things fall apart
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Things Fall Apart. by Chinua Achebe. Chinua Achebe. Born 1930 in a Christian family in Ogidi in Eastern Nigeria Went to college, taught at university Received the Nigerian National merit Award in 1987 By 1995 over 8 million copies of Things Fall Apart were sold. Chinua Achebe’s Novels. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart
by Chinua Achebe
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Chinua AchebeChinua Achebe• Born 1930 in a Christian
family in Ogidi in Eastern Nigeria
• Went to college, taught at university
• Received the Nigerian National merit Award in 1987
• By 1995 over 8 million copies of Things Fall Apart were sold
• Born 1930 in a Christian family in Ogidi in Eastern Nigeria
• Went to college, taught at university
• Received the Nigerian National merit Award in 1987
• By 1995 over 8 million copies of Things Fall Apart were sold
![Page 3: Things Fall Apart](https://reader030.vdocuments.site/reader030/viewer/2022020320/56814541550346895db20a1c/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Chinua Achebe’s NovelsChinua Achebe’s Novels
• Achebe's novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society,
• the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of values during and after the colonial era.
• Achebe's novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society,
• the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of values during and after the colonial era.
![Page 4: Things Fall Apart](https://reader030.vdocuments.site/reader030/viewer/2022020320/56814541550346895db20a1c/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
“The reason African Literature came into existence because these things that were supposed to represent [Africans] were inaccurate. There was a vacuum, a gap to be filled”
~Chinua Achebe
Achebe, about African LiteratureAchebe, about African Literature
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Setting:Setting:• Story is set between 1860 & 1890- during
the coming of the white man to Nigeria.
• Written between 1952 & 1958- a time when Nigeria was finally ending colonial rule.
• In part, the novel is a response and antidote to a large tradition of European literature in which Africans are depicted as primitive and mindless savages.
• Story is set between 1860 & 1890- during the coming of the white man to Nigeria.
• Written between 1952 & 1958- a time when Nigeria was finally ending colonial rule.
• In part, the novel is a response and antidote to a large tradition of European literature in which Africans are depicted as primitive and mindless savages.
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Igbo Society: Social & Political Structures
Igbo Society: Social & Political Structures• Lack of centralized political structures.
• Lived in autonomous villages & towns, ruled by their elders.
• Democracy was obtained through a council of elders, age groups, councils of chiefs, women’s associations, and secret societies.
• Lack of centralized political structures.
• Lived in autonomous villages & towns, ruled by their elders.
• Democracy was obtained through a council of elders, age groups, councils of chiefs, women’s associations, and secret societies.
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Igbo Society: Marriage CustomsIgbo Society: Marriage Customs• Marriages were discussed in depth as they
brought families & entire villages together.
• Most husbands practiced polygamy.
• Igbo women lived in separate houses, cooked for themselves, and raised their own children.
• Unhappy women could leave a marriage.
• Marriages were discussed in depth as they brought families & entire villages together.
• Most husbands practiced polygamy.
• Igbo women lived in separate houses, cooked for themselves, and raised their own children.
• Unhappy women could leave a marriage.
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Igbo Society: Religion (polytheistic)Igbo Society: Religion (polytheistic)• Chukwu (the supreme being) is everywhere at
the same time-therefore there are no shrines or altars for worship.
• Ekwensu- trickster god who caused problems.
• The Ikenga- a wooden carving that symbolizes a man’s strength & success--a priest invokes a spirit into it & the men consult it for advice.
• Chi-a person’s personal god…follows you throughout life and can be either malevolent or benevolent…but chi does not control destiny.
• Chukwu (the supreme being) is everywhere at the same time-therefore there are no shrines or altars for worship.
• Ekwensu- trickster god who caused problems.
• The Ikenga- a wooden carving that symbolizes a man’s strength & success--a priest invokes a spirit into it & the men consult it for advice.
• Chi-a person’s personal god…follows you throughout life and can be either malevolent or benevolent…but chi does not control destiny.
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Themes:Themes:• Central theme- what happens to the values
that define Okonkwo’s cultural community & define his sense of moral order when everything collapses in the face of European colonialism.
• Colonial rule destabilizes traditional values & institutions.
• There is a crisis of authority & power, which leads to a crisis of culture.
• Central theme- what happens to the values that define Okonkwo’s cultural community & define his sense of moral order when everything collapses in the face of European colonialism.
• Colonial rule destabilizes traditional values & institutions.
• There is a crisis of authority & power, which leads to a crisis of culture.
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ConflictsConflictsGenerational:
Okonkwo vs. UnokaOkonkwo vs. Nwoye
Cultural:Ibo vs. WesternTradition vs. ChristianityAssimilation vs. purity
Gender:Okonkwo vs. his wives
Inner:Okonkwo vs. himself
Generational:Okonkwo vs. UnokaOkonkwo vs. Nwoye
Cultural:Ibo vs. WesternTradition vs. ChristianityAssimilation vs. purity
Gender:Okonkwo vs. his wives
Inner:Okonkwo vs. himself
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The Tragic HeroThe Tragic Hero• Enjoys an exalted position in society either by
birth or extraordinary achievements.
• Demonstrates wisdom, moral or philosophical greatness- sometimes physical prowess.
• Adheres to and exemplifies a code of conduct including reverence toward the laws of God and the universe, loyalty to the family, and respect for government.
• Enjoys an exalted position in society either by birth or extraordinary achievements.
• Demonstrates wisdom, moral or philosophical greatness- sometimes physical prowess.
• Adheres to and exemplifies a code of conduct including reverence toward the laws of God and the universe, loyalty to the family, and respect for government.
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Tragic FlawTragic Flaw
• Possesses a flaw in personality or psyche that ultimately brings about total destruction.
• Okonkwo’s flaw:Uncontrollable AngerInflexibility
• Possesses a flaw in personality or psyche that ultimately brings about total destruction.
• Okonkwo’s flaw:Uncontrollable AngerInflexibility
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Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart
by Chinua AchebeThe End