Things Fall Apart Higher Order Thinking Questions 1-4 Aurora McClennan, Jhankhana Shah, Jessica Wenzel, Anthony Barbosa

Question 1: Consider why Achebe might chose to take the title of his novel from Yeats’ poem. Consider how Achebe’s literary allusion to Yeats’ poem might deepen or extend - by comparison and/or contrast - the meaning(s) of Achebe’s title and his novel.

Consider why Achebe might chose to take the poem and consider his literary allusion to Yeats’ poem Poem is manuscript/outline for novel Every example in poem is also mirrored in novel Yeats’ wrote about an oncoming apocalypse - missionaries are apocalypse “Things Fall Apart; the centre cannot hold” - the white people come in and destroy the foundation Fear and curiosity drive people Fear of the unknown (Second Coming, the future, missionaries)

Question 2. Describe Okonkwo Question 2. Describe Okonkwo. Consider him as an Igbo heroic character: how does he work to achieve greatness as defined by his culture? How does he differ from Western heros whom you are community familiar with? What are his strengths and weaknesses?

Describe Okonkwo Main character Seen in positive light as ultimate warrior Is he really a protagonist? Questionable ideals and morals Hides emotion Physically strong Hates father because he showed weakness and “female” characteristics Good reputation; titles and such Driven by fear of failure, of weakness

How does he work to achieve greatness as defined by his culture? Driven by fear of failure Build self up from nothing Young and accomplished - respected Wrestling - defeating Amalize the Cat - showed strength Ambition, workaholic - only wanted to farm yams Will do anything for reputation (killed Ikemefuna)

How does he differ from Western heros whom you are familiar with? Western heros rely on brain rather than brawn Okonkwo is very aggressive: would be villain in Western culture Many Western heros come from “tough upbringing” and build self up, but are never aggressive Most will try to be different from difficult upbringing, like Okonkwo Superhero vs a regular man hero Socially acceptable for superheros to beat people up, but not for a strong man to do so (even if it’s not necessary) Western heros are romanticized

What are his strengths and weaknesses? Strength is strength, aggression is weakness According to him, emotions are weakness Hiding of emotions is weakness Impulsive decisions to show power Resourceful and dedicated is strength Cares for family (even if he doesn’t show it) as strength Closed minded - strength or weakness? (i.e. dedicated to culture and way of life)

Question 3: Describe Unoka Question 3: Describe Unoka. What are Okonkwo’s feelings towards him and why? How does the negative example of his father shape Okonkwo’s character and actions? What do the early descriptions of Okonkwo’s success and Unoka’s failure tell you about Igbo society? How does one succeed in this cultural context? What do we learn from the system of taking of titles? Who seems to be excluded from opportunities to gain such success?

Describe Unoka. What are Okonkwo’s feelings towards Unoka and why Describe Unoka. What are Okonkwo’s feelings towards Unoka and why? How does the negative example of his father shape Okonkwo’s character and actions? Tall, thin, poor posture Wore haggard and mournful look Loved to drink and play flute Seen as failure - never achieved anything in life No titles Okonkwo has no patience with father because he was unsuccessful Does everything in power to be opposite of father Saw father as having “feminine characteristics.” Seen as agbala - means woman, or man who has taken no title - and efulefu - a worthless man No inheritance - kind of bitter Brought shame to family

What do the early descriptions of Okonkwo’s success and Unoka’s failure tell us about Igbo society? How does one succeed in this cultural context? What do we learn from the system of the taking of titles? Society deems it important to work for what you have Having nothing = useless The more accomplished you are, the stronger you are, the more respected you are Must work hard, earn titles Respect culture, and Gods Must contribute to society Maintain relationships (i.e. father wasn’t accomplished, but respected him) i.e. Kola nut, palm-wine The system is sexist Based on merit - productivity of yams, strength in war, athletic skill Must be ambitious, strong, deserving in order to earn titles

Who seems to be excluded from opportunities to gain such success? The women Not welcome to gaining titles Must wear husbands titles Have to live in different hut from husband “Women jobs” versus “Men jobs” Looked upon as weak Only there to please man, raise children and cook “The dominant role for women is: first, to make a pure bride for an honorable man, second, to be a submissive wife, and third, to bear many children.” - shoomp.com Ezinma has potential to be most successful child but won’t be because she’s a child Nwoye is lazy and abandons culture but still has potential to gain success Chielo is only respected because she speaks for their Oracle All of their Gods are female; ironic - no respect for women but look up to women

Question 4: Describe the narrator Things Fall Apart, the “voice” telling us the story of Okonkwo, Umuofia, and the Igbo world of the nine villages. How would you describe this narrative voice, its point of view, its values, and perspectives? In the introductory essay to our edition, Simon Gikandi calls the novel’s storyteller a “witness” (xiii)- to what does Achebe’s narrator bear witness?

Describe the narrator, the “voice” telling us the story of Okonkwo, Umuofia and the Igbo world. How would you describe their voice, point of view, values and perspectives? To what does Achebe’s narrator bear “witness”? Omniscient - a God-like narrator who can dip into people’s minds and tell us what they’re thinking Unbiased, tells good and bad of culture and colonization Bystander Could be a lesson story being passed on? Listing the facts; reader can form own opinions on how things are Clearly someone who understands the Igbo culture Can speak English/learned to because they can translate what missionaries are saying Understands cultural words and ideas Bears witness to everything - overlooking, aerial view