Significant Characters (Okonkwo)
Why is Okonkwo determined to be the opposite of his father, Unoka?
Because he fears being seen as weak, lazy, or a failure.
What is the purpose of the Week of Peace?
To honor the earth goddess Ani by maintaining harmony.
What does “Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten” mean?
Proverbs enrich conversation and add meaning.
Identify one major theme of Things Fall Apart.
Acceptable answers include: masculinity, fate vs. free will, tradition vs. change, family, etc.
How does Okonkwo’s reaction to Ikemefuna’s death reveal his internal conflict?
He feels grief but refuses to show emotion because he equates emotion with weakness.
Why are yam harvests so important in Umuofia?
Yams symbolize wealth, masculinity, and social status.
How does the proverb, “When a man says yes, his chi says yes also,” relate to Okonkwo?
It reflects his belief in hard work and self-determination.
How does Achebe use foreshadowing in Part I?
Examples include: hints about Ikemefuna’s fate and early signs of cultural tension.
Why might Okonkwo struggle to adapt during his exile in Mbanta?
He could see the exile as a loss of power, status, and identity.
How does the egwugwu ceremony reinforce community values?
It connects the living with ancestral spirits and validates the justice system.
Explain the meaning of “A child does not grow up only in a mother’s hut.”
It reflects communal responsibility for raising children.
Why is Achebe’s blending of English with Ibo concepts significant?
It honors cultural authenticity and challenges colonial linguistic dominance.
Analyze how Okonkwo’s understanding of “strength” shapes both his success and his downfall so far in the novel.
His extreme view fuels ambition, but also causes impulsive actions and alienation.
How does the concept of chi influence Ibo ideas about destiny?
It explains how effort and spiritual fate interact to shape one’s path.
How does Achebe use proverbs during moments of tension to deepen meaning? Provide a specific example.
Students must cite any moment where a proverb reframes conflict.
What does Achebe use Part I to show?
Students should explain how Parts I begins by establishing the Ibo culture and characters.
How might Okonkwo embody the tragedy of cultural collision between Ibo tradition and colonial influence? In other words, how might Okonkwo contribute to "Things Fall[ing] Apart," as we read on?
He cannot adapt to rapid cultural change, leading to isolation and destruction.
Choose one cultural practice in the novel and explain how Achebe uses it to challenge Western stereotypes.
Students choose and explain a practice showing complexity and sophistication.
Pick one proverb and explain its symbolic meaning in relation to a major theme of the novel.
Students choose and explain a practice showing complexity and sophistication.
Explain how Part I of Things Fall Apart operates as both a literary text and an anthropological record. Provide an example.
Students must address both the character’s development and a cultural ritual.