Do NowSeptember 27th, 2011

In your Writer’s Notebook, respond to the following:

1. List 5 ways that Africa is perceived in the media.

2. How or why do you believe these stereotypes develop?

Today’s Agenda

• Notes: Intro. to Things Fall Apart

• Pass out copies of novel

• Read Chapters 1 & 2 of Things Fall Apart

• TFA Reading Questions

• Go over Vocab. Quiz and Personal Narrative

Homework

• Read Chapter 3 of Things Fall Apart

*Quiz on Chapters 1-3 on Thursday!

Myth/Folktale Script

• How many of you were able to finish?

• If you want to work on it and hand it in on Thursday, that’s fine.

By Chinua Achebe Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe (Born in 1930)

Chinua AchebeHe is a poet and novelist; he’s one of the He is a poet and novelist; he’s one of the

most important living African writers. He most important living African writers. He is often referred to as “The father of is often referred to as “The father of modern African literature.”modern African literature.”

He was born in the Igbo (spelled He was born in the Igbo (spelled IboIbo) ) town of Ogidi in eastern Nigeria in 1930.town of Ogidi in eastern Nigeria in 1930. He is the son of a missionary teacher He is the son of a missionary teacher who raised him as a Christian (Protestant). who raised him as a Christian (Protestant). He received early education in English He received early education in English but grew up surrounded by the complex but grew up surrounded by the complex blend of Igbo traditions & the colonial blend of Igbo traditions & the colonial legacy. legacy.

Chinua Achebe

Achebe rejected his British name “Alfred” and took his Achebe rejected his British name “Alfred” and took his indigenous name Chinua. indigenous name Chinua.

Achebe left his career in radio in 1966 to pursue a Achebe left his career in radio in 1966 to pursue a career in writing. career in writing.

He became a paraplegic from the waist down due to a He became a paraplegic from the waist down due to a 1990 automobile accident.1990 automobile accident.

Achebe has lived in the United States since (he Achebe has lived in the United States since (he teaches at Bard College). He is married with four teaches at Bard College). He is married with four children. children.

Purpose and StyleAchebe sought to convey a Achebe sought to convey a

fuller understanding of one fuller understanding of one African culture and give voice African culture and give voice to an under-represented and to an under-represented and exploited colonial subject. exploited colonial subject.

He molded the English language to the rhythm He molded the English language to the rhythm and lyrical quality of the Nigerian language. This and lyrical quality of the Nigerian language. This style, and the incorporation of the proverbs of style, and the incorporation of the proverbs of African culture, combine to mark his stories as African culture, combine to mark his stories as uniquely African. uniquely African.

Achebe sees his role as a writer as one of Achebe sees his role as a writer as one of social responsibility since he believes that all social responsibility since he believes that all good stories should have a purpose.good stories should have a purpose.

Writing Focus

• The traditions of Igbo society • The effect of Christian influence

in Africa• The clash of values during and

after the colonial era• Rejection of the way Africans

are often depicted as primitive and mindless savages.

Works by Chinua Achebe Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart (1958) (1958) No Longer at EaseNo Longer at Ease (1960) (1960) describes poignantly the describes poignantly the

effects of European colonialism on Igbo society, effects of European colonialism on Igbo society, Nigeria, and newly independent African nations.Nigeria, and newly independent African nations.

Arrow of GodArrow of God (1964) (1964) A Man of the People A Man of the People (1966)(1966) Beware, Soul BrotherBeware, Soul Brother (1971) (1971)

Chick and RiverChick and River (1966) (1966) Morning Yet on Creation Day: EssaysMorning Yet on Creation Day: Essays (1975)(1975) The Trouble with NigeriaThe Trouble with Nigeria (1984) (1984)

Hopes and ImpedimentsHopes and Impediments (1988) (1988) Home and ExileHome and Exile (2000) (2000)

Things Fall Apart

• Set in Nigeria towards the end of the nineteenth century in the period just before the arrival of the white man (1890s).

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

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

Proverbs

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

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

nothing.’

Folktales

• These are another important feature of Achebe’s novel. They relate to the events of the novel, and they show us the values of the Igbo society.

– The Mosquito and the Ear (Ch. 9)– The Tortoise and the Birds (Ch. 11)

• Week of Peace:Week of Peace: In Umuofia, a In Umuofia, a sacred week in which sacred week in which violence is prohibited.violence is prohibited.

• Bride-price:Bride-price: money and money and property given to a property given to a prospective bride’s family prospective bride’s family by the prospective groom by the prospective groom and his family.and his family.

• IkengaIkenga-- a carved wooden -- a carved wooden figure kept by every man in his figure kept by every man in his shrine to symbolize the strength shrine to symbolize the strength of a man’s right hand.of a man’s right hand.

• Polygamy:Polygamy: a man can marry a man can marry more than one wife.more than one wife.

Igbo Customs

Nigerian yam-cult dance mask

• The Igbo week has four The Igbo week has four days:days: Eke, Oye, Afo, and Eke, Oye, Afo, and Nkwo.Nkwo.

• Osu:Osu: a class of people in a class of people in Igbo culture considered Igbo culture considered outcasts, not fit to outcasts, not fit to associate with free-born associate with free-born members of the clan. members of the clan.

• Dining Custom:Dining Custom: The man The man of the house eats of the house eats separately in his central separately in his central hut; Yam is Igbo’s staple hut; Yam is Igbo’s staple food. food.

Bronze plaque of Nigerian military figures. Source

• A Nigerian farm, possibly similar Okonkwo’s. Source: http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/igbo.htm