Character Knowledge
What accomplishments helped Okonkwo gain respect in Umuofia?
He became famous as a great wrestler, a successful yam farmer, and a strong warrior who earned titles.
What is the purpose of the Week of Peace? What rule does Okonkwo break?
It honors the earth goddess Ani to ensure a good harvest; Okonkwo broke the peace by harming his wife.
Double Jeopardy: Why is the killing of Ikemefuna an emotional turning point?
Okonkwo kills him to avoid seeming weak; he is troubled inside afterward, and Nwoye becomes emotionally distant from his father.
What did villagers do when the locusts arrived?
a. They stayed inside their huts until the locusts left
b. They tried to burn the fields to chase them away
c. They fled to a neighboring village
d. They collected and cooked the locusts for food
d. They collected and cooked the locusts for food
What does obi mean?
A man’s hut or living quarters, symbolizing responsibility over the household.
Describe Unoka’s personality. Why was Okonkwo ashamed of him?
Unoka was gentle, lazy, in debt, and avoided responsibility; Okonkwo was ashamed of his poverty and lack of ambition.
What does the Feast of the New Yam celebrate?
The beginning of the harvest season; people clean their homes, decorate, feast, and host wrestling matches.
What accident causes the death of Ezeudu’s son?
Okonkwo’s gun explodes during the funeral, and metal accidentally kills the boy.
How did Okonkwo treat Ezinma when she had a serious illness?
a. He ignored her and expected her to recover on her own
b. He called for the medicine man to take her away for sacrifice
c. He brewed herbs and placed her over the steam to help her heal
d. He punished the other wives for not watching her closely
c. He brewed herbs and placed her over the steam to help her heal
What does the quote , "When a man says yes, his chi says yes also," reveal about Igbo values and beliefs about fate vs. personal effort.
The quote “When a man says yes, his chi says yes also” shows that the Igbo believe success comes from both fate and personal effort. A person’s chi supports them only when they work hard and are determined, meaning destiny favors those who take action instead of waiting for things to happen.
Double Jeopardy: What behavior in Nwoye disappoints Okonkwo and why?
Nwoye seems sensitive and prefers stories and tasks Okonkwo considers feminine; Okonkwo fears he will grow up weak like Unoka.
Why is the egwugwu ceremony held in Chapter 10?
It settles disputes through masked ancestral spirits and shows that the Igbo justice system relies on communal judgment and tradition.
The dispute is between a man and his in-laws, who have rescued the man's wife from his habitual abuse.
How does the clan respond after the accidental killing?
They burn Okonkwo’s compound, kill his animals, and exile him and his family for seven years.
Why did Ekwefi follow Chielo through the night when Chielo took Ezinma away?
a. She wanted to prove she was stronger than the other wives
b. She hoped to receive a prophecy for herself
c. She was terrified of losing her only surviving child
d. She believed Okonkwo asked her to follow
c. She was terrified of losing her only surviving child
How does the egwugwu ceremony connect to the theme of tradition and justice?
The egwugwu serve as ancestral judges, showing justice is based on tradition, community, and spirituality rather than individual opinions.
How does Ikemefuna influence Nwoye? Why does Okonkwo secretly approve?
Ikemefuna teaches Nwoye to behave more maturely and take interest in masculine tasks; Okonkwo is pleased but hides his affection.
Double Jeopardy: What is an ogbanje child?
A child who repeatedly dies and is reborn to the same mother, causing grief.
Why is exile necessary even though it wasn’t intentional?
Shedding blood during a funeral offends the earth goddess; exile purifies the land spiritually.
Double Jeopardy: What do the locusts symbolize in the novel?
a. The promise of prosperity and peace
b. The slow arrival of the missionaries and colonial influence
c. Good fortune sent by the Earth goddess
d. The coming of famine and destruction
b. The slow arrival of the missionaries and colonial influence
How does the idea of an ogbanje reinforce the theme of fear and love within family expectations?
Ekwefi’s fear of losing children shows the emotional burden mothers carry and how love is shaped by supernatural beliefs.
Who is Chielo, and what role does she play in Igbo religion?
Chielo is a priestess of Agbala (the Oracle) who speaks for the god and carries out spiritual duties.
How does discovering Ezinma’s iyi-uwa affect her family and the clan?
It breaks her connection to the spirit world, stopping the cycle of death; Ekwefi gains relief and the clan celebrates her survival.
How do Okonkwo’s reactions to hardships foreshadow future conflict?
He responds with anger and stubbornness instead of growth, hinting he will continue resisting change and tradition will clash with his pride.
Yams are MOST symbolic of:
a. Superstition
b. Wealth and masculinity
c. Witchcraft
d. Childhood innocence
b. Wealth and masculinity ✔
Double Jeopardy: Choose TWO terms (Yam, Ani, Egwugwu, Iyi-uwa) and explain how both help develop major themes in the novel.
Yams show how masculinity and success shape identity and family expectations.
The egwugwu demonstrate how tradition controls justice and community decision-making.
The iyi-uwa, the stone linking an ogbanje child to the spirit world, reinforces the theme of fear and love in family expectations. Ekwefi’s grief and hope for Ezinma show the emotional weight of motherhood, and destroying the iyi-uwa brings relief, highlighting how cultural beliefs and superstition shape family bonds.