Side-plots
Papa's paper the Standard is known for...
What is publishing the truth?
Papa shares his tea with Kambili and Jaja burning his love into them...
What is a love sip?
This character says the following line early on in the novel: "Mbo, there are no words in my mouth"...
Who is Jaja?
What is missionary school for children?
The etagere breaks on Palm Sunday when...
Papa throws a missal at it, breaking Mama's figurines.
The students at Ifeoma's university rioted because...
What is they had no lights or water for a month?
Papa's physical abuse is heavily apparent, but this instance of emotional abuse symbolized his need for constant control. Sitting outside of Father Benedict's house...
What is she feels vomit in her throat and asks to stay in the car. Papa asks if she's sure that's what she wants to do, almost threatening her. She decides to go in anyway?
Before palm sunday, Aunty Ifeoma says her most famous line...
What is "sometimes life begins after marriage ends"?
Kambili has two dreams during her time in both Abba and Nsukka. After the festival, still in Abba, she experiences a positive, heartfelt dream where she hears...
What is Ifeoma's laughter, laughing,etc.?
Jaja's slow journey to defiance has been a constant theme in this novel, Kambili compares him to a symbol early on...
What is purple hibiscus?
During family time before Palm Sunday, early in part 2, news comes on the tv stating that...
What is another military coupe and new head of state/government?
In Nsukka, Chima notices this injury/deformity on Jaja...
What is his broken pinky?
After Papa has made Mama miscarry for a second time before Palm Sunday, she goes to Nsukka, and Ifeoma questions why she does not separate/divorce Papa. Mama says this in response...
What is "Where would I go if I leave his house? Tell me where would I go? Do you know how many mothers pushed their daughters at him? Do you know how many asked him to impregnate them, even, and not to bother paying a bride price?"
In Nsukka, Papa Nnukwu sleeps in Aunty Ifeoma's home visiting while Kambili and Jaja are there. Kambili is anxious because she thinks she committed a sin. She then confesses to Father Amadi and he says...
What is "that is not a sin that is your father speaking"?
Catholics pilgrimage to Aokpe in order to experience/see...
What is the blessed virgin mary?
Ade Coker publishes an article in The Standard criticizing the new Head of State. He was then...
What is arrested, kidnapped, or tortured by government soldiers?
What is "pouring boiling hot water on her feet"?
Kambili often internalizes her thoughts/feelings regarding what she wishes she did versus what she actually does. After palm sunday, when Papa broke the figurines and the etagere, she thinks to herself...
What is "I meant to say I am sorry Papa broke your figurines, but the words that came out were, "I'm sorry your figurines broke, Mama"?
What is light physical discipline then a discussion about what they did wrong?
After Mama's second miscarriage that caused her to go to Nsukka, Mama starts putting her plan in action, directly causing Papa's death...
What is poisoning his tea over a period of time, weakening him?
Ade Coker has a potential big interview with the Head of State. Shortly after he mentions this, he was killed by...
What is a letter bomb?
One of the most severe, intense moments within the novel is when Papa discovers the painting of Papa Nnukwu he then...
What is beats her and kicks here repeatedly causing Kambili's hospitalization?
Early on in the novel there is one line that foreshadows Papa's death...
What is "His face looked swollen already, with pus-tipped rashes spread across every inch, but it seemed to be swelling even more" (6).
After it is revealed to Papa that Papa Nnukwu, his father has passed away, he does not show emotion/care. He first says...
What is did you give him final unction, catholic funeral, converted him, etc?
Kambili plans to plant three things in Abba after Papa's death, name TWO...
What is purple hibiscus, ixiora, and orange trees?