Things Fall Apart Assignment

Reading  Questions:  Chapters 1--6

1.       Diagram the family relationships of Okonkwo.

2.       What do we learn about Okonkwo? What is his self--image? The view of the village? Your opinion? Does Achebe use Okonkwo as a representation of his society, or does Achebe want us to see Okonkwo as an individual?

3.       How are father/son relationships described in the novel? Are we to share Okonkwo's view of his father? of his son? of his daughter, Ezinma?

4.       What is the role of women in lbo society? Which things are manly? womanly? Does Okonkwo hold the same views on manly vs. womanly actions as others in Umuofia?

5.       What is the role of ritual in lbo society? Compare later to the role of ritual for the missionaries.

Reading Questions  -- Chapter 7 - Fin.

1.       How is Okonkwo's personality important to the outcome of the story?

2.       The story of Ikemefuna's death is told from different points of view: How does that change / complicate your response to the event?

3.       What is the view of law in lbo society? For Okonkwo? What is the role of the individual vs. the society in this culture?

4.       What is the view of evil? How does it compare to "Heart of Darkness"?

5.       What is the role of folk tales or stories in this culture? In this novel? Is Things Fall Apart a women's story or a men's story? How is it structured?

6.       What do you learn of the missionaries from this novel? Compare to "Heart of Darkness".

7.       What is the meaning of the title?

8.       Compare the image of Africa, Africans and Missionaries/colonists in the two novels.

Discussion Topics: Prepare written answers for these (at least a paragraph each).

EVIL : What is the view of evil? What is the source of evil? How does it compare to Heart of Darkness?

MISSIONARIES/COLONIALISTS: What do we learn of Europeans in this novel? Is there more than one "type" represented, is there "doubleness" in this section also? Compare to Heart of Darkness.

FAMILY: What is the role of family in the lbo culture? What is the role of family relationships to the outcome of the plot? Which relationship(s) are the focus of the story?

TITLE: What is the meaning of the title? Which "things" fall apart? Why? What is the reader to--learn from this novel?

Keep all answers in a labeled composition book. We will use this to guide our novel readings, discussions, and Q3 responses for the remainder of the year.

Check Blog for one additional question to be posted by 12/30/12.

LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!