Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart

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Chinua AchebeChinua Achebe

Things Fall ApartThings Fall ApartBackground InformationBackground Information

Chinua Achebe is one of the most well-known Chinua Achebe is one of the most well-known contemporary African writers. contemporary African writers.

Things Fall Apart Things Fall Apart deals with the clash of cultures and deals with the clash of cultures and the violent transitions in life and values brought about the violent transitions in life and values brought about by British colonialism in Nigeria in late 1800s. by British colonialism in Nigeria in late 1800s.

the novel recounts the life of the village hero Okonkwo the novel recounts the life of the village hero Okonkwo and describes the arrival of white missionaries in and describes the arrival of white missionaries in Nigeria and its impact on traditional Igbo society Nigeria and its impact on traditional Igbo society during the late 1800s.during the late 1800s.

Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart includes Western linguistic forms and includes Western linguistic forms and literary traditions with Igbo words and phrases, literary traditions with Igbo words and phrases, proverbs, fables, tales, and other elements of African proverbs, fables, tales, and other elements of African oral and communal storytelling traditions.oral and communal storytelling traditions.

““The Second Coming” The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats 1921by William Butler Yeats 1921

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

Surely some revelation is at hand;Surely some revelation is at hand;Surely the Second Coming is at hand.Surely the Second Coming is at hand.The Second Coming! Hardly are those words outThe Second Coming! Hardly are those words outWhen a vast image out of Spiritus MundiWhen a vast image out of Spiritus MundiTroubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desertdesertA shape with lion body and the head of a man,A shape with lion body and the head of a man,A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,Is moving its slow thighs, while all about itIs moving its slow thighs, while all about itReel shadows of the indignant desert birds.Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.The darkness drops again; but now I knowThe darkness drops again; but now I knowThat twenty centuries of stony sleepThat twenty centuries of stony sleepWere vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,And what rough beast, its hour come round at And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,last,Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Interpretation of “The Second Coming”Interpretation of “The Second Coming”

Written after World War IWritten after World War IWorried about an “inhumane world” Worried about an “inhumane world” full of fascism, communism, and full of fascism, communism, and violenceviolencePoem suggested the Christian era Poem suggested the Christian era was about to be overtaken by a bad was about to be overtaken by a bad period of time (“beast” in poem)period of time (“beast” in poem)Second Coming refers to return of Second Coming refers to return of Christ on Doomsday – end of worldChrist on Doomsday – end of world

Poem interpretation (continued)Poem interpretation (continued)

Poet thinks great European Poet thinks great European civilization is collapsing civilization is collapsing

Worries the world will be overtaken Worries the world will be overtaken by savages from uncivilized parts of by savages from uncivilized parts of the world (Africa)the world (Africa)

Achebe took title of poem to respond Achebe took title of poem to respond to this poet’s view of (savage) Africato this poet’s view of (savage) Africa

Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart - brief - brief summarysummary

The main character, Okonkwo, is a great man The main character, Okonkwo, is a great man who has achieved much in his life. who has achieved much in his life.

He is a champion wrestler, a wealthy farmer, a He is a champion wrestler, a wealthy farmer, a husband to three wives, a title-holder among his husband to three wives, a title-holder among his people.people.

His success is driven by the fear of becoming like His success is driven by the fear of becoming like his father (poor and cowardly) his father (poor and cowardly)

Summary (continued)Summary (continued)

The society’s order is disrupted, however, with The society’s order is disrupted, however, with the appearance of the white man in Africa and the appearance of the white man in Africa and with the introduction of his religion.with the introduction of his religion.

"The conflict of the novel, shown in Okokwo, "The conflict of the novel, shown in Okokwo, derives from the series of crushing blows which derives from the series of crushing blows which are leveled at traditional values by an alien and are leveled at traditional values by an alien and more powerful culture causing, in the end, the more powerful culture causing, in the end, the

traditional society to fall apart," (G.D. Killam).traditional society to fall apart," (G.D. Killam).

Summary (continued)Summary (continued)

Okonkwo is unable to adopt to the changes that Okonkwo is unable to adopt to the changes that accompany colonialism. accompany colonialism.

In the end, in frustration, he kills an African In the end, in frustration, he kills an African employed by the British, and then commits employed by the British, and then commits suicide, a sin against the tradition to which he suicide, a sin against the tradition to which he had long clung.had long clung.

Key TermsKey Terms1. Brideprice1. Brideprice 2. Obi2. Obi

3. Kola 3. Kola 4. 4. ManslaughterManslaughter

5. Cowrie shells5. Cowrie shells 6 Palm oil6 Palm oil

7. Polygamy7. Polygamy 8. Chi8. Chi

9. Yams9. Yams 10. Foo foo10. Foo foo

11.Evil Forest11.Evil Forest 12. Umuofia12. Umuofia

13. Ibo13. Ibo 14. Ilo14. Ilo15. Harmattan15. Harmattan

Key Terms definedKey Terms defined1.1. Bride price – Common in many African cultures; Bride price – Common in many African cultures;

the bridegroom’s family pays in cash or goods the bridegroom’s family pays in cash or goods for the privilege of marring a young woman. for the privilege of marring a young woman. (dowry – opposite – woman’s family pays for (dowry – opposite – woman’s family pays for man to marry her).man to marry her).

2. 2. Obi – Large living quarters for the head of Obi – Large living quarters for the head of the family.the family.

Umuofia – village of Ibo.Umuofia – village of Ibo.

3.Kola – a bean, a stimulant like tea or 3.Kola – a bean, a stimulant like tea or coffee. Served on most social occasions.coffee. Served on most social occasions.

4. Manslaughter – unlawful killing without the intent to kill 4. Manslaughter – unlawful killing without the intent to kill (accidental).(accidental).

5. Cowrie shells – a sea shell, used as a form of money. The 5. Cowrie shells – a sea shell, used as a form of money. The village’s distance from the sea makes them rare enough to village’s distance from the sea makes them rare enough to use as money.use as money.

6. Palm oil – Rich yellow oil pressed from fruit of palm trees. 6. Palm oil – Rich yellow oil pressed from fruit of palm trees. Used for fuel & cooking.Used for fuel & cooking.

7. Polygamy - the practice or condition 7. Polygamy - the practice or condition of having more than one spouse, esp. of having more than one spouse, esp. wife, at one time. wife, at one time.

8. Chi – personal spirit.8. Chi – personal spirit.

9. Yam – sweet potato.9. Yam – sweet potato.

10. Foo foo - a doughlike West African dish 10. Foo foo - a doughlike West African dish of boiled and ground plantain, yam, or of boiled and ground plantain, yam, or cassava, made into balls to go with soups cassava, made into balls to go with soups or stews.or stews.

11. Evil Forest 11. Evil Forest

foo foo foo foo a dough-like West African dish of a dough-like West African dish of

boiled and ground plantain, yam, or boiled and ground plantain, yam, or cassava, made into balls to go with cassava, made into balls to go with soups or stews.soups or stews.

harmattanharmattan

Dust-ladden winds originating in Dust-ladden winds originating in the desert. Usually last 3-5 days. the desert. Usually last 3-5 days. Dusty haze usually blocks out Dusty haze usually blocks out the sun, reduces temperatures the sun, reduces temperatures and visibility.and visibility.

iloilo

The village green, where assemblies The village green, where assemblies for sports, discussions, etc., take for sports, discussions, etc., take placeplace

iboibo

A Nigerian tribe of peopleA Nigerian tribe of people