Chapter 11 Things Fall Apart By: Chinua Achebe

Basic Events

● Ekwefi is telling Ezinma the story of Tortoise and the birds.

● Chielo is prophesying about Ezinma. Talks to Okonkwo.

● Agbala wants to see Ezinma. ● Chielo takes Ezinma and Ekwefi follows her. ● When they reach the caves, Ekwefi waits outside

for them to come back.● Okonkwo comes and they wait together for

Chielo and Ezinma.● Ekwefi thinks back to when she and her

husband were young.

List of Conflicts

● Ekwefi’s instincts vs. society ● Ekwefi vs. nature

Cultural norms

● Telling stories to young ones. ● Priestess and prophecies. ● “Life to you” - saying when someone

sneezes. ● Ogbu-agali-odu - evil essences.● Snuff.● Shaving patterns in the hair.

Terms

● uli - a dye used by women for drawing patterns on the skin.

● tufia - a curse or oath.

Connections to Today

● Motherly instincts. ● Mother-Daughter relationship. ● Being with the family after dinner and

relaxing.

Characters

● Okonkwo: Really does care for his family.

● Ekwefi: Learn more about how much she loves her daughter. Learn more about her and Okonkwo.

● Chielo: Nonhuman when she is possessed by the oracle. Scary.

Questions?

What is going to happen to Ezinma? Why did Chielo take her?

Can Okonkwo’s abuse of Ekwefi ever make her want to run away from him?

Chapter 12Things Fall Apart By: Chinua Achebe

Basic Events

● Families arrived at Obierika's compound to help prepare for the celebration of his daughter’s uri

● In the afternoon Obierika’s relatives and friends arrived and began to drink palm wine waiting for the in-Laws

● After the Suitors arrived, they began to feast

● After the feast people began to dance to music

● The bride left with the Suitor family

List of Conflicts

● Women vs Cow● Women vs Time

Cultural Norms

● celebration of the uri is a women’s ceremony

● the bride family would present the suitors with a live goat

● When a cow is let loose Oji odu achu ijiji-o-o is called and every women is to find it and return it to its owner and collect the heavy fine. Regardless of what they are doing. After counting the fine the women check to make sure all those who were able were present.

Cultural Notes (cont.)

● the Suitors are to bring palm wine enough for all to drink to the uri

● After breaking the kola nut prayers were said between the two families and “ee-e-e” was made after each

● After the feast the suitors take home the bride for 7 market weeks

● When leaving the suitors pay courtesy visits to prominent people in the village

Terms

● uri - part of the betrothal ceremony when the dowry is paid

● umunna - wide group of kinsmen● Oji odu achu ijiji-o-o - the one that uses

its tail to drive flies away

Characters

● Okonkwo - learn how much he cares for his family although he doesn’t show it

● Ojiugo - Okonkwo’s 3rd wife● Nwankwo - Obierika's relative● Mgbobo - women with iba ● Udenkwo - women who didn’t show for

the cow catching● Ezelagbo - wife of the man whose cow

went loose● Maduka - Obierika's son

Connections to Today

● The uri is similar to Bridal showers where its a female centered event

● The celebration is like how the wedding feasts go late into the night

Questions?

Why do you think it’s the women who have to drop whatever they are doing to find the loose cow?

If the uri is a celebration centered on the bride and mother why do the bride and women only appear for greetings and only join them during the after feast dancing?