Things Fall Apart

An Overview

English III / Vaughn

Setting

Introduction

• Change is a part of life… but when drastic

changes transform the world you know, how do you deal?

Okonkwo

• A well-respected member of the Ibo people in the African country of Nigeria in the late 1800s

• A wealthy farmer and looked up to as a leader of his clan

Okonkwo

• Has a big family that follows the traditions of the Ibo people– 3 wives

– A son, Nwoye

– 2 daughters – Obiageli and Ezinma

– He also cares for Ikemefuma (brought to the village as hostage)

Okonkwo

• Believes hard work is the key to success

• Values strength and looks at compassion as a weakness

• Will do anything to be considered different than his father, who died a debtor, failure, and embarrassment to Okonkwo

Okonkwo & His Outlook

• But his narrow view of success and his desire to stamp out weakness lead him to commit violent acts– Some of which bring him into conflict with his own

clan

Turning Point

• One day, a senseless act changes his life so he and his family are sent away

Changes

• While Okonkwo and his family are away, drastic changes take place in his village

• Christian missionaries arrive determined to change the thinking, philosophies, and way of life of the Ibo people

7 Years Later…

• After 7 years, Okonkwo and his family return to his village– What changes have taken place?– Will Okonkwo be able to adjust to a world

where things have fallen apart?

Background

• To fill in some of the blanks…– Things Fall Apart is set during a period of

British colonial rule of Nigeria in the late 1800s– Nigeria became a British colony in 1886

More history…

• Christian missionaries arrived in Nigeria in the mid-1800s, and by the end of the century had begun a strong conversion campaign … they wanted to African people to embrace Christianity.

Ibo Background

• The traditional Ibo religion was based on an earth goddess and a creator god.

• Many other deities and spirits were also honored.

• Animal were often sacrificed as offerings in religious ceremonies.

Ibo Background

• The Ibo were subsistence farmers, which means they grew crops to survive.– Men = yams (the manly crop)

– Women = other

Ibo Background

• The Ibo village was part of a clan network made up of about five thousand people who were– Led by a council of men that made decisions

democratically– Shared a common market and meeting place

Discussion Questions

• Okonkwo believes that strength and toughness are more important than compassion and gentleness.– In what circumstances might this attitude help a

person succeed?

– When could it cause problems?

• The European missionaries want the Ibo to change their way of life.– Why do some people want to impose their culture on

another?

– Can one culture judge another by its own standards?

– When do you think it’s acceptable to encourage a group of people to change their way of life? When is it not acceptable?

• Is this an African novel?