Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo made the decision to kill Ikemefuna, despite his internal struggle and conflicting emotions, because he felt pressured to show his masculinity and maintain his reputation as a strong warrior. This decision ultimately led to feelings of guilt and remorse, contributing to his downfall later in the story.

Okonkwo sees the killing of Ikemefuna as proof of his manliness, his willing to sacrifice one who was like a child to him to the gods based on the Oracle's word. Okonkwo feels that Obierika should have fulfilled his duty to the tribe and gone on the death march as well.

Obierika finds it shameful that Okonkwo should have been the one to kill Ikemefuna. Letting him be sacrificed is one thing, but taking part in the death march and doing the killing himself are different things entirely. Obierika feels that Okonkwo should not even have gone on the march.

When things fall in the house, it could indicate simply that something was not properly secured or balanced. In some cultures, it is believed to be a sign of impending visit from a stranger or unexpected news.

Okonkwo's exile is ironic because he is forced to leave his village, which is something he views as a sign of weakness and failure. This punishment goes against his strong desire for power and success, highlighting the irony of his situation. Additionally, Okonkwo's exile forces him to confront his own vulnerabilities and question his beliefs about masculinity and strength.

The commissioner came to Iguedo in "Things Fall Apart" to investigate the killing of a tribal leader by the villagers. He was also interested in gaining information about the Igbo society and culture for the purpose of colonial administration.

The identity of the egwugwu is kept secret in the Igbo society, and unveiling their identities is taboo. Any suspicion or attempt to uncover their identities is highly discouraged, as it can lead to severe consequences.

Achebe devotes several pages to Ekweifi's folktale to showcase the storytelling tradition of the Igbo culture and to provide insight into the values, beliefs, and customs of the society. The folktale also serves to emphasize the importance of oral tradition in passing down knowledge and preserving cultural heritage among the Igbo people.

The men believed the white men were spirits or gods descending from the sky because of their advanced technology and unfamiliar appearance. They were seen as mystical figures due to their white skin, horses, and guns, which the villagers had never seen before.

Everything. Entropy takes all.

Ezeudu warns Okonkwo not to participate in Ikemefuna's killing because Ikemefuna calls Okonkwo "father" and has been living with them for three years. Ezeudu fears that Okonkwo's involvement in the killing will bring him harm and cause his chi to turn against him.

Ezinma was an ogbanje, which is a child who dies and reincarnates multiple times to torment their parents. However, Ezinma's bond with her mother Ekwefi was strong, and she managed to break the cycle by surviving into adulthood.

The Female, or accidental murder of a clansmen at a funeral ceremony. He murdered a sixteen year old son of Ezeudu, the man who's funeral he was attending when his rifle exploded and a piece of iron pierced the boys heart.

The electromagnetic force can push things apart. This force exists between charged particles and can cause similar charges to repel each other. Additionally, the force of gravity can also push things apart on a cosmological scale due to the expansion of the universe.

This story does not have a clear cut moral, but does espouse the idea of being grateful to other parties for what they do for us, as well as being merciful to those who have wronged us after they apologize.

She is distraught and afraid. Eventually her worry kicks in and she decides to follow Chielo.

Okonkwo thought his father Unoka was a shameful man because he was lazy, effeminate, a large debtor, drunkard, and a poor farmer. His father held no titles and was thus called an agbala. Unoka was also not a warrior, preferring instead to play the flute. He was not well respected in any of the villages.

Because of this, Okonkwo was ashamed of his father, and did not wish to become like him. He did his best to flee from the shadow of his father.

In "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, Nwoye, the son of the novel's protagonist Okonkwo, ultimately rejects his father's values and converts to Christianity. He disagrees with the traditional Igbo customs and beliefs, leading to a rift between him and Okonkwo. Nwoye's conversion symbolizes the clash between tradition and change in the novel.

In the book "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, Ezinma carries a bag of rocks to protect herself from the evil spirits that she believes are causing her mother's ill health. The rocks are used as a form of spiritual defense and are believed to ward off the negative forces affecting her mother. Ezinma's actions demonstrate her resourcefulness and determination to protect her loved ones.

Tis a funny parable. I wonder what tortoise looked like before he was rough and broken. It is funny to think of Mrs. Tortoise, and you wonder why she wasn't invited to the banquet. You also wonder who the people of the sky were, and how they got kola nuts in the sky. Perhaps the birds brought them as gifts. It's funny to think of a tortoise as a widely-travelled man when tortoises' are notorious for being slow! Perhaps it was an old tortoise. I wonder if Tortoise's wife was also a tortoise or if he took a different wife. She probably was not a bird at least. Could she have been treated like a man as well?

With mosquitos, I usually get bitten in the leg myself, though I don't think I have met many African mosquitos. I wonder if African mosquitos are different than North American mosquitos. I like fables.

Chielo says that she must take Ezinma to see Agbala. She takes Ezinma around the 9 villages and then to the shrine cave for the Oracle of the Hills and Caves.

Okonkwo likely shivered because the last time Ezeudu visited him, he predicted that Okonkwo would have a severe loss, which was later confirmed when Okonkwo's gun exploded, accidentally killing Ezeudu's son. This memory would have triggered fear and anxiety in Okonkwo, as it reminded him of his impending misfortune.

The evil forest is a sacred place in Things Fall Apart where sick men are taken to die. Twins are killed and left there. No one dares build or farm there, as it is land reserved for the gods.

Evil Forest is also the head of the egwugwu.

Then, later in the story, when the white people asked for land, they gave them a piece of land from the evil forest thinking that they would decline it. But they accepted the land. People then thought that they all would die in four days but this also did not occur.

If one were to commit suicide they could possibly be trapped in the evil forest for all time.

By highlighting Okonkwo's failures early on, Achebe sets the stage for his character development throughout the novel. These failures serve as a foil to Okonkwo's later achievements, showcasing the complexity of his character and the impact of societal expectations on his identity. Additionally, it creates tension and anticipation for how Okonkwo will navigate his challenges and conflicts as the story progresses.

Okonkwo is the protagonist in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart." He is a proud and hardworking man who struggles to live up to the expectations of his community and his desires for success. Okonkwo's journey reflects the clash between traditional African values and the influence of colonization in Nigeria.

Nwoye had split a seed yam which should not have been split because it was too small. Also, Okonkwo is trying to encourage both Nwoye and Ikemefuna to be great yam farmers, and thus great men. Okonkwo wishes Nwoye not to be lazy.

Seed yams need to be a particular size to grow properly. The bigger ones can be split to produce two seed yams. However, if a yam that is too small is split, it will not grow properly and is only useful for eating.