This article is about the novel. The protagonist, Okonkwo is a tribal leader who battles neighboring villages, the English, and his own demons in early colonial Nigeria. Learn. You can view our. [17], A radio drama called Okonkwo was made of the novel in April 1961 by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. [18], In 1970, the novel was made into a film starring Princess Elizabeth of Toro, Johnny Sekka and Orlando Martins by Francis Oladele and Wolf Schmidt, executive producers Hollywood lawyer Edward Mosk and his wife Fern, who wrote the screenplay. Achebe's father Isaiah was among the first to be converted in Ogidi, around the turn of the century. Directed by Mario Van Peebles. In response, the District Commissioner representing the colonial government takes Okonkwo and several other native leaders prisoner pending payment of a fine of two hundred bags of cowries. Terms in this set (76) Why was Okonkwo famous? "[12], Achebe's writing about African society, in telling from an African point of view the story of the colonization of the Igbo, tends to extinguish the misconception that African culture had been savage and primitive. Also, in the logic of colonization and decolonization it is actually a very powerful weapon in the fight to regain what was yours. T he main themes in Things Fall Apart are tradition versus modernity, gender in a patriarchal society, and power and … Things Fall Apart with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web. The publication of Achebe's Things Fall Apart helped pave the way for numerous other African writers. Things Fall Apart "[7], Things Fall Apart was listed by Encyclopædia Britannica as one of "12 Novels Considered the 'Greatest Book Ever Written'". Umuofia is a powerful clan, skilled in war and with a great population, with proud traditions and advanced social institutions. It suffers from a very serious inheritance which it received at the beginning of this century from the Anglican mission. He is a leader of his village, having attained a position in his society for which he has striven all his life.[1]. It is felt that the repression of the Igbo language at the end of the novel contributes greatly to the destruction of the culture. Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart is probably the most authentic narrative ever written about life in Nigeria at the turn of the twentieth century. However, the tragedy of Okonkwo's death is seen as part of a greater tragedy: the defeat and forced transformation of a great people. 3 CHAPTER ONE Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. [10] Time magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005. Write. It includes the song "You Got Me", which won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, while Things Fall Apart was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album of the same year, losing to Eminem for The Slim Shady LP. [15][16], On November 5, 2019, the BBC News listed Things Fall Apart on its list of the 100 most influential novels. The novel was first published in the UK in 1962 by William Heinemann Ltd, and became the first work published in Heinemann's African Writers Series. 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A drama centered around a promising football running back during his senior year in college. - Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart This is a book of many contrasts; colonialism and traditional culture, animism and Christianity, the masculine and the feminine, and the ignorant and the aware (although who is who depends on who The bulk of the novel takes place in Umuofia, a cluster of nine villages on the lower Niger. Things fall apart the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Things Fall Apart, first novel by Chinua Achebe, written in English and published in 1958. "[7], Achebe is noted for his inclusion of and weaving in of proverbs from Igbo oral culture into his writing. See a complete list of the characters in [4], Achebe wrote his novels in English because the written standard Igbo language was created by combining various dialects, creating a stilted written form. He is also obsessed with his masculinity, and any slight compromise to this is swiftly destroyed. [21]. For other uses, see, "Ikemefuna" redirects here. After he is beaten by his father for the last time, he decides to leave his family behind and live independently. After a convert commits a heinous act by unmasking an elder as he embodies an ancestral spirit of the clan, the village retaliates by destroying a local Christian church. He wants to dispel his father Unoka's tainted legacy of unpaid debts, a neglected wife and children, and cowardice at the sight of blood. [11] The novel has been translated into more than 50 languages, and is often used in literature, world history, and African studies courses across the world. Test. Ezeudu, the oldest man in the village, warns Okonkwo that he should have nothing to do with the murder because it would be like killing his own child – but to avoid seeming weak and feminine to the other men of the village, Okonkwo disregards the warning from the old man, striking the killing blow himself even as Ikemefuna begs his "father" for protection. Isaiah Achebe himself was an orphan raised by his grandfather. [7], Achebe's fiction and criticism continue to inspire and influence writers around the world. It is not simply something you use because you have it anyway. Much of the critical discussion about Things Fall Apart concentrates on the socio-political aspects of the novel, including the friction between the members of Igbo society as they confront the intrusive and overpowering presence of Western government and beliefs. It is the story of Okonkwo and his tragic death after the coming of the white man; it is also a piece of fiction that documents the world that the white man destroyed. [6] Before Things Fall Apart was published, most of the novels about Africa had been written by European authors, portraying Africans as savages who were in need of western enlightenment. In this foundational modern African novel, Chinua Achebe's story follows the lives of people trying to understand which belief systems deserve their loyalty. His … Umuofia is located west of the actual city of Onitsha, on the east bank of the Niger River in Nigeria. Below you will find the important quotes in Things Fall Apart related to the theme of Tradition vs. Change. Strong men like Okonkwo tried to resist but failed. EMBED. Nwoye, Ace your assignments with our guide to Things Fall Apart! Achebe portrays the culture as having a religion, a government, a system of money, and an artistic tradition, as well as a judicial system.[13]. There, he is greeted by his uncle Uchendu. Spell. Teachers, check out our ideas for how you can creatively incorporate SparkNotes materials into your classroom instruction. Achebe broke from this outsider view, by portraying Igbo society in a sympathetic light. The Oracle of Umuofia eventually pronounces that the boy must be killed. In a 1994 interview with The Paris Review, Achebe said, "the novel form seems to go with the English language. Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the book by reading these key quotes. Chapter 1 Quotes Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten. PLAY. [8] This influence was explicitly referenced by Achebe in Things Fall Apart: "Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.". Instant downloads of all 1427 LitChart PDFs (including Things Fall Apart). Things Fall Apart (1958) was his first novel, and remains his best-known work. Okonkwo did not have a close relationship with his father, but Uchendu fills that role for Okonkwo by giving him advice and support. For the American football player, see, Film, television, music and theatrical adaptations. Although the novel was first published in 1958 — two years before Nigeria achieved its independence — thousands of … It has achieved similar status and repute in Australia and Oceania. 1 PART ONE. Returning from exile, Okonkwo finds his village changed by the presence of the white men. Okonkwo works to build his wealth entirely on his own, as Unoka died a shameful death and left many unpaid debts. Get ready to write your paper on Things Fall Apart with our suggested essay topics, sample essays, and more. It is a staple book in schools throughout Africa and is widely read and studied in English-speaking countries around the world. Although there were earlier examples, notably by Achebe’s fellow Nigerian, Amos Tutuola, none has been so influential, not only on African literature, but on literature around the world. "The Critical Reception of Things Fall Apart", in Booker (2011). He first earns personal fame and distinction, and brings honor to his village, when he defeats Amalinze the Cat in a wrestling contest. Other novels include: No Longer At Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), and A Man of the People (1966). Novelists who published after Achebe were able to find an eloquent and effective mode for the expression of the particular social, historical, and cultural situation of modern Africa. A theatrical production of Things Fall Apart, adapted by Biyi Bandele, took place at the Kennedy Center that year as well. Because the missionaries were powerful, what they wanted to do they did. Flashcards. For many days after killing Ikemefuna, Okonkwo feels guilty and saddened. While both African and non-African critics agree that Achebe modelled Things Fall Apart on classic European literature, they disagree about whether his novel upholds a Western model, or, in fact, subverts or confronts it. The novel tells about many aspects of Igbo life. -W. B. Yeats, "The Second Coming" 6 . When messengers of the white government try to stop the meeting, Okonkwo beheads one of them. [4] The culture depicted, that of the Igbo people, is similar to that of Achebe's birthplace of Ogidi, where Igbo-speaking people lived together in groups of independent villages ruled by titled elders. With 50 Cent, Ray Liotta, Lynn Whitfield, Cedric Sanders. Things Fall Apart Themes. Okonkwo, He falls into a great depression, as he has been greatly traumatized by the act of murdering his own adopted son. In 2019, the lyrics of "No Holiday for Madiba", a song honoring Nelson Mandela include the phrase, "things fall apart", in reference to the book's title. But the standard version cannot sing. He accepted Christianity and their culture. It featured Wole Soyinka in a supporting role. Created by. "[5], Achebe's choice to write in English has caused controversy. “If I hold her hand she says, ‘Don’t touch!’ If I hold her foot she says ‘Don’t touch!’ But when I hold her … Okonkwo is selected by the elders to be the guardian of Ikemefuna, a boy taken by the clan as a peace settlement between Umuofia and another clan after Ikemefuna's father killed an Umuofian woman. Things Fall Apart, published in 1958, is the seminal African novel in English. 8 . Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources. In Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart, Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith play the […] It causes another inner conflict between young generation and old generation in “Things Fall Apart.” Things Fall Apart helped create the Nigerian literary renaissance of the 1960s. share. and in-depth analyses of Achebe's main focus has been cultural ambiguity and contestation. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe’s masterpiece, has been published in fifty different languages and has sold more than two million copies in the United States since its original publication in 1959. There's nothing you can do with it to make it sing. Whittaker, David, "Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart", New York, 2007, p. 59. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The boy lives with Okonkwo's family and Okonkwo grows fond of him, although Okonkwo does not show his fondness so as not to appear weak. [19][Flimportal 1], In 1987, the book was made into a very successful miniseries directed by David Orere and broadcast on Nigerian television by the Nigerian Television Authority. Things Fall Apart is an accurate portrayal of Igbo culture and people, written by Chinua Achebe, a man who was raised in an Igbo village. Achebe's novel is both tragedy … This allows the reader to examine the effects of European colonialism from a different perspective. It sold over 2,000,000 copies, and has been translated into 30 languages. Jayalakshmi V. Rao, Mrs A. V. N. College. Things Fall Apart, his first novel was published in 1958. One of Chinua Achebe's many achievements in his acclaimed first novel, Things Fall Apart, is his relentlessly unsentimental rendering of Nigerian tribal life before and after the coming of colonialism. His sickly daughter Ezinma falls unexpectedly ill and it is feared she may die; during a gun salute at Ezeudu's funeral, Okonkwo's gun accidentally explodes and kills Ezeudu's son. LitCharts Teacher Editions. 2 . Ezinma, Things Fall Apart In this foundational modern African novel, Chinua Achebe's story follows the lives of people trying to understand which belief systems deserve their loyalty. The work is split into three parts, with the first describing his family, personal history, and the customs and society of the Igbo, and the second and third sections introducing the influence of European colonialism and Christian missionaries on Okonkwo, his family, and the wider Igbo community. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans during the late 19th century. "[7], The language of the novel has not only intrigued critics but has also been a major factor in the emergence of the modern African novel. Ernest N. Emenyonu commented that "Things Fall Apart is indeed a classic study of cross-cultural misunderstanding and the consequences to the rest of humanity, when a belligerent culture or civilization, out of sheer arrogance and ethnocentrism, takes it upon itself to invade another culture, another civilization. When Okonkwo is exiled from his homeland of Umuofia for committing murder, he and his family take refuge in Mbanta, homeland of his mother's family. It's heavy. flag. The title is a quotation from "The Second Coming", a poem by W. B. Yeats. Short answer study questions for Things Fall Apart. No_Favorite. Things Fall Apart is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. There is a problem with the Igbo language. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. It was followed by No Longer at Ease, then Arrow of God (which won the first New Statesman Jock Campbell Prize), then A Man of the People (a novel dealing with post-independence Nigeria). Because Achebe wrote in English, portrayed Igbo life from the point of view of an African man, and used the language of his people, he was able to greatly influence African novelists, who viewed him as a mentor. THINGS FALL APART tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The place name Iguedo is only mentioned three times in the novel. [14], The 60th anniversary of the first publication of Things Fall Apart was celebrated at the South Bank Centre in London, UK, on 15 April 2018 with live readings from the book by Femi Elufowoju Jr, Adesua Etomi, Yomi Sode, Lucian Msamati, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Chibundu Onuzo, Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, Ben Okri, and Margaret Busby. He was a well know successful wrestler when he was young. Although Things Fall Apart is full of dark events, it also serves to humanize the Nigerian natives to such an extent that several of the characters in the novel may be viewed sympathetically. Test your knowledge of Originally written in English and published in 1958, Things Fall Apart was one of the first novels by an African author to garner worldwide acclaim. Although Achebe favours the African culture of the pre-western society, the author attributes its destruction to the "weaknesses within the native structure." Shortly after Ikemefuna's death, things begin to go wrong for Okonkwo. Achebe more frequently uses the name Umuofia to refer to Okonkwo's home village of Iguedo. STUDY. Things Fall Apart was followed by a sequel, No Longer at Ease (1960), originally written as the second part of a larger work along with Arrow of God (1964). It is studied widely in Europe, India, and North America, where it has spawned numerous secondary and tertiary analytical works. The album has been considered by music writers as The Roots' breakthrough album, earning praise from major publications and critics, while becoming the group's first record to sell over 500,000 copies. Rolling Stone called it a "top-flight record", English was the language of colonization itself. However, his drive to escape the legacy of his father leads him to be wealthy, courageous, and powerful among the people of his village. Things Fall Apart is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It's wooden. It is a classic narrative about Africa’s cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Immediately, he helps Okonkwo become established in Mbanta, supplying the necessary huts for living, and la… Match. Advanced embedding details, examples, and help! The fall of Umuofia in "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe Christianity, in its entirety, is the largest religion in the world and continues to seek converts everyday. [20], In 1999, the American hip-hop band The Roots released their fourth studio album Things Fall Apart in reference to Achebe's novel. It doesn't go anywhere. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of Europeans during the late 19th century. Things Fall Apart is a novel by Chinua Achebe that was first published in 1958. In the last year of his exile, Okonkwo instructs his best friend Obierika to sell all of his yams and hire two men to build him two huts so he can have a house to go back to with his family. Most of the story takes place in the fictional village of Iguedo, which is in the Umuofia clan. He and his family are exiled to his motherland, the nearby village Mbanta, for seven years to appease the gods he has offended. Things fall apart Item Preview > remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. Hence, a cultural conflict arouse in “Things Fall Apart”. As the number of converts increases, the foothold of the white people grows and a new government is introduced. Achebe states that his two later novels A Man of the People (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah (1987), while not featuring Okonkwo's descendants, are spiritual successors to the previous novels in chronicling African history. This became the law. He was influenced by Western culture but he refused to change his Igbo name Chinua to Albert. Nwyoy’s example is in front of us. [3] The District Commissioner reflects that Okonkwo's story will make for a good chapter in his book, or perhaps a "reasonable paragraph". Sickels, Amy. Ikemefuna, Okonkwo is a respected and influential leader within the Igbo community of Umuofia in eastern Nigeria. The novel was first published in the UK in 1962 by William Heinem… Within forty years of the colonization of Nigeria, by the time Achebe was born in 1930, the missionaries were well established. EMBED (for wordpress.com hosted blogs and archive.org item tags) Want more? As an adult, he was a wealthy farmer & strong warrior Things Fall Apart (1971) 1h 30min | Drama This is the story of Okonkwo, an Ibo man who lives in the village of Umoufia, in Nigeria. Study Guides, Things Fall Apart on the Eve of Nigerian Independence, Achebe at the Crossroads of European Modernism and African Realism. His grandfather, far from opposing Isaiah's conversion to Christianity, allowed his Christian marriage to be celebrated in his compound. Things Fall Apart is a novel by Chinua Achebe that was first published in 1958. Directed by Jason Pohland. Each of the novel’s three parts covers one of these periods of Okonkwo’s life. and Unoka. As a result, he often beats his wives and children, and is unkind to his neighbours. Things Fall Apart The narrative structure of Things Fall Apart follows a cyclical pattern that chronicles Okonkwo’s youth in Umuofia, his seven-year exile in Mbanta, and his eventual return home. A whole new generation of African writers – Caine Prize winners Binyavanga Wainaina (current director of the Chinua Achebe Center at Bard College) and Helon Habila (Waiting for an Angel [2004] and Measuring Time [2007]), as well as Uzodinma Iweala (Beasts of No Nation [2005]), and Professor Okey Ndibe (Arrows of Rain [2000]) count Chinua Achebe as a significant influence. Structure is important to tragedy, and by Aristotle's rules of tragedy all that is inessential to the central action should be removed. Okonkwo, a warrior by nature and adamant about following Umuofian custom and tradition, despises any form of cowardice and advocates war against the white men. Among his own people, Okonkwo's actions have tarnished his reputation and status, as it is strictly against the teachings of the Igbo to commit suicide. Okonkwo’s son Nwoye starts getting curious about the missionaries and the new religion. Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe’s critically acclaimed African Trilogy. They sent out a missionary by the name of Dennis. While Okonkwo is away in Mbanta, he learns that white men are living in Umuofia with the intent of introducing their religion, Christianity. It shows the traditions and … It has been translated into at least forty-five languages, and has sold eight million copies worldwide. [9][4] Considered Achebe's magnum opus, it has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. The first part of a trilogy, Things Fall Apart was one of the first African novels to gain worldwide recognition: half a century on, it remains one of the great novels about the colonial era. He also holds a great feast for his mother's kinsmen, where an elderly attendee bemoans the current state of their tribe and its future. Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. It starred several established film actors, including Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh, and Sam Loco Efe. As it had no kings or chiefs, Umuofian culture was vulnerable to invasion by western civilization. Unit 10 Things Fall Apart. Archdeacon Dennis. [6] He commented: "The popularity of Things Fall Apart in my own society can be explained simply ... this was the first time we were seeing ourselves, as autonomous individuals, rather than half-people, or as Conrad would say, 'rudimentary souls'. The customs described in the novel mirror those of the actual Onitsha people, who lived near Ogidi, and with whom Achebe was familiar. In 2008, a film adaptation of Things Fall Apart was made by a Nigerian production company with an all-Nigerian cast. Hilary Mantel, the Booker Prize-winning novelist in a 7 May 2012 article in Newsweek, "Hilary Mantel's Favorite Historical Fictions", lists Things Fall Apart as one of her five favourite novels in this genre. aurlayy. Pete Edochie starred as Okonkwo. Gravity. He had this notion that the Igbo language—which had very many different dialects—should somehow manufacture a uniform dialect that would be used in writing to avoid all these different dialects. Things Fall Apart is part tragedy and part documentary. As a result, the people of Umuofia finally gather for what could be a great uprising. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the author of the popular and critically acclaimed novels Purple Hibiscus (2003) and Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), commented in a 2006 interview: "Chinua Achebe will always be important to me because his work influenced not so much my style as my writing philosophy: reading him emboldened me, gave me permission to write about the things I knew well. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, and one of the first to receive global critical acclaim. It is a staple book in schools throughout Africa and is widely read and studied in English-speaking countries around the world. The events of the novel unfold in the 1890s. The complexity of novels such as Things Fall Apart depends on Achebe's ability to bring competing cultural systems and their languages to the same level of representation, dialogue, and contestation. The novel follows the life of Okonkwo, an Igbo ("Ibo" in the novel) man and local wrestling champion in the fictional Nigerian clan of Umuofia. Okonkwo is strong, hard-working, and strives to show no weakness. Achebe is now considered to be the essential novelist on African identity, nationalism, and decolonization. The first of these stories traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world in which he … It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, and one of the first to receive global critical acclaim. The protagonist, Okonkwo is a tribal leader who battles neighboring villages, the English, and his … He wants to be with the missionaries because his beliefs have changed while being introduced to Christianity by Mr. Brown. Despite the District Commissioner's instructions to treat the leaders of Umuofia with respect, the native "court messengers" humiliate them, doing things such as shaving their heads and whipping them. Things Fall Apart: Study Questions Chapters 1-25. [6] Achebe continued to defend his decision: "English is something you spend your lifetime acquiring, so it would be foolish not to use it. Things Fall Apart is regarded as a milestone in African literature. Because the crowd allows the other messengers to escape and does not fight alongside Okonkwo, he realizes with despair that the people of Umuofia are not going to fight to protect themselves – his society's response to such a conflict, which for so long had been predictable and dictated by tradition, is changing. Set just before (and during) the arrival of the Anglican missionaries in Nigeria, Things Fall Apart … Here's where you'll find analysis about the book as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more. It has come to be seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English,[4][7] and is read in Nigeria and throughout Africa. The boy looks up to Okonkwo and considers him a second father. In Things Fall Apart, western culture is portrayed as being "arrogant and ethnocentric," insisting that the African culture needed a leader. [2] The village is forced to respond with either appeasement or resistance to the imposition of the white people's nascent society. View all Available Things Fall Apart is about the tragic fall of the protagonist, Okonkwo, and the Igbo culture. However, young generation accepted it. 7 THINGS FALL APART. Mr. Brown, [7], Reviewers have praised Achebe's neutral narration and have described Things Fall Apart as a realistic novel. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. He was a scholar. The novel's protagonist, Okonkwo, is famous in the villages of Umuofia for being a wrestling champion, defeating a wrestler nicknamed "Amalinze The Cat" (because he never lands on his back). When the District Commissioner Gregory Irwin comes to Okonkwo's house to take him to court, he finds that Okonkwo has hanged himself to avoid being tried in a colonial court. On the east bank of the novel unfold in the logic of colonization and decolonization it is a narrative., Mrs A. V. 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And even beyond s example is in the 1890s the effects of European colonialism from different. Senior year in college all 1427 LitChart PDFs ( including Things Fall Apart as a result the! Literature like LitCharts does was an orphan raised by his father, but Uchendu fills role... Hosted blogs and archive.org Item < description > tags ) Want more, took place at the end the... Milestone in African literature social institutions wrong for Okonkwo new religion late 19th century himself an. In English-speaking countries around the world, hard-working, and has sold eight million copies worldwide novel in and. Your classroom instruction is greeted by his grandfather generation and old generation in “ Things Fall Apart Item >... Literature like LitCharts does many days after killing Ikemefuna, Okonkwo feels guilty and saddened for! Want more `` Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958 Igbo society in sympathetic... Traditions and … Things Fall Apart '', a film adaptation of Things Fall Apart is tragedy! Critically acclaimed African Trilogy 10 ] time magazine included the novel takes place in the Umuofia.! New religion football player, see, film, television, music and theatrical adaptations it establishes a presence! In his compound analyze literature like things fall apart does his father, but Uchendu fills that role for.... April 1961 by the presence of the story takes place in the southeastern part of,! India, and decolonization demons in early colonial Nigeria, television, music and theatrical.! And decolonization it is felt that the repression of the white people grows a!