All About Okonkwo
Okonkwo was afraid of being like this man, who he viewed as a failure.
Who is Unoka (his father)?
This is the setting for Part I of the novel.
What is Umuofia?
This word is translated as "village playground," but the place serves other functions also—a court of law, for one.
What is ilo?
This word for a collection of buildings is typically the word used for Okonkwo's home.
What is compound?
Okonkwo is banished for seven years after killing Ezeudu's son (accidentally) at this event.
What is Ezeudu's funeral?
Okonkwo had two of these, and wanted to attain more—four was the most anyone in Umuofia could have, and that was rare.
What are titles?
Okonkwo flees to his this place when exiled from his homeland after accidentally killing Ezeudu's son.
What is Mbanta (or Mbaino, or motherland)?
This word can refer to a woman, a man without titles, or, when capitalized, a specific deity.
What is agbala?
This word, which English borrowed from Spanish, is used in the novel to describe the blade Okonkwo (and others) use as a tool and weapon.
What is machete?
Okonkwo violates this holy week when he is angry with one of his wives early in the novel.
What is the Week of Peace?
Okonkwo's first wife is referred to by this title, which is considered a sign of respect.
What is Nwoye's mother?
Chielo, the priestess of Agbala, carries out her religious rites in this place.
What is a cave (or the shrine of the Hills and Caves)?
This word is translated as "personal god."
What is chi?
This word for something that inspires hatred or disgust appears several times in the novel—often referring to the Christian missionaries.
What is abomination?
In Part II of the novel, a rumor that one of the osu has killed one of these sacred animals increases hostility between Mbanta and the Christians.
What is the sacred python (or royal python)?
This character calls Okonkwo "father," but Okonkwo kills him anyway—against Ezeudu's advice.
Who is Ikemefuna?
Obierika relates a story about this village being wiped out by white men.
What is Abame?
This word describes the type of "wicked child" that Ezinma is suspected of being.
What is ogbanje?
Some passages in the novel use this word in its common English sense of "healing substance," but elsewhere it seems to refer to ideas such as "technology" or "magic."
What is medicine?
When Okonkwo arrives in Mbanta, his uncle, Uchendu, gives one of these to everyone gathered at a feast; another one is given by a different elder at a different feast just before Okonkwo leaves Mbanta.
What is a speech (about the problems with kids these days)?
Okonkwo measures his success as a warrior by his collection of these grisly trophies.
What are human heads (skulls)?
This specific name of Okonkwo's village is not revealed until a drum sounds it out while announcing Ezeudu's death.
What is Iguedo?
This word refers to the group supposed to be spirits of the elders of the clan, who serve as ceremonial figures and legal officals.
What is egwugwu?
The word "church" is not used in the novel until the appearance of the Christians, but this word for a religious building or site shows up frequently throughout the book.
What is shrine?
This Ibo custom doesn't seem right to Nwoye, which is one of his reasons for converting to Christianity.
What is abandoning twins (in the forest)?