Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart by Chinua Achebeby Chinua AchebeThings Fall ApartThings Fall Apart

by Chinua Achebeby Chinua Achebe

historical background notes of African Ibo culture as historical background notes of African Ibo culture as

well as themes, setting, characters of the novelwell as themes, setting, characters of the novelhistorical background notes of African Ibo culture as historical background notes of African Ibo culture as

well as themes, setting, characters of the novelwell as themes, setting, characters of the novel

Chinua AchebeChinua AchebeChinua AchebeChinua Achebe

born Nov. 16, 1930born Nov. 16, 1930

Father was Christian minister but other family members Father was Christian minister but other family members

followed traditional Ibo religionfollowed traditional Ibo religion

Things Fall Apart was published in 1958 Things Fall Apart was published in 1958

the novel reflected the post-WWII idea that just as the the novel reflected the post-WWII idea that just as the

Europeans fought against racism in Germany, the British Europeans fought against racism in Germany, the British

colonies in Africa ought to oppose it as wellcolonies in Africa ought to oppose it as well

Achebe was also convinced that only an African could tell the Achebe was also convinced that only an African could tell the

story of Africa, after reading many offensive European novelsstory of Africa, after reading many offensive European novels

Cultural BackgroundCultural BackgroundCultural BackgroundCultural Background

Ibo (Igbo)- Third most populous group in NigeriaIbo (Igbo)- Third most populous group in Nigeria

subsistant farmers - raise crops for their own subsistant farmers - raise crops for their own

consumption - yams traditionally grown by menconsumption - yams traditionally grown by men

traditionally live in villages according to father’s traditionally live in villages according to father’s

fatherfather

prosperous men have 2 or 3 wivesprosperous men have 2 or 3 wives

each wife has her own hut within a family each wife has her own hut within a family

compoundcompound

Ibo cultureIbo cultureIbo cultureIbo cultureancestors are buried in the ancestors are buried in the

land and become spirits who land and become spirits who

participate in the village affairsparticipate in the village affairs

kinship - the support structure kinship - the support structure

within the village built on within the village built on

respect and titlesrespect and titles

Setting of the novelSetting of the novelSetting of the novelSetting of the novelNigeria just after it became a British colony in 1886, there Nigeria just after it became a British colony in 1886, there

was a struggle between traditional beliefs and Christianitywas a struggle between traditional beliefs and Christianity

Umofia and Mbanta - small Umofia and Mbanta - small

Ibo villages located on the Ibo villages located on the

coast of Nigeriacoast of NigeriaThe cultural structure changes as the white man and his The cultural structure changes as the white man and his

ways become more accepted by the villagersways become more accepted by the villagers

Nigeria became independent from Britain in 1960Nigeria became independent from Britain in 1960

CharactersCharactersCharactersCharactersOkonkwo-prosperous farmer, village leader, has three wivesOkonkwo-prosperous farmer, village leader, has three wives

Unoka - Okonkwo’s fatherUnoka - Okonkwo’s father

Nwoye- eldest son of Okonkwo, questions Ibo traditionsNwoye- eldest son of Okonkwo, questions Ibo traditions

Ikemefuna- ‘adopted’ son of OkonkwoIkemefuna- ‘adopted’ son of Okonkwo

Obierika - Okonkwo’s Obierika - Okonkwo’s

closest friendclosest friendEzinma - only surviving daughter of 2nd wife, thought to be ‘evil’ spiritEzinma - only surviving daughter of 2nd wife, thought to be ‘evil’ spirit

Chielo - priestess of Agbala the Oracle for ChuckwuChielo - priestess of Agbala the Oracle for Chuckwu

Uchendu - Okonkwo’s uncleUchendu - Okonkwo’s uncle

District Commisioner - British government representativeDistrict Commisioner - British government representative

Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown - missionariesMr. Smith and Mr. Brown - missionaries

Point of ViewPoint of ViewPoint of ViewPoint of View

Third person omniscient - Third person omniscient -

the narrator shares the the narrator shares the

thoughts and feelings of thoughts and feelings of

many characters, but many characters, but

primarily focuses on primarily focuses on

OkonkwoOkonkwo

ThemesThemesThemesThemesAny culture can benefit from understanding another oneAny culture can benefit from understanding another one

The price of manliness is highThe price of manliness is high

Change is continual and necessaryChange is continual and necessary

Any social value can be destructive if it becomes too importantAny social value can be destructive if it becomes too important

Despite cultural Despite cultural

differences, people must differences, people must

communicatecommunicate

house/drumhouse/drumhouse/drumhouse/drum

masksmasksmasksmasks

Images of Ibo Images of Ibo CultureCulture

Images of Ibo Images of Ibo CultureCulture

photographs from :photographs from :

http://mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/misc.http://mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/misc.htmlhtml

ancestral shrineancestral shrine