Illustration of a person holding their head next to a noose and a detached head

Things Fall Apart

by Chinua Achebe

Start Free Trial

Things Fall Apart Questions on Conflict

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe explores themes of tradition versus change, masculinity, and cultural conflict, primarily through the character of Okonkwo. The novel highlights the clash between...

11 educator answers

Things Fall Apart

In chapter 1 of Things Fall Apart, the primary conflict is Okonkwo's struggle with his father's legacy of laziness and failure. Okonkwo is determined to be the opposite of his father, Unoka, who was...

2 educator answers

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

The conflicts between Christians and the clan in Things Fall Apart arise from cultural and religious differences. The arrival of Christian missionaries challenges the traditional beliefs and...

1 educator answer

Things Fall Apart

Three of the values shared by the clan of Umuofia are reverence for the elderly, belief in a female earth goddess (the source of all fertility), and the practice of polygamy. None of these customs...

1 educator answer

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...

1 educator answer

Things Fall Apart

In part 3 of Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, Christianity has gained a strong foothold in Umuofia and is beginning to supplant local religious traditions. When Mr. Smith, a new missionary,...

1 educator answer

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...

2 educator answers

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...

1 educator answer