1. Things Fall Apart
By Chinua Achebe
An Introduction

2. “Although I did not set about it consciously in that solemn way, I now know that my first book, Things Fall Apart, was an act of atonement with my past, the ritual return and homage of a prodigal son.”
--Chinua Achebe

3. About the Writer…
Born Albert Chinualumogu Achebe in Nigeria November 16, 1930
Father was a converted evangelist and leader in Christian church in Ibo village of Ogidi
Father was raised by his uncle, Isaiah who believed in the Ibo religion
Chinua dropped the British portion of his name when he began college
Influenced by both cultures in his family
British Christianity & Ibo Religion
Understood and participated in rituals and activities for both

4. …Writer, cont’d
Following WW2 political dissention began in Africa, Achebe felt that the British should fight racism in their own colonies in Africa as well as other places around the world
Felt that no outsider could tell the story of the people of Nigeria he felt compelled to write and found success
Wrote about Ibo in northern Nigeria and the struggles of the Ibo people
Became visiting professor for numerous universities and colleges

5. Writer, Cont’d
Pioneered literary style in which traditional idioms, folk tales, and proverbs gave Africans a unique identity as English language writers
Developed a vernacular style
Been nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Works translated into 45 languages
TFA sold over 3 million copies

6. Nigerian History
Became political entity in 1914; united three colonial administrations into one territory
Gained its independence 1960; became member of British Commonwealth

7. European Influence Began before Columbus
Christianity became a major part of Nigerian life because of Anglican missionaries in mid-1800’s
1807 British Parliament outlaws slave trade
Once slave trade stopped British merchants began trading palm oil and other goods

8. European Influence. Cont’d
With increase trade and people, rise of Christianity grew; many trying to convert Africans
British claimed political control in 1861 with town of Lagos (Achebe hometown)
1886 Nigeria became British colony
TFA takes place during this early period of colonization

9. Ibo Culture Ibo (Igbo) third largest ethnic group in Nigeria
Located in the southeastern portion of Nigeria
Tropical rain forest, with a rainy season dominated by the dusty harmattan wind

10. Ibo Culture, Cont’d Primarily subsistence farmers
Raise crops for their own consumption
Yams, cassava, taro are main staple
Corn, pumpkins, okra, melon, and beans

11. Ibo Culture, Cont’d Yams Traditionally grown by men
Other foods grown by women
Staple of the diet
Potato variety, several variations
Important festival with yams the end of June
Celebrates a myth that the first yam grew following a human sacrifice during a famine in Iboland

12. Ibo Family Structure Ibo live in villages based on lineage
Male as head of household; wife went to live with husband and paternal family
Man might have two or three wives, each would live in her own hut within the family compound
Villages were loosely organized into clans or groups
No single leader; decisions made by discussions and consensus of all adult males in clan

13. Ibo Religion
Believed that the will of the deities was revealed through oracles and divine ceremonies
Personal guardian spirit for every individual called a chi
Chi affected person’s destiny; could be influenced through actions and rituals
Enormous value of hospitality to keep paternal and maternal sides of family close

14. Literary Context
Achebe integrated European and African literary voices
Achebe “skillfully melds two diverse literary perspectives- the formal novelistic structure of European fiction and the storytelling tradition of Ibo oral culture”
Two effects of this bridging
Unusual depth, simplicity and complexity
Humane tone representing strengths and flaws

15. Achebe’s Philosophy Concerning writing fiction:
“Literature, whether handed down by word of mouth or in print, gives us a second handle on reality, enabling us to encounter in the safe, manageable dimensions of make-believe the very threats to integrity that may assail the psyche in real life, and at the same time providing through the self-discovery which it imparts a veritable weapon for coping with these threats whether they are found within problematic and incoherent selves or in the world around us. What better preparation can a people desire as they begin their journey into the strange, revolutionary world of modernization?
Hopes that writing will help to improve the individual and collective lives of African people today.

16. Novel’s Title
Taken from poem by William Butler Yeats “The Second Coming”
Achebe implies that social breakdown is not limited to Ibo society, but is universal
Breakdown of society and individual

17. Plot and Setting Tragic Hero Divided into three parts
Okonkwo, wealthy and respected member of Umofia clan of the Ibo
Divided into three parts
One-focuses on Ibo culture
Two-focuses on exile and encroaching cultures
Three-focuses on conflict between two groups

18. Cont’d
Setting at the end of the nineteenth century when British were just beginning to colonize Nigeria
Story of tragic hero, Okonkwo, but also about social issues such as justice, social norms, and individual conscience

19. Style and Point of View Omniscient Narrator Literary Forms
Combines narrator with African tradition of oral storytelling
Uses repetition and detailed literary descriptions
Literary Forms
Fables and proverbs for symbolism
Flashbacks and foreshadowing for character understanding and perspective

20. Major Characters Okonkwo Ekwefi Ezinma Values strength and hard work
His fear led to his destruction
Ekwefi
Okonkwo’s second and favorite wife
Ezinma
Okonkwo’s favorite child, his daughter by Ekwefi

21. Cont’d Nwoye Ikemefuna Okonkwo’s oldest son
Disappointment to Okonkwo because he resembled Okonkwo’s father
Gentle and compassionate
Converts to Christianity
Ikemefuna
Comes to live in village as hostage
Very masculine in contrast to Nwoye
Favorite of Okonkwo; calls Okonkwo father

22. Themes Balance of traditional masculine and feminine values
Okonkwo represents view of masculine power
Women play an important part but not primary or power role
Continual and inevitable change
Dynamic between individual and society

23. Irony Tragic Hero Historical tragedy Religious implications
Okonkwo brought down by his own flaw
Resents his own past and roots
Allows pride to take over
Historical tragedy
Religious implications