Things Fall Apart Flashcards
Who wrote Things Fall Apart, and why is it significant?
Chinua Achebe, published in 1958. It’s a postcolonial novel showing the impact of British colonialism and Christianity on traditional Igbo society.
Who is the protagonist and what is he like?
Okonkwo, a respected Igbo warrior who fears being weak like his father. He’s proud, violent, and obsessed with masculinity and status.
Where and when is the novel set?
Late 19th-century Nigeria, mostly in the Igbo village of Umuofia before and during British colonization.
What is a key theme in the novel?
Clash of cultures – the conflict between traditional Igbo life and Western colonial rule/Christianity.
What theme is explored through Okonkwo’s personality?
Toxic masculinity – Okonkwo’s fear of weakness drives him to violence and poor decisions.
How does the novel explore fate vs. free will?
Okonkwo tries to control his destiny but can’t escape the forces of tradition, colonialism, and personal flaws.
How are women portrayed in Igbo society in the novel?
Often seen as weak or secondary, but also shown as vital through roles in religion, motherhood, and storytelling.
How does the novel portray colonization?
As destructive – it disrupts village life, divides families, and undermines local customs and leadership.
What do the locusts symbolize?
The arrival of colonizers – first seen as harmless, then they overtake and destroy.
What is the significance of Okonkwo killing Ikemefuna?
It shows his obsession with strength and foreshadows his downfall; it also creates emotional distance from his son Nwoye.
How is Christianity introduced and what is its effect?
Missionaries arrive offering a new religion; some villagers convert, causing deep cultural and generational rifts.
What leads to Okonkwo’s tragic end?
His resistance to change, pride, and alienation from his community. He ends up taking his own life – a disgrace in Igbo culture.
What does the title Things Fall Apart mean?
It reflects the collapse of Igbo society and Okonkwo’s life under the pressure of colonialism and inner conflict. It comes from a W.B. Yeats poem.
Who is Nwoye and what does he represent?
Okonkwo’s son who rejects his father’s values and joins the missionaries – symbolizing generational change and cultural shift.
What message does Achebe leave at the end of the book?
That the colonizers reduce complex African lives into a single story. The final paragraph mocks how colonial narratives erase native voices.
Who is Okonkwo?
The fiery protagonist—strong, feared, and obsessed with masculinity. His rigid views and harsh actions ultimately lead to his tragic downfall.
Who is Nwoye?
Okonkwo’s sensitive son who struggles with his father’s harsh ideals. He’s drawn to the gentler message of Christianity, symbolizing the clash between old and new ways.
Who is Ikemefuna?
A boy given to Umuofia as a peace offering. His bond with Nwoye and eventual tragic fate highlight the moral conflicts within Igbo society—and Okonkwo’s personal crisis.
Who is Ekwefi?
One of Okonkwo’s wives, known for her deep love and resilience. Her relationship with her daughter Ezinma shows the softer, more vulnerable side of Igbo womanhood.
Who is Ezinma?
Ekwefi’s cherished daughter, often seen as Okonkwo’s favorite. She represents the hope and potential of what the Igbo culture could be if nurtured with compassion.
How does Okonkwo embody the theme of toxic masculinity?
He fears any sign of weakness, equates manhood with violence, and pushes himself and others to rigid standards, which ultimately isolates him and contributes to his downfall.
How is the clash of cultures portrayed in the novel?
Achebe contrasts the traditional Igbo way of life—its customs, social norms, and spirituality—with the disruptive, invasive colonial powers and Christianity, underscoring the cultural disintegration.
What does fate versus free will mean in Things Fall Apart?
The novel shows how personal choices and predestined cultural forces intertwine. Okonkwo’s actions, driven by fear and pride, seem both his own and the product of a society on the brink of collapse.
How does Achebe use symbolism to discuss tradition versus change?
Symbols like the locusts represent the arrival of colonial forces, while traditional ceremonies and proverbs emphasize the depth of Igbo culture—the tension between preserving the past and the inevitability of change is palpable throughout.
What essay topic could examine the role of religion in the novel?
Analyzing how traditional Igbo spirituality clashes with the spread of Christianity reveals the transformative—and often destructive—effects of colonial influence on indigenous belief systems.
How is the theme of personal versus cultural identity explored?
Through characters like Okonkwo and Nwoye, the novel examines the struggle between adhering to ingrained societal norms and the search for a self-defined identity amid shifting cultural tides.
What discussion point can be drawn from the novel regarding the impact of colonialism?
Consider how colonialism not only disrupts political and social order but also chips away at the moral fabric of a society, forcing individuals to choose between tradition and the lure of a new, often alien, system.
