Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart

By Chinua AchebeBy Chinua Achebe

A novel about a primitive village in Africa and the A novel about a primitive village in Africa and the devastation caused by the arrival of the white man.devastation caused by the arrival of the white man.

Created by Deborah AlcornCreated by Deborah Alcorn

Your Essay Assignment:Your Essay Assignment:((Keep this in mind as you read.)Keep this in mind as you read.)

In musing about the role of the novelist as an educator, In musing about the role of the novelist as an educator, acclaimed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once wrote:acclaimed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once wrote:

“I would be quite satisfied if my novels (especially the ones “I would be quite satisfied if my novels (especially the ones I set in the past) did no more than teach my readers that I set in the past) did no more than teach my readers that their past - with all its imperfections - was not one long their past - with all its imperfections - was not one long night of savagery from which the first Europeans acting on night of savagery from which the first Europeans acting on God’s behalf delivered them.” God’s behalf delivered them.”

In your opinion, does Achebe succeed in doing this with his In your opinion, does Achebe succeed in doing this with his novel novel Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart??

Whether you argue that he does or does not succeed, Whether you argue that he does or does not succeed, support your position through reference to at least support your position through reference to at least three three specific examplesspecific examples from the novel. from the novel.

VillageVillage CustomsCustoms

Life in Umuofia was very structured and daily lifeLife in Umuofia was very structured and daily life had many important rituals. had many important rituals.

There were important traditions for welcoming There were important traditions for welcoming visitors, for attaining and respecting social status, for visitors, for attaining and respecting social status, for

treatment of women, for going to war, getting treatment of women, for going to war, getting married, and for settling disputes. married, and for settling disputes.

Kola NutKola Nut Kola nut was Kola nut was

mixed with mixed with alligator pepper alligator pepper

and eaten. and eaten. This was served as This was served as

an appetizer as an appetizer as part of the part of the

welcoming ritual.welcoming ritual.

Alligator PepperAlligator Pepper

Alligator pepper Alligator pepper has a spicy flavor has a spicy flavor in the seeds. in the seeds.

It was used as a It was used as a seasoning by seasoning by mixing it with mixing it with

kola nut.kola nut.

A Boy with Kola Nut

Kola BowlKola BowlKola was mixed and served in this type Kola was mixed and served in this type

of bowl.of bowl. When a guest arrived, the When a guest arrived, the

host would ask the guest host would ask the guest to break the kola nut. to break the kola nut.

They would politely argue They would politely argue about who should serve about who should serve the kola. Finally, the the kola. Finally, the host would serve it.host would serve it.

The guest would draw The guest would draw chalk lines on the floor chalk lines on the floor and paint his big toe and paint his big toe

white with the chalk. white with the chalk.

ReligiousReligiousCeremoniesCeremonies

The people of Umuofia believed in many gods, The people of Umuofia believed in many gods, ghosts, ghosts,

ancestral spirits, and even believed certain ancestral spirits, and even believed certain animals were animals were

sacred. sacred. They prayed to their ancestors and also had a They prayed to their ancestors and also had a chichi

or personal god. or personal god. They revered the python as the most sacred They revered the python as the most sacred

animal and called a rainbow animal and called a rainbow the python of the skythe python of the sky. .

Ceremonial MasksCeremonial Masks The The egwugwuegwugwu were the were the

leaders of the community. leaders of the community. The women would be afraid The women would be afraid

of the of the egwugwuegwugwu, even , even though they knew their men though they knew their men were not present at the were not present at the ceremonies and had to be ceremonies and had to be the the egwugwuegwugwu. .

Evil ForestEvil Forest was the lead was the lead egwugwu in egwugwu in Things Fall Things Fall Apart. Apart.

EgwugwuEgwugwu EgwugwuEgwugwu wearing wearing

ceremonial masks.ceremonial masks. The The egwugwuegwugwu would would

make communal make communal decisions, such as decisions, such as settling property settling property

disputes or deciding disputes or deciding whether to go to war, whether to go to war, for the Ibo people. for the Ibo people.

Jaw Mask, Another Form of Jaw Mask, Another Form of Ceremonial MaskCeremonial Mask

Mask and an Ibo Boy in a MaskMask and an Ibo Boy in a Mask

An Elder MeetingAn Elder MeetingThe Egwugwu are in MasksThe Egwugwu are in Masks

Ceremonial DressCeremonial Dress

Drinking Palm Wine From a Human Skull Drinking Palm Wine From a Human Skull Was Part of Religious Ceremonies Was Part of Religious Ceremonies

Okonkwo Had Five Skulls to His CreditOkonkwo Had Five Skulls to His Credit

Boys of the Village Boys of the Village It was important to include boys in daily rituals.It was important to include boys in daily rituals.

A Tortoise Shell DrumA Tortoise Shell Drum

Drums were a Drums were a very important very important

part of everyday part of everyday life. They were life. They were part of religious part of religious

ceremonies ceremonies

and rituals.and rituals.

Village Village LifeLife

The villagers were warriors, farmers, and The villagers were warriors, farmers, and craftsmen. craftsmen.

The men’s crop was yam, the king of crops. The men’s crop was yam, the king of crops. Women’s crops were coco-yams, beans, and Women’s crops were coco-yams, beans, and

cassava. cassava.

"Proverbs are the palm-oil "Proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten."with which words are eaten."

Among the Ibo people, the art of conversation Among the Ibo people, the art of conversation is very highly regarded. is very highly regarded.

At the time the novel takes place (1930s), the At the time the novel takes place (1930s), the Ibo people do not use the written word. Ibo people do not use the written word.

They received their news from the town crier.They received their news from the town crier. A A ProverbProverb is a short saying that expresses a is a short saying that expresses a

common truth or experience. common truth or experience. ProverbsProverbs are are very important to the Ibo people. very important to the Ibo people.

LocustsLocusts Locusts are related to Locusts are related to

grasshoppers. They grasshoppers. They swarm and can destroy swarm and can destroy whole fields and crops.whole fields and crops.

The Umuofians The Umuofians considered them to be a considered them to be a delicacy.delicacy.

They gathered them in They gathered them in baskets and then roasted baskets and then roasted them and ate them. them and ate them.

Tattoos on a Sculpture and a ManTattoos on a Sculpture and a Man

Cowry ShellsCowry Shells

Cowry shells were used Cowry shells were used as money in Africa. as money in Africa.

They were small enough They were small enough to carry and were scarce to carry and were scarce enough to be valuable.enough to be valuable.

25 bags of cowry shells 25 bags of cowry shells were paid as bride price were paid as bride price during the engagement during the engagement ceremony in the novel.ceremony in the novel.

An Ibo BuildingAn Ibo Building

FishingFishingOne of Many Activities Done as a CommunityOne of Many Activities Done as a Community

Dying Indigo and a CraftsmanDying Indigo and a Craftsman

The Market The Market An Important Part of Ibo Social LifeAn Important Part of Ibo Social Life

MarketMarket

Drawing of an Ibo Village in the 1800s.Drawing of an Ibo Village in the 1800s.

Tailor and CarverTailor and Carver

Nigerian GirlNigerian Girl One tribe of One tribe of

people who live in people who live in Nigeria call Nigeria call

themselves the Ibo themselves the Ibo people. people.

Women often Women often carry heavy things carry heavy things

on their heads. on their heads.

WomenWomen

Pounding YamsPounding Yams

Notice the Tattoos on the Woman on Notice the Tattoos on the Woman on the Left the Left

The village practiced The village practiced polygamypolygamy. .

In other words, In other words, the men could have the men could have more than one wife.more than one wife.

OkonkwoOkonkwo

FirstFirst WifeWife

EzinmaEzinma

EkwefiEkwefi OjiugoOjiugo

NwoyeNwoye ObiageliObiageli SonSon NkechiNkechi

Okonkwo’s FamilyOkonkwo’s Family

FamilyFamily

Your Essay Assignment:Your Essay Assignment:((Keep this in mind as you read.)Keep this in mind as you read.)

In musing about the role of the novelist as an educator, In musing about the role of the novelist as an educator, acclaimed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once wrote:acclaimed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once wrote:

“I would be quite satisfied if my novels (especially the ones “I would be quite satisfied if my novels (especially the ones I set in the past) did no more than teach my readers that I set in the past) did no more than teach my readers that their past - with all its imperfections - was not one long their past - with all its imperfections - was not one long night of savagery from which the first Europeans acting on night of savagery from which the first Europeans acting on God’s behalf delivered them.” God’s behalf delivered them.”

In your opinion, does Achebe succeed in doing this with his In your opinion, does Achebe succeed in doing this with his novel novel Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart??

Whether you argue that he does or does not succeed, Whether you argue that he does or does not succeed, support your position through reference to at least support your position through reference to at least three three specific examplesspecific examples from the novel. from the novel.