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Things Fall Apart

by Chinua Achebe

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Things Fall Apart Questions on Colonialism

Things Fall Apart

Achebe chose the title of his novel from Yeats' poem "The Second Coming" because it parallels the chaotic atmosphere in Nigeria during colonization, much like Europe after World War I. The title...

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Things Fall Apart

The culture clash in Things Fall Apart involves the arrival of white missionaries and colonial government, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts. Initially, the white men are seen as strange and...

1 educator answer

Things Fall Apart

The word progress is a very interesting word that needs to be explored in terms of colonialism and this novel. Progress is of course the mantra and the creed of colonialism, and was used to justify...

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Things Fall Apart

Technological and cultural advancements are viewed as forces of destruction in Things Fall Apart.  On both social and personal levels, there is a profound sadness associated with aspects...

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Things Fall Apart

Two significant changes in Things Fall Apart due to the Europeans' arrival are the introduction of Christianity and the imposition of European bureaucracy. Christianity challenges traditional beliefs...

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Things Fall Apart

By the time Okonkwo returns from his years of exile, the English Protestants have firmly established themselves in Umuofia. The colonial forces entered and began operating on several fronts; they...

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Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart is not a true story. It is based on the real European colonization of Nigeria during the late nineteenth century, but the protagonist, Okonkwo, is not a real historical figure.

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Things Fall Apart

It is clear from Achebe's presentation of Okonkwo and his people that the Ibo have their own very rich system of society that gives testament to a diverse and structured culture that has its own...

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Things Fall Apart

Miscommunication and misunderstanding play significant roles in causing conflict in Things Fall Apart. The cultural differences and lack of effective communication between the Igbo people and the...

3 educator answers

Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe, who was Igbo, wrote primarily in English. He explained his decision as one that would help his work reach a wider audience throughout Nigeria, Africa, and the world. Achebe became...

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Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe put Biblical references in his novel Things Fall Apart for three reasons. He did it to show the reader how quickly missionaries were able to convert the Igbo people, to ground the story...

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Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart was written by Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian novelist. This novel tells the story of a man named Okonkwo and his village as it attempts to deal with the arrival of Christianity and...

2 educator answers

Things Fall Apart

To understand why Achebe alludes to Yeats's poem "The Second Coming," one first needs to understand Yeats. Lines three and four of his iconic poem lay the foundation for fear and anxiety: "Things...

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Things Fall Apart

Imperialism, put simply, is a policy whereby a country extends its power and influence either by diplomatic means, military intervention or some other stratagem. Things Fall Apart acts as a counter...

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Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe’s three novels Things Fall Apart, Arrow of God, and No Longer at Ease are so similar in theme that they are occasionally referred to as the African Trilogy. The conflict of all three...

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Things Fall Apart

In Things Fall Apart, cultural intrusion and change significantly impact Ibo customs and community by introducing new religious beliefs, government structures, and economic practices. These changes...

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Things Fall Apart

Okonkwo is oppressed by internal and external factors. Internally, he is oppressed by the fear of being like his father, Unoka, a failure in that he had taken no titles. Okonkwo's life is dedicated...

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Things Fall Apart

Chapter 20 discusses some of the clashes in values that take place between the British Courts and the Nigerians.  The narrator says that "apart from the church, the white men had also brought...

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Things Fall Apart

I think that the critical portion of the question is the last part.  I am not sure that Achebe is able to fully voice his support for either side. It is evident that he believes that the...

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Things Fall Apart

The first quote is an extract from chapter sixteen and relates to the arrival of the Christian missionaries. They had come to Umuofia (Okonkwo's village) and had built a church there. They had been...

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Things Fall Apart

One of the abominations is the nature of Okonkwo's death at the end of the novel.On one level, his death is his ultimate act of resistance against the white imperialists. He hangs himself to avoid...

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Things Fall Apart

The greatest fear arises from the changes seen since the white missionaries moved into the area. The clan elders fear the loss of their cultural heritage, and are worried that the advent of...

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Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe’s 1958 novel Things Fall Apart explores the complex Igbo culture of Nigeria in the wake of European colonialism. One of Achebe’s stated purposes of the novel was to introduce the...

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Things Fall Apart

Quite plainly, the coming of Christianity brought about a division in religion for the Igbo people. Pre-Colonial, they were a people united by their beliefs and traditions. Their religion revolved...

1 educator answer

Things Fall Apart

In "Things Fall Apart," conflicting perspectives on cultural practices arise between the traditional Igbo society and the encroaching European colonialists. The Igbo people have deep-rooted customs...

3 educator answers

Things Fall Apart

In the voice of an ethnocentric missionary (not my own, just want to make that clear...) The Igbo are an extremely backwards society, worshipping a number of gods rather than the true god we...

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Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart explores identity through the protagonist, Okonkwo, whose sense of self is deeply tied to traditional Igbo values and his personal achievements. The novel examines the conflict...

1 educator answer

Things Fall Apart

In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe portrays Igbo society as complex and sophisticated, challenging European stereotypes of African cultures as primitive. The novel illustrates the rich traditions,...

7 educator answers

Things Fall Apart

I don't know of a place in the novel that directly answers this question, but there are places where the District Commissioner is mentioned that help to explain. Initially, the first white men in...

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Things Fall Apart

The answer to this question depends to some extent on how deeply you want to delve into the problems and questions raised by the novel.  On the surface level, it is clear that the hard-headed...

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Things Fall Apart

An Igbo who killed a Christian must flee from the clan due to the traditional Igbo belief system, which mandates exile as punishment for murder to prevent the wrath of the gods. This action maintains...

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Things Fall Apart

Ideological state apparatuses are critical in disseminating colonial ideology in Chinua Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart. Ideological state apparatuses are technically non-state institutions that...

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Things Fall Apart

Overall, male against female discrimination contributes to Okonkwo's tragedy, but I don't think it contributes to the collapse of the tribe.  White against black racism and Christian...

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Things Fall Apart

In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe uses language to blend English with Igbo cultural elements, reflecting "Africanness" and showcasing Ibo culture to a Western audience. He incorporates Igbo words,...

2 educator answers

Things Fall Apart

Clearly the old educational system was not one that we would recognise today as "education." Children would learn the skills they needed to learn for their lives by living and working at their...

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