Characters
This character rules his household with a "heavy hand"
Who is Okonkwo?
Okonkwo won his fame in the village by doing this.
What is, he threw Amalinze, the Cat, a great wrestler, in a famed wrestling match.
What time period is the novel set in?
The end of the 1800s; aka, the late nineteenth century.
Summarize in your own words the closest meaning to the following Ibo proverb:
"You can't judge that a market would be bad in the morning"
What is not to allow a perceived challenge to keep you from trying/making an honest effort to succeed.
This word describes someone who acts in a way that is unnecessarily reckless.
What is foolhardy?
This character is taken from his home to pay a tribute to Umuofia.
Who is Ikemefuna?
This was the "ultimatum" delivered to Umuofia's neighbors, after a daughter of Umuofia is killed at market.
What is that the village must pay two human tributes to Umuofia in compensation, or go to war?
In Ibo society, this is the most important crop to sow for survival and social status.
What is the yam?
Summarize in your own words the closest meaning to the following Ibo proverb:
"Proverbs were the palm-oil with which words were eaten"
What is, that, in Ibo society, proverbs are important words of wisdom, and should be valued.
This word refers to something that signals the arrival of something else, like a herald or sign.
What is a harbinger?
This character, a native of Umuofia, accrues several large debts and can't seem to ever pay them back...must be too busy feasting!
Who is Unoka?
This is what happens to the crop of yams Okonkwo plants in Chapter Three.
What is, they are dried by the sun, then destroyed when flooded by unprecedented amounts of rain?
This Ibo word is used to refer to the main living space or hut in the family compound.
What is the obi?
Summarize in your own words the closest meaning to the following Ibo proverb:
"Our elders say that the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them."
What is that it is better to show gratitude to those who have helped you the most before others; respect your elders!
This word describes someone who uses deception to achieve their goals.
What is cunning?
People in Umuofia seek this character out when they need advice or to offer sacrifices to Ani, the earth goddess.
Who is Agbala (the Oracle)?
What is, Okonkwo must sacrifice a she-goat, a hen, a length of cloth, and a hundred cowries to the shrine of Ani the next day.
Two young people, one male and one female, paid to Umuofia for the killing of the wife of an Umuofian man, were from this neighboring village.
What is Mbaino?
Summarize in your own words the closest meaning to the following Ibo proverb:
"If a child washes his hands, he could eat with kings"
In the Umuofian society, if you are able to remove the footprint of your ancestors, you would be able to aspire to anyone you wished in the society. Okonkwo could not be respected, due to his father’s notoriety, until he became the notorious warrior that he was.
This word describes a process that is only just beginning or developing.
What is incipient?
This character is a wealthy owner in Umuofia, whom Okonkwo visits when he needs to borrow seed-yams to plant.
Who is Nwakibie?
This is what Okonkwo does to his second wife when she cuts a few leaves from the household banana tree in Chapter Five.
What is, he beats her, then attempts to shoot at her to punish her for "killing the tree" (he misses, scaring her, but still...)
The festival for the earth goddess, Ani, in honor of the coming planting season, is preceded by this honorary time period. Okonkwo breaks an important rule of this observed period.
What is the Week of Peace?
Summarize the meaning of the following Ibo proverb in your own words:
"A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing"
Essentially, everything happens for a reason.
This word describes someone who is subject to sudden changes of mood or behavior.
What is capricious?