Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart

Presenters: Hilary Deuser, Presenters: Hilary Deuser, Shelby Ritchie, and Sam Shelby Ritchie, and Sam

Watkins Watkins

Albert Chinualumogu Albert Chinualumogu AchebeAchebe

November 16, 1930: Born in Ogidi, Nigeria to November 16, 1930: Born in Ogidi, Nigeria to Isaiah Okafo and Janet N. Achebe.Isaiah Okafo and Janet N. Achebe.

September 10, 1961: Married Christie Chinwe September 10, 1961: Married Christie Chinwe Okoli.Okoli.

Four childrenFour children Parents were devout Protestants. Parents were devout Protestants. Christened him after Prince Albert.Christened him after Prince Albert. Paralyzed from waist down in 1990.Paralyzed from waist down in 1990.

AchebeAchebe Attended Government Attended Government

College College Founder of new literature.Founder of new literature. The finest of the Nigerian The finest of the Nigerian

novelists.novelists. Among the best novelists Among the best novelists

now writing in the English now writing in the English language. language.

Able to avoid imitating the Able to avoid imitating the trends in English trends in English literature. literature.

AchebeAchebe Believes any good Believes any good story should have a story should have a message.message.

Feel for African Feel for African context influence him.context influence him.

First Nigerian writer to First Nigerian writer to successfully transmute successfully transmute the conventions of the the conventions of the novel into African novel into African literature. literature.

Ibo BackgroundIbo Background

SE Nigeria SE Nigeria 1900-Protectorate of Southern Nigeria1900-Protectorate of Southern Nigeria Independence from Britain – 1960Independence from Britain – 1960 Republic of Biafra – 1967Republic of Biafra – 1967 Civil War – thousands killedCivil War – thousands killed

Ibo CultureIbo Culture

LanguageLanguage Niger-CongoNiger-Congo KwaKwa

HolidaysHolidays Family LifeFamily Life

FoodFood EmploymentEmployment

Impact of the EuropeansImpact of the Europeans Laws and trialsLaws and trials RitualsRituals MarriageMarriage

FoodFood LeadershipLeadership Social status Social status

BeliefsBeliefs

ChukwuChukwu ChiChi Minor GodsMinor Gods Mmo and EgwugwuMmo and Egwugwu

BeliefsBeliefs

TitlesTitles MarriageMarriage

UriUri Isa-ifiIsa-ifi

ReligionReligion

OkonkwoOkonkwo LeaderLeader Fear of weaknessFear of weakness Tragic heroTragic hero ““manly” vs. “unmanly”manly” vs. “unmanly”

ThemesThemes

MasculinityMasculinity Fate and FreewillFate and Freewill Tribal beliefTribal belief FearFear Social Disintegration Social Disintegration Struggle between change and traditionStruggle between change and tradition

Role of WomenRole of Women

Perceived as weak lesser people.Perceived as weak lesser people. Sadly oppressed with no power.Sadly oppressed with no power. Terribly mistreated and beaten.Terribly mistreated and beaten. No respect outside of role as mother or No respect outside of role as mother or

wife.wife. Played an inferior role in society.Played an inferior role in society. PriestessPriestess

TitleTitle

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

Chaos brought by Chaos brought by European/Christian European/Christian invasioninvasion

ChangeChange

TitleTitle

““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 The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereeverywhereThe 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.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT3mxK-oVgU

CommentaryCommentary

Why is it important?Why is it important? World is changingWorld is changing Learn to adaptLearn to adapt Need to adapt to surviveNeed to adapt to survive

What makes it good literature?What makes it good literature? Style-tragedy Style-tragedy SubjectSubject

How successful was Achebe in breaking the How successful was Achebe in breaking the stereotype?stereotype? Gave African Americans a voiceGave African Americans a voice

Works CitedWorks Cited

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““Chinua Achebe (1930).”2002.4 Nov. 2008.<http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/achebe.htm>.Chinua Achebe (1930).”2002.4 Nov. 2008.<http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/achebe.htm>. ““Chinua Achebe’s Biography and Style.”4 Nov. Chinua Achebe’s Biography and Style.”4 Nov.

2008.<http://www.usp.nus.edu.sg/post/achebe/achebebio.html>.2008.<http://www.usp.nus.edu.sg/post/achebe/achebebio.html>. Hiatt, Kimberly.”The Role of Women in Chinua Achebe’s Hiatt, Kimberly.”The Role of Women in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Things Fall Apart.”5 June 2006.4 Nov. Apart.”5 June 2006.4 Nov.

2008.<http://www.assaciatedcontent.com/article/35752/the_role_of_women_in_chinua_acheb2008.<http://www.assaciatedcontent.com/article/35752/the_role_of_women_in_chinua_achebes.html?cat=4>.es.html?cat=4>.

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Lystad, Robert A.“Ibo.”Lystad, Robert A.“Ibo.”Encyclpedia Americana.Encyclpedia Americana.2001.2001. ““Major Themes.”Major Themes.”GradeSaver.GradeSaver.2008.5 Nov. 2008.5 Nov.

2008.<http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/things/themes.html>.2008.<http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/things/themes.html>. Papers on Things Fall Apart and European Influence and similar term paper Papers on Things Fall Apart and European Influence and similar term paper

topics.”topics.”AcaDemon.AcaDemon.7 Nov. 7 Nov. 2008.<http://www.academon.com/lib/paper/100780.html>.2008.<http://www.academon.com/lib/paper/100780.html>. ““Things Fall Apart.”Things Fall Apart.”Sparknotes.Sparknotes.2008.4 Nov. 2008.4 Nov.

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