Things Fall Apart Notes Rapert/AP Lit

“I would be quite satisfied if my novels…did no more than teach my readers that their past –with all its imperfections– was not one long night of savagery from which the first Europeans…delivered them.” Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe Bio 1930 Nigerian-still alive Dad Christian and Ibo Chinua worked as a broadcaster Prof of lit at Bard College, NY Founder of Nigerian literature GOAL-not to imitate Euro novelists, but create African literature Art is “at the service of man”, thus the writer must have a humanitarian purpose behind his art Things-first novel- IN ENGLISH 1958 Dual inspiration 1. response to the humiliation visited on Africans by Europeans 2. response to the “moral worthlessness” of post colonial African culture Classic in Africa-required reading in most schools Refused to idealize Africans

Basic info to aid understanding Nigeria-West Africa Ibo (also Igbo) are 3rd largest ethnic group in Nigeria Many US slaves were of Ibo lineage Ibo have always been tribal, thus never united under 1 leader, thus easy prey for slavery Tropical rainforest-2 seasons Subsistence farmers Villages/tribes/clans based on lineage-patriarchal

Nigerian history British and French companies exploit area for slaves, palm oil, and wood in the 1700s Arab traders become involved w/north around the same time Christian missionaries enter late 1800s 1884 British claimed area 1906 British united north and south into a single British colony Northern Nigeria was (and still is) Muslim and has always been in conflict w/both Euros and southern Nigerians Official nationhood 1914---Independence from Britain 1960 Civil wars between Ibo and Yoruban clans Tense stability today

Setting ch 1-5 Umofia clan Set up of cultural identity for reader 9 villages of this clan of Ibo Mbaino is neighboring rival Ibo clan-murders Umofian woman Set up of cultural identity for reader Customs Interclan rivalry and rules Religion Power structure Familial set up

Conflict ch 1-5 Okonkwo vs self, father Unoka, other clansmen, nature, gods Note archetypical heroic flaw of arrogance and conflict with the father Ikefuma vs Nwoye/Nwoye vs Okonkwo Male vs female (literally and figuratively) Tradition vs situational necessity Enzima vs nature/gods Ekwefi vs gods

Characterization ch 1-5 Okonkwo-flawed hero? Unoka-opposite Controlled by fear, insecurity, violence Physical prowess Social standing Unoka-opposite Ekwefi and Enzima-non traditional females Ikemefuma-cultural scapegoat Nwoye-outcast

Symbols, etc The Cave Evil Forest & abominations Colors and weather Entry position Priestess Female earth Womb----rebirth Evil Forest & abominations Colors and weather Apocalyptic style

Things Ch 6-10 Feast of the Yam Ikemefuna O shoots gun at Ekwefi in rage Contrast of O’s vilence versus the softer side shown at the meal at chapter’s end Ikemefuna Loved and part of family Nwoye’s admiration and reliance Sacrificial murder O advised NOT to take part WHY DID HE??? Note final words of I—ala Christ (allusion) Also note father denial of son Foreshadows O’s fall---results in self-hatred (inability to eat is reaction) Nwoye ISOLATED completely now

Things Ch 6-10 Ike murder contd. Biblical allusion to Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac & crucifixtion of Christ THEME: O’s excessive adherence to code and obsessive fear of weakness—Tragic flaw

Things Ch 6-10 Enzinma’s fever and Ogbanje Belief in the changeling Finding the stone Ibo superstition/religion O is a gentle father to Enz.-she is favored one-again crack in O’s façade Concept of Justice-compare to ours