Colonization
What was Achebe’s main purpose in writing Things Fall Apart?
To show the dignity, complexity, and richness of Igbo culture.
What is tone?
The author's attitude towards the subject
What is Okonkwo’s tragic flaw?
His fear of weakness / toxic masculinity.
What device is used in the quote: “His fame had grown like a bushfire in the harmattan”?
Simile.
Which theme is shown when Okonkwo tries to hide emotions?
Toxic masculinity.
What type of purpose does Achebe use when he writes to challenge stereotypes? (think P.I.E.R)
Persuade / Reflect
What does the “mad dog / hunter’s dog” simile represent?
People abandoning their families/traditions out of confusion or influence.
Why does Nwoye join the missionaries?
He rejects his father’s violence and finds comfort in the new religion.
When the narrator gives Okonkwo’s fire human qualities (“roaring, restless”), this is:
Personification.
Which theme is shown when villagers fear losing their traditions?
Change vs tradition.
How does the interview “An African Voice” help us understand the novel?
Achebe explains why he wrote it and what stories about Africa get wrong.
What is the first positive act the missionaries do?
They care for outcasts and welcome them.
How does the setting of Umuofia show tradition vs change?
It highlights the clan’s unity, but also the conflicts caused by new influences.
What mood is created when the locusts arrive?
Strange and full of warning.
Why does pride become harmful for Okonkwo?
It stops him from adapting, making him lose power.
Why does Achebe include so many cultural details (festivals, ceremonies)?
To authentically represent Igbo life and give cultural insight.
What does pride stop Okonkwo from doing during the feast in Chapter 19?
Adapting and showing gratitude — he fixates on masculinity.
Why is the killing of Ikemefuna such an important moment?
It shows Okonkwo choosing culture + pride over emotion.
How does Achebe use foreshadowing with Nwoye?
Showing early that Nwoye dislikes violence predicts he’ll reject his father.
Which theme is shown in the quote:
“A proud heart can survive a general failure…”
Pride → stubbornness preventing growth.
What problem did Achebe have with European authors writing about Africa
They presented a one-sided, harmful “single story.”
What is Achebe challenging when he writes African people as complex?
The colonial “single story”—stereotypes of Africa.
How does exile affect Okonkwo?
It breaks his pride and symbolizes the clash between old and new ways.
Why does Achebe use descriptive imagery during festivals?
To immerse readers in the sights and sounds of Igbo life.
Write a claim statement about tradition vs change.
Achebe suggests that when a culture refuses to adapt, it becomes vulnerable to collapse.