Things Fall Apart

Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart

IntroductionIntroduction

And And

Study Guide Study Guide

The AuthorThe AuthorChinua Achebe (1930-)Chinua Achebe (1930-)

► Born in Ogidi, Nigeria to missionary parents who Born in Ogidi, Nigeria to missionary parents who raised him Protestant, though still preserving raised him Protestant, though still preserving some of the aspects of their traditional Ibo some of the aspects of their traditional Ibo culture.culture.

► Studied literature and medicine at the Studied literature and medicine at the University of Ibadan; worked briefly as a teacher University of Ibadan; worked briefly as a teacher and then for the Nigerian Broadcasting and then for the Nigerian Broadcasting Company.Company.

► Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart was his first novel- published was his first novel- published in 1958.in 1958.

►Many of his novels deal with the social and Many of his novels deal with the social and political problems of Nigeria.political problems of Nigeria.

The AuthorThe AuthorChinua Achebe (1930-)Chinua Achebe (1930-)

► Worked in the service of the Biafran Worked in the service of the Biafran government during the Nigerian Civil War government during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-70).(1967-70).

► Has worked since 1967 in academics as a Has worked since 1967 in academics as a professor at universities around the world.professor at universities around the world.

► Has received over twenty honorary doctorates Has received over twenty honorary doctorates from universities around the world.from universities around the world.

► Received the Nigerian National Merit Award Received the Nigerian National Merit Award for intellectual achievement in 1987for intellectual achievement in 1987

► Married with four children and currently living Married with four children and currently living in New York, where he holds a teaching in New York, where he holds a teaching position at Bard College. position at Bard College.

The SettingThe Setting

►The novel is set in Nigeria towards the The novel is set in Nigeria towards the end of the nineteenth century, in the end of the nineteenth century, in the period just before the arrival of the period just before the arrival of the white man.white man.

► It centers on the tribe of people known It centers on the tribe of people known as the Ibo (or Igbo)as the Ibo (or Igbo)

The Style of the NovelThe Style of the Novel

Achebe has written this novel in order to show Achebe has written this novel in order to show us what life was like in Nigeria in a specific us what life was like in Nigeria in a specific historical period. He uses a number of historical period. He uses a number of techniques in order to make the writing techniques in order to make the writing authentic.authentic.

► Simple sentences– Achebe uses a simple Simple sentences– Achebe uses a simple style of writing in most of the novel, style of writing in most of the novel, because he wants to tell the story in the because he wants to tell the story in the way that it might be told by a member of way that it might be told by a member of the Ibo tribe.the Ibo tribe.

The Style of the NovelThe Style of the Novel

► Imagery– Achebe uses many similes and Imagery– Achebe uses many similes and metaphors to bring the narrative to life metaphors to bring the narrative to life and he uses the sorts of comparisons and he uses the sorts of comparisons that relate to the Ibo way of life:that relate to the Ibo way of life: ‘‘Okonkwo’s fame had grown like a bush-fire Okonkwo’s fame had grown like a bush-fire

in the harmattan.’ (simile Ch. 1)in the harmattan.’ (simile Ch. 1) ‘‘Proverbs are the palm-oil with which words Proverbs are the palm-oil with which words

are eaten.’ (metaphor Ch. 1)are eaten.’ (metaphor Ch. 1) ‘‘He grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the He grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the

rainy season.’ (simile Ch. 7) rainy season.’ (simile Ch. 7)

The Style of the NovelThe Style of the Novel

►Proverbs– These wise sayings are very Proverbs– These wise sayings are very important, they are used to comment on important, they are used to comment on human behavior and show the importance human behavior and show the importance of oral communication within the of oral communication within the community. Achebe uses them community. Achebe uses them throughout the book, and they are drawn throughout the book, and they are drawn from Ibo experience.from Ibo experience. ‘‘The sun will shine on those who stand before The sun will shine on those who stand before

it shines on those who kneel under them.’it shines on those who kneel under them.’ ‘‘A toad does not run in the daytime for A toad does not run in the daytime for

nothing.’nothing.’

The Style of the NovelThe Style of the Novel

►Folk Tales– These are another Folk Tales– These are another important feature of Achebe’s novel. important feature of Achebe’s novel. They are important because they They are important because they relate to the events of the novel and relate to the events of the novel and they show us the values of the society.they show us the values of the society. The Mosquito and the Ear (Ch. 9)The Mosquito and the Ear (Ch. 9) The Tortoise and the Birds (Ch. 11)The Tortoise and the Birds (Ch. 11)

Pronunciation GuidePronunciation Guide

1.1. Chinua Achebe– CHIN-wa a-CHE-behChinua Achebe– CHIN-wa a-CHE-beh2.2. Abame– AH-bahm-ehAbame– AH-bahm-eh3.3. Agbala– A-ba-lahAgbala– A-ba-lah4.4. Akuke– AH-koo-kehAkuke– AH-koo-keh5.5. Akunna– ah-kou-N-nahAkunna– ah-kou-N-nah6.6. Amikwu– ah-MEE-kwouAmikwu– ah-MEE-kwou7.7. Anene– ah-NEH-nehAnene– ah-NEH-neh8.8. Ani– AHN-eeAni– AHN-ee9.9. Aninta– ah-NIN-tahAninta– ah-NIN-tah10.10. Chi– CHEEChi– CHEE11.11. Chielo– CHEE-el-oChielo– CHEE-el-o12.12. Chukwu– CHOU-kwouChukwu– CHOU-kwou

Pronunciation GuidePronunciation Guide

13.13. Efulefu– EFF-ou-LEFE-ouEfulefu– EFF-ou-LEFE-ou14.14. Egwugwu– EH-gwou-gwouEgwugwu– EH-gwou-gwou15.15. Ekwefi– ek-weh-FEEEkwefi– ek-weh-FEE16.16. Ezeani– eh-ZA-neeEzeani– eh-ZA-nee17.17. Ezenwa– eh-ZENG-waEzenwa– eh-ZENG-wa18.18. Ezeudu– e-zeh-OU-dooEzeudu– e-zeh-OU-doo19.19. Ezinma– eh-ZEE-mahEzinma– eh-ZEE-mah20.20. Ikemefuna– ikeh-Meh-fou-nahIkemefuna– ikeh-Meh-fou-nah21.21. Kiaga– kee-AHG-ahKiaga– kee-AHG-ah22.22. Machi– MAH-chiMachi– MAH-chi23.23. Maduka– MA-doo-KAHMaduka– MA-doo-KAH24.24. Mbaino– M-ba-EE-noMbaino– M-ba-EE-no

Pronunciation GuidePronunciation Guide

25.25. Mbanta– m-BAHN-tahMbanta– m-BAHN-tah26.26. Mgbogo– m-BO-gohMgbogo– m-BO-goh27.27. Nneka– n-NEH-kahNneka– n-NEH-kah28.28. Nwakibie– ng-WA-KI-be-yehNwakibie– ng-WA-KI-be-yeh29.29. Nwayieke– NGWAH-YEH-kehNwayieke– NGWAH-YEH-keh30.30. Nwoye– ng-WOY-yehNwoye– ng-WOY-yeh31.31. Obiageli– O-bee-ki-GEL-eeObiageli– O-bee-ki-GEL-ee32.32. Obierika– O-byeh-REE-kahObierika– O-byeh-REE-kah33.33. Odukwe– O-douk-WEHOdukwe– O-douk-WEH34.34. Ofoedu– OFF-o-EH-douOfoedu– OFF-o-EH-dou35.35. Ogbanje– og-BAHN-jehOgbanje– og-BAHN-jeh36.36. Ogbuefi Indigo– o-bou-EH-fee EedeegoOgbuefi Indigo– o-bou-EH-fee Eedeego

Pronunciation GuidePronunciation Guide

37.37. Ogbuefi Ugonna– o-bou-EH-fee ou-go-N-nahOgbuefi Ugonna– o-bou-EH-fee ou-go-N-nah38.38. Ojiugo– O-jee-OU-goOjiugo– O-jee-OU-go39.39. Okagbue Uyanwa– oh-KAE-bou-ou-YANG-wahOkagbue Uyanwa– oh-KAE-bou-ou-YANG-wah40.40. Okonkwo– o-KON-kwoOkonkwo– o-KON-kwo41.41. Onwimbiko– ong-woum-BEE-kohOnwimbiko– ong-woum-BEE-koh42.42. Uchendu– ou-CHEN-dooUchendu– ou-CHEN-doo43.43. Umueru– ou-mou-EH-rouUmueru– ou-mou-EH-rou44.44. Umuike– ou-mou-EH-kehUmuike– ou-mou-EH-keh45.45. Umuofia– ou-mwoff-yahUmuofia– ou-mwoff-yah46.46. Umuru– OU- mou-rouUmuru– OU- mou-rou47.47. Unoka– OU-no-kaUnoka– OU-no-ka48.48. Uzuwulu– OU-zoh-WOU-louUzuwulu– OU-zoh-WOU-lou