Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart proved to the Western world, that not only could African authors write, but they could do so in a way that showed the pride of their own culture in an honest way. Previous novels had cast Africans as ignorant or savage. This was the first novel to star Africans and not treat them as lesser humans.

It is not accurately described, as it is only through word of mouth that we hear this description. It is assumed to be the same as everyone else's opinion: that the white man is ignorant of the Igbo ways and thus does not know how to properly adjudicate. Their courts are also corrupt.

If someone killed a sacred python accidentally, they would ask forgiveness from the gods and perform an elaborate and expensive burial ceremony as if someone of high title and rank had died.

No one is known to have ever killed a sacred python intentionally, though Okoli was rumored to have done so. Also, Oduche, Ezeulu's son in Arrow of God traps a giant python in a box, but does not kill it.

They take people who would have been outcasts and use them against the tribe by offering them a lifestyle outside the traditions of the clan. Further, the threat of implied violence against any who would injure them partially served to pacify those who might rise to arms against them.

Alligator pepper does not symbolize anything special in Things Fall Apart.

Alligator pepper is just a spice used when eating kola nuts; there is no specific symbolism without more context.

Okonkwo beats his wife (possibly second...you may want to look this up as I read the book months ago). This is unheard of because during the week of peace, all violence is frowned upon.

Subjective answer:

The thing that upsets Okonkwo the most internally, is the fact that Nwoye is too much like his grandfather Unoka.

The one action that gets Okonkwo the most upset externally is finding out that Nwoye has been hanging around the Christians, at which point Okonkwo confronts Nwoye and nearly chokes him to death.

Wrestling is a sport, such that skilled practitioners are associated with manliness and virility.

The oracle gave advice through her priestess for many problems, but ultimately each person decided what they wanted to do on their own. Most times the oracle's advice was heeded.

If speaking of the priestess herself, when she represented someone from the earth, this person's advice was not deemed to be on the same level as that from the oracle Agbala.

Some influential decisions the oracle have made included whether or not to go to war with neighbouring villages and the fate of Ikemefuna.

The Christian women are forbidden to go to the stream, to the red-earth pit, or to the chalk quarry as well as the markets.

There are many frenzies in Things Fall Apart.

In several, people dance or get drunk

In another, people run away from a crazed egwugwu

In another, hundreds of people are massacred by colonists

In another, Okonkwo kills a messenger

In another, Okonkwo kills Ekeudu's son.

The pastor invited them in warmly. At first the other tribesmen shunned the outcasts, distancing themselves from the osu. However, the pastor insisted that they cut their long hair and be treated as equals among members of the church.

Unoka goes to the Oracle of Agbala to consult with his dead ancestors, to see if any of them bear him a grudge and are weakening his crops as a result.

Yes. It seems reasonable, and seems to promote future harmony as opposed to trying to impose punishment or justice on past wrongs. It is a settlement that ignores pride and thinks solely of what is best for everyone.

An action happens.

Her organs observe and send neural impulses to her brain.

Her brain processes what happens, lighting up neural pathways.

These chemicals and impulses cause her brain to make decisions.

Obierika thinks about things more. Obierika is not as able a wrestler or a warrior as Okonkwo, but he is by no means afraid of blood. Obierika is a responsible friend. Both bear titles, and hold high standards for these titles. Obierika is more quick to rush things. Both are hard on their children.

Nwoye had already been primed to reject much of the Igbo culture by second hand witness of Ikemefuna's and baby twin killings. Further, Nwoye loved music and stories, and the Christians seemed to offer both.

An efulefu is a man without a title in Things Fall Apart, as well as part of the group of people who went to the church in refuge after the missionaries survived the Evil Forest, I believe. Hope I wasn't too late! :D

Okonkwo berates these men, insulting them, and their social stature. He has no patience with these men and often gets into fights with any who would be stupid enough to fight with him.

The harmattan is a dry Saharan wind from the direction of the Sahara desert.

Unoka claimed that he had to pay his largest debts first, and that Okoye's loan to Unoka was small in comparison.

It will come out in the beginning of 2011; a firm date has not yet been set.

Note, the movie was renamed to All Things Fall Apart, due to legal issues with Chinua Achebe's book Things Fall Apart, one of the most widely read books in Africa of all time.

Things Fall Apart was written and originally published in English.