TFA is told in 3 parts – part 1 review In Part One we were introduced to an intact and functioning culture. It may have had its faults, and it accommodated deviants like Okonkwo with some difficulty, but it still worked as an organic whole. In what ways did Okonkwo offend his culture? How was he dealt with each time? What things does Okonkwo not understand about his own culture? Find a minimum of two events that depict his misunderstanding of his own culture. To what can we attribute these misunderstandings?

Leading up to the fall.. Having shown us an engagement ceremony, Achebe now depicts a funeral. We are being systematically introduced to the major rituals of Ibo life. How does the one-handed egwugwu praise the dead man? Okonkwo has killed people before this. What makes this incident so serious, though it would be treated as a mere accident under our law Why is Okonkwo exiled? Why is the exile ironic? Compare this to Okonkwo's participation in the killing of Ikemefuna and its lack of consequences. Obierika, a close friend, mourns the exile of Okonkwo, yet participates in the destruction of Okonkwo's property. Explain how Obierika's response to the exile signals a questioning of community traditions. Describe actions that depict Obierika as Okonkwo's alter ego.

As we continue… Okonkwo changes significantly after the killing of Ikemefuna. Describe those changes and tell how they reflect Okonkwo's struggle with his feminine side.

Okonkwo’s motto For part one come up with a one sentence motto that Okonkwo might want the people of Umuofia to remember him by while he was away. This can be a proverb (one sentence message with more than literal meaning; usually says something about life) or just a one sentence memorial. A motto is words to live by – what would Okonkwo’s words to live by be?