Things Fall ApartThings Fall ApartBy, Chinua AchebeBy, Chinua Achebe

Published in 1958Published in 1958

Robert TateRobert Tate

SummarySummary

• Things Fall Apart is the story of how Things Fall Apart is the story of how African Tribes literally fall apart when African Tribes literally fall apart when English Missionaries come into their English Missionaries come into their tribes and attempt to teach them tribes and attempt to teach them Christian waysChristian ways..

Event 1Event 1

““One night Ekwefi and Ezinma were in their One night Ekwefi and Ezinma were in their hut and Ekwefi was telling her daughter a hut and Ekwefi was telling her daughter a story when a voice interrupted them. story when a voice interrupted them. Chielo, priestess of Agbala, came into their Chielo, priestess of Agbala, came into their hut to take Ezinma because Agbala wanted hut to take Ezinma because Agbala wanted to see her.to see her. “ (chap. 11, pages 95-101) “ (chap. 11, pages 95-101)

This can be related to my life because This can be related to my life because sometimes when I’m at work and my co-sometimes when I’m at work and my co-workers and I mess up and order, someone workers and I mess up and order, someone has to go and tell our boss, which is usually has to go and tell our boss, which is usually me…me…

Event 2Event 2During the second year of Okonkwo's exile, During the second year of Okonkwo's exile,

Obierika comes to visit and brings news of the Obierika comes to visit and brings news of the destruction of Abame by white men. Apparently a destruction of Abame by white men. Apparently a white man came to Abame and the elders white man came to Abame and the elders consulted the Oracle about what to do with him. consulted the Oracle about what to do with him. The Oracle told them that the white man would The Oracle told them that the white man would break their clan and spread destruction among break their clan and spread destruction among all of them. It also said that more white men were all of them. It also said that more white men were on their way, so the people of Abame killed him.on their way, so the people of Abame killed him.(136-140).(136-140).

I play a lot of online computer games. Usually what I play a lot of online computer games. Usually what people will do on those games is invade another people will do on those games is invade another persons area and kill everyone. And it is usually persons area and kill everyone. And it is usually expected or can be “foretold” by someone that expected or can be “foretold” by someone that can see them comingcan see them coming..

Event 3Event 3The drums woke Umuofia in the early morning to tell that The drums woke Umuofia in the early morning to tell that

Ezeudu had died. All the clan came to the great man's funeral Ezeudu had died. All the clan came to the great man's funeral and an egwugwu would appear every now and then from the and an egwugwu would appear every now and then from the underworld. Because Ezeudu had been such an important underworld. Because Ezeudu had been such an important man to Umuofia, cannons were shot and rifles fired in his man to Umuofia, cannons were shot and rifles fired in his honor. During one such salute, Okonkwo's gun had exploded honor. During one such salute, Okonkwo's gun had exploded and killed a young boy in the middle of the funeral crowd. and killed a young boy in the middle of the funeral crowd. Although Okonkwo's crime was female (accidental) in nature, Although Okonkwo's crime was female (accidental) in nature, he was forced to flee from his home because killing a he was forced to flee from his home because killing a clansman was a crime against the earth goddess. Okonkwo clansman was a crime against the earth goddess. Okonkwo and his wives and children gathered up their things and left and his wives and children gathered up their things and left Umuofia to spend seven years in Mbanta, where Okonkwo's Umuofia to spend seven years in Mbanta, where Okonkwo's mother had lived before she married Unoka.mother had lived before she married Unoka. (120-125) (120-125)

There have been times in which I have done There have been times in which I have done something terribly wrong at my house and ive been something terribly wrong at my house and ive been sent to my grandmas for a week.sent to my grandmas for a week.

Quote 1Quote 1

"'When did you become a shivering old woman,' "'When did you become a shivering old woman,' Okonkwo asked himself, 'you, who are known in all the Okonkwo asked himself, 'you, who are known in all the nine villages for your valor in war? How can a man nine villages for your valor in war? How can a man who has killed five men in battle fall to pieces because who has killed five men in battle fall to pieces because he has added a boy to their number? Okonkwo, you he has added a boy to their number? Okonkwo, you have become a woman indeed.'"have become a woman indeed.'" ( (56).56).

when I first started working at Texten Printing supplies, when I first started working at Texten Printing supplies, I had to have people teach me how to use everything. I had to have people teach me how to use everything. I was organizing a stack of printing blankets and I I was organizing a stack of printing blankets and I heard one of my co-workers complaining that since I heard one of my co-workers complaining that since I was new he felt as if he was doing a women’s job by was new he felt as if he was doing a women’s job by teaching me how to use the cutting blades and the teaching me how to use the cutting blades and the printers and all of the other stuff.printers and all of the other stuff.

Quote 2Quote 2“ “ Every year, before I put any crop into the Every year, before I put any crop into the

earth, I sacrifice a cock to Ani, the owner of all earth, I sacrifice a cock to Ani, the owner of all land it is the law of our fathers. I also kill a land it is the law of our fathers. I also kill a cock at the shrine of Ifejioku, the god of yams. cock at the shrine of Ifejioku, the god of yams. I clear the bush and set fire to it when its dry. I clear the bush and set fire to it when its dry. I sow the yams when the first rain has fallen, I sow the yams when the first rain has fallen, and stake them when the young tendrils and stake them when the young tendrils appear.” (17)appear.” (17)

I can relate to this because I am a very hard I can relate to this because I am a very hard worker and I am very religious. I work hard to worker and I am very religious. I work hard to maintain my family’s house and I also try to maintain my family’s house and I also try to do the very best I can religiouslydo the very best I can religiously..

Quote 3Quote 3

"'Beware Okonkwo!' she warned. 'Beware of "'Beware Okonkwo!' she warned. 'Beware of exchanging words with Agbala. Does a man exchanging words with Agbala. Does a man speak when a god speaks? Beware!'"speak when a god speaks? Beware!'" (86).(86).

This quote shows that Okonkwo is persistent This quote shows that Okonkwo is persistent in what he attempts to do. I also am very in what he attempts to do. I also am very persistent in stuff that I want to do or want persistent in stuff that I want to do or want to get. There was one year when I was little to get. There was one year when I was little that I asked for months for the same thing that I asked for months for the same thing for Christmas even when the answer was for Christmas even when the answer was no. I eventually got it.no. I eventually got it.

THEMETHEME

Digression is one of Achebe's main tools. Digression is one of Achebe's main tools. The novel is the story of Okonkwo's The novel is the story of Okonkwo's tragedy, but it is also a record of Igbo tragedy, but it is also a record of Igbo life before the coming of the white life before the coming of the white man. The novel documents what the man. The novel documents what the white man destroyed. The reader white man destroyed. The reader learns much about Igbo customs and learns much about Igbo customs and traditions; depicting this world is a traditions; depicting this world is a central part of the novel. central part of the novel.