Things fall apart

Things Fall Apart

Introduction and Background to African Literature

NCSCOS English II Goals and Objectives: 5.01, 5.02, 5.03

“Turning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned;The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity.Surely some revelation is at hand;Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

"The Second Coming"

William Butler Yeats

African Literature

• African literature was first recognized around 2300-2100 B.C., when ancient Egyptians begin using burial texts to accompany their dead. These include the first written accounts of creation - the Memphite Declaration of Deities.

African Literature

• African literature spawns from their extremely oral culture

• Oral culture takes many forms: proverbs and riddles, epic narratives, praise poetry and songs, chants and rituals, stories, legends and folk tales.

• This is present in the many proverbs told in Things Fall Apart

African Literature

• With the period of Colonization, African oral traditions and written works came under serious threat from outside sources.   

• Europeans, justifying themselves with the Christian ethics, tried to destroy the "pagan" and "primitive" culture of the Africans, to make them more pliable slaves. However, African Literature survived this concerted attack.

African Literature

• Chinua Achebe presents Chinua Achebe presents native African culture in native African culture in his stunning work, his stunning work, Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart. This . This is probably the most is probably the most read work of African read work of African Literature ever written, Literature ever written, and it provides a deep and it provides a deep level of cultural detaillevel of cultural detail

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• Chinua Achebe is one of the most well-known contemporary writers from Africa.

• Achebe’s first novel, Things Fall Apart, deals with the clash of cultures and the violent transitions in life and values brought about by the onset of British colonialism in Nigeria at the end of the nineteenth century.

Chinua Achebe

• born in Nigeria in 1930. He was raised in the large village of Ogidi, one of the first centers of Anglican missionary work in Eastern Nigeria. (Question #5)

• He is a graduate of University College, Ibadan.

• From 1972 to 1976, and again in 1987 to 1988, Mr. Achebe was a Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and also for one year at the University of Connecticut, Storrs.

Author’s Purpose

• One of the main themes running through Things Fall Apart -- and all of Achebe’s work -- is that all knowledge is specific and culturally situated. (Question #1)

• What does your map of Africa tell you about your knowledge of the culture we’re about to encounter in this book?

“Let me first make one general point that is fundamental and essential to the appreciation of African issues by Americans. Africans are people in the same way that Americans, Europeans, Asians, and others are people. Africans are not some strange beings with unpronounceable names and impenetrable minds. Although the action of Things Fall Apart takes place in a setting with which most Americans are unfamiliar, the characters are normal people and their events are real human events.”

Chinua Achebe

Author’s Purpose

What made Achebe’s African literature truly African?

• Things Fall Apart combines Western linguistic forms and literary traditions with Igbo (or Ibo) words and phrases, proverbs, fables, tales, and other elements of African oral and communal storytelling traditions. (Question #6)

• This helps record and preserve African oral traditions as well as to overcome the colonialist language and culture.

• Published in 1958, just before Nigerian independence, the novel recounts the life of the village hero Okonkwo and describes the arrival of white missionaries in Nigeria and its impact on traditional Igbo society during the late 1800s. (Question #9, #10)

Things Fall Apart

Background

• Things Fall Apart, Africa's most important novel to date, is probably the most widely studied African creative work both in Africa and abroad. The novel's universal appeal has led to its being translated into more than 50 languages

• Mr. Achebe has published novels, short stories, essays, and children's books.

• He was cited in the London Sunday Times as one of the 1,000 "Makers of the Twentieth Century," for defining "a modern African literature that was truly African" and thereby making "a major contribution to world literature."

• How do you think oral storytelling helps to promote Achebe’s theme that all knowledge is specific and culturally situated? (Question #7)

Drawing of an Ibo Village in the 1800s.Drawing of an Ibo Village in the 1800s.

British Colonialism

• In the 1850’s, European countries divided up all the land in Africa – the land England acquired became its African colonies.

• In the 1850’s, 80% of Africa was still under traditional, local control.

• England and other colonial powers like France and Germany divided Africa into 50 countries.

•They superimposed brand new boundaries over the 1,000 indigenous cultures and regions of Africa.

•The new countries lacked reason, and divided some groups of people who lived peacefully together, while merging other groups who didn’t get along.

The End of Colonialism

• Between 1885 and 1914 Britain took nearly 30% of Africa's population under its control, compared to 15% for France, 9% for Germany, 7% for Belgium and 1% for Italy.

• Nigeria alone contributed 15 million subjects, more than in the whole of French West Africa or the entire German colonial empire.

• An epic hero, like Odysseus, is typically set apart from other characters by his capacity to endure many trials and tests. A tragic hero, like Oedipus, is typically a man of consequence brought down by an inner conflict, or through his own weakness. Is Okonkwo an epic hero, a tragic hero, or is he a hero at all?

• Do you think we bring some knowledge of Africa to the table?

• How is our knowledge of Africa and African history biased? (Question #2)

• Are there some stereotypes about Africa and Africans that we unwittingly have? (Question #3)

Background

• Things Fall Apart takes place during British colonial rule of Nigeria in the latter part of the 1800s and deals with the Ibo(Igbo) Culture

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Your Essay Assignment:Your Essay Assignment:((Keep this in mind as you read.)Keep this in mind as you read.)

• In musing about the role of the novelist as an In musing about the role of the novelist as an educator, acclaimed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe educator, acclaimed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once wrote:once wrote:

“I would be quite satisfied if my novels (especially “I would be quite satisfied if my novels (especially the ones I set in the past) did no more than teach my the ones I set in the past) did no more than teach my readers that their past - with all its imperfections - readers that their past - with all its imperfections - was not one long night of savagery from which the was not one long night of savagery from which the first Europeans acting on God’s behalf delivered first Europeans acting on God’s behalf delivered them.” them.”

• In your opinion, does Achebe succeed in doing this In your opinion, does Achebe succeed in doing this with his novel with his novel Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart??

• Whether you argue that he does or does not Whether you argue that he does or does not succeed, support your position through reference to succeed, support your position through reference to at least at least three specific examplesthree specific examples from the novel. from the novel.

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Ibo Culture

• To understand the concepts in Things Fall Apart, it is important to know about the Ibo (also called Igbo) culture

Belief System• Igbo beliefs were once very tribal in nature. • Before Christianity belief system revolved

around one particular god, named Chukwu • Chukwu was all powerful and omnipresent

God and representations, symbols and sanctuaries for him can be found almost anywhere. – Homes, compounds, buildings and even village

parks and squares would display these depictions of Chukwu

• Also believed in many smaller deities that would compete among themselves

• CHI was a god seen as individually personalized by its followers.

• The people believed strongly in ones ability to improve status in the present world or afterlife through change.

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EgwugwuEgwugwu

These figures are tutelary deities known as alusi or agbara

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People and Community

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Music

• Igbo music is generally lively, upbeat, and spontaneous which creates a variety of sounds that enables the Igbo people to incorporate music into almost all the facets of their daily lives

Ekwe- type of drum

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Oge- type of bell

A Tortoise Shell DrumA Tortoise Shell Drum

Drums were a Drums were a very important very important

part of part of everyday life. everyday life.

They were part They were part of religious of religious ceremonies ceremonies

and ritualsand rituals..

Yams are a staple crop.

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Ibo Culture Past and Present

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keZXlDZlluI

Works Cited

• http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/africa/igbo.html

VillageVillage CustomsCustoms

Life in Umuofia was very structured and daily lifeLife in Umuofia was very structured and daily life had many important rituals. had many important rituals.

There were important traditions for welcoming There were important traditions for welcoming visitors, for attaining and respecting social status, for visitors, for attaining and respecting social status, for

treatment of women, for going to war, getting treatment of women, for going to war, getting married, and for settling disputes. married, and for settling disputes.

Kola NutKola Nut• Kola nut was Kola nut was

mixed with mixed with alligator pepper alligator pepper

and eaten. and eaten. • This was served This was served

as an appetizer as an appetizer as part of the as part of the

welcoming welcoming ritual.ritual.

Alligator PepperAlligator Pepper

• Alligator Alligator pepper has a pepper has a spicy flavor spicy flavor in the seeds. in the seeds.

• It was used It was used as a as a seasoning seasoning by mixing it by mixing it with with

kola nut. kola nut.

Boy with Kola Nut

Kola BowlKola BowlKola was mixed and served in this type of Kola was mixed and served in this type of bowl.bowl.

When a guest arrived, When a guest arrived, the host would ask the the host would ask the guest to break the kola guest to break the kola nut. nut.

They would politely argue They would politely argue about who should serve about who should serve the kola. Finally, the the kola. Finally, the host would serve it.host would serve it.

The guest would draw The guest would draw chalk lines on the floor chalk lines on the floor and paint his big toe and paint his big toe white with the chalk. white with the chalk.

Religious CeremoniesReligious CeremoniesThe people of Umuofia believed in many gods, The people of Umuofia believed in many gods, ghosts, ghosts, ancestral spirits, and even believed certain animals ancestral spirits, and even believed certain animals were were sacred. sacred. They prayed to their ancestors and also had a They prayed to their ancestors and also had a chichi or personal god. or personal god. They revered the python as the most sacred animal They revered the python as the most sacred animal and called a rainbow and called a rainbow the python of the skythe python of the sky. .

Ceremonial MasksCeremonial Masks

• The The egwugwuegwugwu were the were the leaders of the community. leaders of the community.

• The women would be afraid The women would be afraid of the of the egwugwuegwugwu, even , even though they knew their though they knew their men were not present at men were not present at the ceremonies and had to the ceremonies and had to be the be the egwugwuegwugwu. .

• Evil ForestEvil Forest was the lead was the lead egwugwu in egwugwu in Things Fall Things Fall Apart. Apart.

An Elder MeetingAn Elder MeetingThe Egwugwu are in MasksThe Egwugwu are in Masks

Boys of the Village Boys of the Village It was important to include boys in daily rituals.It was important to include boys in daily rituals.

Egwugwu wearing ceremonial Egwugwu wearing ceremonial masksmasks

• They would They would make make communal communal decisions for decisions for the Ibo people the Ibo people such as:such as:– settling settling

property property disputes disputes

– deciding deciding whether to go whether to go to warto war

Jaw Mask, Another Form of Jaw Mask, Another Form of Ceremonial MaskCeremonial Mask

Mask and an Ibo Boy in a MaskMask and an Ibo Boy in a Mask

Ceremonial Ceremonial DressDress

Drinking Palm Wine From a Human Skull Drinking Palm Wine From a Human Skull Was Part of Religious Ceremonies Was Part of Religious Ceremonies

Okonkwo Had Five Skulls to His CreditOkonkwo Had Five Skulls to His Credit

Village LifeVillage Life

The villagers were warriors, farmers, and The villagers were warriors, farmers, and craftsmen. craftsmen.

The men’s crop was yam, the king of crops. The men’s crop was yam, the king of crops. Women’s crops were coco-yams, beans, and Women’s crops were coco-yams, beans, and

cassava. cassava.

• Igbo home life is also very structured.

• Typically the husband is the head of the household. He also accepts his responsibilities to his community.

• It is of equal importance to tend to both the family and the village. Igbo people usually have very extended families; it is a part of them as a people. Ibo HutsIbo Hutshttp://img2.travelblog.org/Photos/11183/84066/t/520783-The-hut-0.jpg

People and Community

An Ibo BuildingAn Ibo Building

"Proverbs are the palm-oil with "Proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten."which words are eaten."

• Among the Ibo people, the art of Among the Ibo people, the art of conversation is very highly regarded. conversation is very highly regarded.

• At the time the novel takes place At the time the novel takes place (1930s), the Ibo people do not use the (1930s), the Ibo people do not use the written word. written word.

• They received their news from the town They received their news from the town crier.crier.

• A A ProverbProverb is a short saying that expresses is a short saying that expresses a common truth or experience. a common truth or experience. ProverbsProverbs are very important to the Ibo people. are very important to the Ibo people.

LocustsLocusts • Locusts are related Locusts are related to grasshoppers. to grasshoppers. They swarm and can They swarm and can destroy whole fields destroy whole fields and crops.and crops.

• The Umuofians The Umuofians considered them to considered them to be a delicacy.be a delicacy.

• They gathered them They gathered them in baskets and then in baskets and then roasted them and roasted them and ate them. ate them.

Tattoos on a Sculpture and a Tattoos on a Sculpture and a ManMan

Cowry ShellsCowry Shells• Cowry shells were Cowry shells were

used as money in used as money in Africa. Africa.

• They were small They were small enough to carry and enough to carry and were scarce enough were scarce enough

to be valuable. to be valuable. • 25 bags of cowry 25 bags of cowry shells were paid as shells were paid as bride price during bride price during the engagement the engagement ceremony in the ceremony in the

novel. novel.

Fishing: Fishing: One of Many Activities Done as a One of Many Activities Done as a CommunityCommunity

Dying Indigo and a CraftsmanDying Indigo and a Craftsman

The Market The Market An Important Part of An Important Part of

Ibo Social LifeIbo Social Life

MarketMarket

Tailor and CarverTailor and Carver

Nigerian GirlNigerian Girl

• One tribe of One tribe of people who people who

live in live in Nigeria call Nigeria call themselves themselves

the Ibo the Ibo people. people.

• Women Women often carry often carry

heavy things heavy things on their on their heads.heads.

WomenWomen

Pounding YamsPounding Yams

Woman on left with similar tattooingWoman on left with similar tattooing

The village practiced The village practiced polygamypolygamy. .

In other words, In other words, the men could have the men could have more than one wife.more than one wife.

OkonkwoOkonkwo

FirstFirst WifeWife

EzinmaEzinma

EkwefiEkwefi OjiugoOjiugo

NwoyeNwoye ObiageliObiageli SonSon NkechiNkechi

Okonkwo’s Okonkwo’s FamilyFamily

FamilyFamily

Your Essay Assignment:Your Essay Assignment:((Keep this in mind as you read.)Keep this in mind as you read.)

• In musing about the role of the novelist as an educator, In musing about the role of the novelist as an educator, acclaimed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once wrote:acclaimed Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once wrote:

“I would be quite satisfied if my novels (especially the “I would be quite satisfied if my novels (especially the ones I set in the past) did no more than teach my ones I set in the past) did no more than teach my readers that their past - with all its imperfections - was readers that their past - with all its imperfections - was not one long night of savagery from which the first not one long night of savagery from which the first Europeans acting on God’s behalf delivered them.” Europeans acting on God’s behalf delivered them.”

• In your opinion, does Achebe succeed in doing this with In your opinion, does Achebe succeed in doing this with his novel his novel Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart??

• Whether you argue that he does or does not succeed, Whether you argue that he does or does not succeed, support your position through reference to at least support your position through reference to at least three specific examplesthree specific examples from the novel. from the novel.

Conflicts

Generational:Okonkwo vs. UnokaOkonkwo vs. Nwoye

CulturalIbo vs. WesternTradition vs. ChristianityAssimilation vs. purity

GenderOkonkwo vs. his wives

InnerOkonkwo vs. himself

The Tragic Hero

1. enjoys an exalted position in society either by birth or extraordinary achievements

2. demonstrates wisdom, moral or philosophical greatness -- sometimes physical prowess

3. adheres to and exemplifies a code of conduct including reverence toward the laws of God and the universe, loyalty to the family, and respect for government

4. possesses a flaw in personality or psyche that ultimately brings about total destruction.

Tragic Flaw

• The quality that ultimately defeats a noble hero.

• What was Gatsby’s flaw? Macbeth? Hamlet? Oedipus?

• Okonkwo’s flaw:Uncontrollable AngerInflexibility

• After WWII, England’s sway and power over its colonies around the world was weakened.

• England’s empire in Africa ended quickly, often leaving the newly-independent states ill-equipped to deal with the challenges of governing themselves.

• Nigeria won independence in 1960, and many other African nations followed shortly thereafter. (Question # 8)

• What types of problems do you think this would create for both England and Africans? (Question #4)