trust Okonkwo to make sure that when he would plant those seeds he would not leave them their to collect weeds, but instead actually make a farm of it. Nwakibie tells Okonkwo that he will give him twice four hundred yams and for Okonkwo to go off and start his farm (22). • Okonkwo was thankful for the seeds Nwakibie had given him. He knew that Nwakibie would have helped him, but he had not thought that he would have helped him that much. He had hoped to get another four hundred seeds from his father’s friend in order to start and get that farm going (22).

43. Chapter 3 Continued • The yam crops Okonkwo grew were not all for him. They were also for his mother, his father, and his two sisters since he couldn’t leave them starving. His mother and his sister did work hard, but they worked hard at growing other crops (22-23). • The year Okonkwo received his yam seeds from Nwakibie was the worst because of the weather conditions. There was scarce rain and an intense amount of heat. This made it harder for him to have a successful farm, which he did not have (23). • Luckily he had planted his own yams the previous year and still had his father’s friends yam seeds, and Nwakibie’s. As a result, he still had yam seeds to plant. As he planted those seeds he soon ran into another problem where instead of having no rain now on the other hand he had too much rain (24). • Unoka tells him son to not give up. He states, “Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone”.

44. Analysis • Unoka believes that his son will not give up and will succeed. Although Unoka never believed in himself like he did with Okonkwo. • Due to Okonkwo’s past achievement Nwakibie and others in the society began to see Okonkwo as trustworthy. They also began to respect him more and more as he succeeded in the things he did (22). • He perseveres to overcome his struggles. This is shown when Okonkwo receives imperfect weather to grow his yam farm, but never fails to stop growing his crops (22-24). • Okonkwo needed to make sure he grew his yam crops to have a successful growing farm. Growing these yams meant he would be more of a man since the yam was the man crop of the society. If Okonkwo had the growing farm it would show the society his wealth, and earn his respectability (23-24). • This society singles out the men from the women. They see men as more powerful than the women. They believe that women and men can’t share the same interests or do the same things.

45. Chapter 4 • At the meeting Okonkwo was rough on the less successful men. Okonkwo stated “This meeting is for men only” (26). • People did not like this because not to long ago he was one of those unsuccessful men and someone ended up being helpful and helped him get through his misery. The old man explains this to him and Okonkwo apologizes for his actions (26). • At the meeting they discuss the fact that Okonkwo has taken care of Ikemefuna for three years. Ikemefuna had tried to run away once or twice because he wanted to go home. He had become ill for three weeks when they had told him that he would not eat any food (27-28). • Okonkwo treated Ikemefuna with a heard hand just like he would to everyone else. Although Okonkwo would let Ikemefuna accompany him to gatherings and several feasts (28). • Okonkwo’s youngest wife, Ojiugo had gone to her friend’s house and Okonkwo caught her. When she came back he beat her even though it was sacred week (29).

46. Chapter 4 Continued • The neighbors heard her crying while Okonkwo beat her and came to see what was going on since it was unknown to beat someone during this sacred week. Beating someone during this week was none to be a disgrace to his gods and his ancestors (29-30). • Ezeani, the priest of earth goddess called on Okonkwo to tell him of his evil doings at his time even if his wife had some fault to it (30). • Due to Okonkwo’s evil doings he must “bring to the shrine of Ani tomorrow one she-goat, one hen, a length of cloth and a hundred cowries” (31). • Okonkwo did as he was told to do so and additionally brought a pot of palm-wine. The people of the town began to say that “he had no respect for the gods of the clan” (31). • This evil doing during the sacred week had not happened for many years, thus it was the topic of conversation for some time (31). • The old man, Ezeudu began to say that Okonkwo’s punishment was not as bad as others in the past (31).

47. Chapter 4 Continued • After the sacred week past all the men threw out all the old bushes from their farms and burned them and started off fresh for the new season to come (32). • Okonkwo began to prepare his yam seeds with the help of Ikemefuna and his eldest son, Nwoye (32). • Okonkwo even though he knew that Ikemefuna and Nwoye were not experts at this kept on criticizing their hard work and effort to try to help him. He wanted his son to be a great and successful farmer (32-33). • This season the nature had not interfered with their crops. Their was a sufficient amount of water for the crops (34). • Ikemefuna finally started to feel like he was part of Okonkwo’s family even though he still thought about his real family (34). • As the sky cleared up from the rain and the sun came out all the children were out, while Nnadi was cooking and eating indoors (35).

48. Analysis • Although Okonkwo used to be a less successful man, now he does not have sympathy for those who are like he used to be (26). • Okonkwo is extremely strict on his wife when he beats her for lying to him. The society does not believe in anyone hurting another during their sacred week. For this reason when they heard Okonkwo’s wife weeping from the beating Okonkwo had to pay Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess (30-31).

49. Chapter 5 • The Feast of the New Yam was coming soon, which was where the town of Umuofia would give thanks to the earth goddess and the source of all fertility, Ani and to honor the ancestral spirits of the clan(36). • This festival would begin the new year, therefore all the yams left from that year were disposed of, and only the new year they would start with fresh and tasty yams (36). • The Feast of the New Yam was supposed to be a jolly holiday where all the strong and wealthy mean were known to invite large groups of people to their feast which included large amounts of food. Okonkwo had the feast with a large group of people and lots of food, but he never found the joy and excitement for this feast (37). • The Feast was just a few days and everything and everyone was ready for it. Okonkwo ran into a problem when his second wife apparently “killed his banana tree”, which in reality she had simply cut off a few leaves from the banana tree to wrap some food in them for the feast that was to come (38). • Due to Okonkwo’s anger he decided to go hunting even though he was not really a hunter (38).

50. Chapter 5 Continued • The second wife murmurs something about the gun, and unfortunately Okonkwo hears her. Okonkwo goes back to where she was and presses the trigger of the gun, but does not harm her at the end (38-39). • The rest of the day of the New Yams Festival was filled with joy (39). • On the second day of the festival was the wrestling match (39). • Ekwefi enjoys the wrestling match because this is where she had fallen in love with Okonkwo when he had defeated the Cat(39). • Enzinma began to start a fire to see if it would harm her because apparently once you are grown up fire does not harm you (40-41). • The beating of the drums began from the ilo, the village’s playground, which marked noon. The wrestling match would not start until the sun began to go down (42). • Ekwefi and Enzima begin to prepare yams for Okonkwo. They hear a weeping, which came from Obiageli. Obiageli was crying because she was making inyanga with her pot, and tried to act grown up, and balance it on her head, that soon the pot fell and broke (43-44). • Ekwefi then took the yams to Okonkwo where he was already eating the food that his first wife had cooked for him. Later, Nkechi also brought food for Okonkwo (44 -45). • Enzinma asks Okonkwo if she could bring him a chair, but Okonkwo replies saying “no, that is a boy’s job” (44).