Okonkwo's Findings and Ezinma's Illness
What does okonkwo do when he hears that Enzima is sick? (find specific page numbers and evidence)
Gathers herbs and helps prepare medicine for Ezinma, despite his usual toughness
How does Ekwefi have a special bond with Enzinma? (There are multiple variations of an answer, but try to find one specific example)
Because she has lost so many children and Enzinma is her only surviving one their bond is built on love and fear
What is an ogbanje and how does it relate to Ezinma's past illnesses?
a spirit child who dies and returns repeatedly
People think Ezinma might be one
How does okonkwo react when ezinma's fever seems to be severe?
he his very worried but hides his fear
tries to appear strong while urgently working to save her
How does Achebe help us understand Ekwefi's strength using her memories of losing children?
Her children show grief and resillence
keeping hope despite repeated loss
How do the medicine men try to stop the cycle of ogbanje?
mutilated the bodies of Ekwefi's children who passed
beleived it would stop the ogbanje spirit from coming back
What do Okonkwo's actions in this chapter reveal about his character and how do they reflect on earlier themes of masculinity? (give a textual example)
Not as harsh as he seems, he loves his family, and shows his love through actions, not words.
How does Ekwefi's past affect her when Ezinma gets sick? What themes are reflected here?
terrified because she lost nine children before
ezinma is her only surviving child
reflects themes of loss and suffering (will accept other themes)
Why is finding the iyi-uwu so important to Ekwefi and Okonwo? How is this related to Ezinma?
It's believed to break the cycle of death and rebirth, which would let Ezinma live.
What does Ezinma's sickness reveal about the tension between human love and cultural ideas of hate?
the igbo belief in in ogbanje makes her illness feel inevitable
shows how cultural beliefs deepen the suffering of her family
How does Ekwefi's memory of burying her children affect the way thst she views ezinma's survival?
It makes her cling to Ezinma desperately
She believes she might be taken from him by the ogbanje spirit
What is beleived to happened during the digging for Ezinma's iyi-uwa? What does this say about the community's beleifs?
It is believed that the iyi-uwa will break Ezinma's connection to the spirit
it shows how strongly the igbo people beleive in spirtual connection to illness
What "unusual" avtion (or actions) does okonkwo take with a pot ton help break Ezinma's fever?
Sets pot on fire
makes ezinma sit over it
covers her with a thick mat so she will inhale the steam
How does achebe show ekwefi's resilliance through her memories of repeated loss? (open ended but expand on your answer and gives specific evidence)
(open ended)
What does Ezinma's survival after finding the iyi-uwa symbolize for Ekwefi and okonkwo? (open ended, but give evidence with a specific page number and passage)
open ended