Things Fall Apart Group at eNotes

Characteristic of Tragedy and comedy

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 16:45:34 PST

Characteristic of Tragedy and comedy

This achievement is amazing for two reasons. First, Amalinze the Cat was...

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:04:07 PST

This achievement is amazing for two reasons. First, Amalinze the Cat was the greatest wrestler in Umuofia, who "for seven years was unbeaten, from Umuofia to Mbaino." So in all the neighboring villages he was known for his skills in wrestling, & even grown men could not defeat him. Second, Okonkwo was only 18 when he "threw the Cat," which earned him the respect and praise of the Ibo villages. The wrestling matches were feats of strength...

Why is Okonkwo’s defeat of Amalinze the Cat such a great achievement...

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:51:23 PST

Why is Okonkwo’s defeat of Amalinze the Cat such a great achievement in Things Fall Apart?

Akmatova's poem "Requiem" In Part 1 of "Things Fall Apart," how does...

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 16:07:09 PST

Akmatova's poem "Requiem" In Part 1 of "Things Fall Apart," how does Achebe show the cultural diversity of the Igbo people?

In this section of the novel, Okonkwo is in exile in his motherland....

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:09:56 PST

In this section of the novel, Okonkwo is in exile in his motherland. Quite literally, it is the village from which his mother came. Okonkwo is suffering under this punishment; as a hyper-masculine male with violent & abusive tendencies, he has difficulty grasping the necessity of the feminine balance in life. This is one area in which he might face consequences if he cannot change. If his personality has no balance, he will exist as a...

Explain possible consequences of not changing in Part Two of Things Fall...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:06:13 PST

Explain possible consequences of not changing in Part Two of Things Fall Apart.

What business opportunity first brought interested Europeans to the...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:35:49 PST

What business opportunity first brought interested Europeans to the delta of the Niger River?

Okonkwo embodies the Ibo ideal of masculinity. He is physically...

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:24:36 PST

Okonkwo embodies the Ibo ideal of masculinity. He is physically powerful, and commands respect as a member of the tribe and an egwugwu, a manifestation of an ancestral spirit that acts as a judge. He was a great wrestler when he was young, which not only earned him the praise of the tribe, but also won him his second wife. Okonkwo also upholds the village's laws as sacred, and he will defend those beliefs in any situation. finally, Okonkwo is...

What are some of Okonkwo's virtues and flaws?

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:59:33 PST

What are some of Okonkwo's virtues and flaws?

Achebe uses a third-person omniscient narrator in this novel. We are...

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:35:04 PST

Achebe uses a third-person omniscient narrator in this novel. We are privy to each character's private thoughts and emotions, but not limited to one character's point of view. There is also very little dialogue, which gives the impression of oral story-telling. The importance of oral story-telling is evident throughout the book, as the Ibo people honor and uphold the tradition. Although there is no dominant point of view, the narration shifts...

What is the narrator's point of view in Things Fall Apart? What...

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:13:39 PST

What is the narrator's point of view in Things Fall Apart? What important values are revealed?

Essentially, the impact of colonization is to break apart the Ibo...

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:14:42 PST

Essentially, the impact of colonization is to break apart the Ibo societal structure. In some ways, this has negative effects: traditions are destroyed, and those who follow Ibo law are suddenly subject to British punishment. Many villagers die or remain in jail because of their adherence to their own rituals and traditions, rather than the recently imposed British structure. Religious conflict is brutal, and both villagers and missionaries...

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, is a novel about Nigeria in the 19th...

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:12:42 PST

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, is a novel about Nigeria in the 19th century before colonialism. It is a tale about a great westler and elder. Itis not until the novel's end that the reader learns about colonialism.This novel is really a display of one author's opinion of what happens when colonialism enters a culture--things fall apart. The tale is really Okonkwo's story and shows how he became well known however he was stubborn which...

In Things Fall Apart, what were the effects of colonialism on the region?

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:03:41 PST

In Things Fall Apart, what were the effects of colonialism on the region?

Through his suicide, Okonkwo has, according to tribal beliefs, committed...

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:39:11 PST

Through his suicide, Okonkwo has, according to tribal beliefs, committed the ultimate desecration of the Earth's order. No one from the tribe can touch his body; they must send for strangers, whom they will even pay, to cut him down from the tree from which he has hanged himself. When asked by the District Commissioner why the tribesmen cannot take the body down themselves, Obierika, Okonkwo's friend, explains, "It is against our...

How did the village view Okonkwo after his suicide in Things Fall Apart?

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:03:59 PST

How did the village view Okonkwo after his suicide in Things Fall Apart?

Duchess of Malfi.

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:05:57 PST

Analyse the character of Bosola.Can he be perceived as a hero in the play?

Okonkwo is identified always in masculine terms, often connected with...

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:01:44 PST

Okonkwo is identified always in masculine terms, often connected with violence and strength. Nwoye is described in more musical terms, & Achebe often uses figurative language such as similes and metaphors to characterize Nwoye. Okonkwo likes stories of bloodshed and war, while Nowye prefers his mother's myths and fables. When seen through Okonkwo's eyes, he is described as "weak", "womanly", and "lazy". Conversely, Nwoye is terrified of...

How does Achebe show contrast between Okonkwo and Nwoye in Things Fall...

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:20:47 PST

How does Achebe show contrast between Okonkwo and Nwoye in Things Fall Apart?

In the Ibo society, yams mean everything. The amount of yams that a...

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:28:25 PST

In the Ibo society, yams mean everything. The amount of yams that a man can produce determines his worth. Their entire year revolves around the planting, caring for, and harvesting of this most important crop. The planting season starts with the "week of peace," which is to pay homage to the earth goddess Ani in order that she may bless them with fertile ground and agreeable weather. Once the tireless work of the harvest has been...