Things Fall Apart—Study Guide

Part I, Chapters 1 and 2

1. For what is Okonkwo famous in his clan of Umuofia?

2. How does Okonkwo feel about his father, Unoka? Why?

3. What positive qualities does Unoka possess? Negative qualities?

4. Okonkwo is a wealthy man and a noble. What are the signs of his wealth?

5. How do the men of Umuofia decide what to do about the murder of a woman from their clan?

6. What sad event happens to the boy named Ikemefuna? Why does it happen?

7. According to the narrator, what emotion dominates Okonkwo’s life? What is the source of this emotion?

8. Is there any emotion or thought or desire that dominates your life? What is the most important “thing” in your life? How does this have a positive effect on your life? How does it have a negative effect on your life?

9. What are Okonkwo’s positive qualities? Negative qualities?

10. Are you more like Unoka or Okonkwo? How could you benefit from being more like the other?

11. The narrator tells us, “Among the Ibo… proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.” This statement itself is a proverb. What is your interpretation of it? Are there any proverbs you try to live by?

12. Do you think that Umuofia’s claim against Mbaino and the terms of punishment are just? Why? How would our culture handle a similar situation?

Part I, Chapters 3 and 4

1. Why does Unoka consult the Oracle? What does the Oracle tell him?

2. In the beginning of Chapter 4, Achebe uses indirect characterization so that we learn about Okonkwo through other characters’ reactions to him. What do we learn about Okonkwo’s character?

3. What is the Week of Peace? What does Okonkwo do to break it? What action does the clan take as a result?

4. Who is Nwoye? How does Okonkwo treat him? Describe the relationship between Nwoye and Ikemefuna.

5. Okonkwo’s first year as a farmer was very difficult. How was the difficulty due to Okonkwo’s family history and how was it due to nature?

6. Explain the concept of chi. What is the meaning of the proverb, “When a man says yes his chi says yes also”?

7. When Okonkwo breaks the Week of Peace, people compare him to the nza bird who forgot himself after a heavy meal and challenge his chi. Explain this metaphor.

Part I, Chapters 5 and 6

1. When is the Festival of the New Yam held? Describe three or more things the Ibo do to prepare for this festival.

2. Okonkwo’s feelings about the festival are complex. In your opinion, why does the thought of the upcoming festival sometimes please him and sometimes make him angry?

3. Okonkwo is mentioned only once in chapter 6, when he stands up briefly at the sight of clever wrestling move. What do you imagine are Okonkwo’s feelings as he watches the wrestling and the victory celebrations? Why does he feel this way?

Part I, Chapters 7 and 8

1. How and why is Ikemefuna killed?

2. What role does Okonkwo play in Ikemefuna’s death?

3. How does Okonkwo feel about his daughter Ezinma?

4. Did Ikemefuna know he was going to be killed? Support your answer with direct observations.

5. How does Okonkwo feel about the death of Ikemefuna? How does Nwoye feel about it? Support your answer with direct observations.

6. Have Okonkwo and his friends ever seen white people? What do they say about white people?

7. At the end of the discussion among Okonkwo and his friends, what major historical event is foreshadowed?

Part I, Chapters 9 and 10

1. Why does Ekwefi have a bitter attitude toward life?

2. In what ways is Okonkwo helpful during Ezinma’s troubles? In what ways is he not helpful? What emotions do you think he feels at these times?

3. Where is Okonkwo during the ceremony in Chapter 10? What clues in the text tell you the answer?

Part I, Chapter 11

1. How does Okonkwo react when the priestess first makes her announcement? How does he react when she first carries Ezinma away? What action does he take still later?

2. What did the journey to the oracle show you about Ekwefi’s character? About Okonkwo’s?

3. Why do you think the oracle sent for Ezinma?

4. What is the customary Ibo reply when someone sneezes?

5. Achebe devotes several pages to Ekwefi’s folktale. Why? What is your interpretation of the tale?

Part I, Chapters 12 and 13

1. What joyous ceremony takes place the day after the return from the cave?

2. The day after the joyous ceremony, what sorrowful news does the drum announce?

3. What terrible accident occurs at the funeral?

4. According to the narrative, violent deaths are frequent in Umuofia. Why then does the accident at the funeral cause unprecedented confusion? Does Umuofia’s law have a way of dealing with the event?

Part II, chapters 14 and 15

1. According to the narrator, how does Okonkwo feel about his new life? Cite at least one example of figurative language that Achebe uses to describe Okonkwo’s feelings.

2. What disaster happened to the Abame clan? How did it happen?

3. What is the weather phenomenon the Ibo call “the nuts of the water of heaven”?

4. What do the Ibo mean by the “iron horse”?

5. What does Uchendu mean when he says, “There is no story that is not true”? How does this relate to Achebe’s concept of the storyteller (from the video)?

6. Uchendu tells a story about a kite (a type of bird) who takes a duckling and a chick. What is the point of the story? How does it relate to the encounter between the Abame and the whites?

Part II, chapters 16 and 17

1. What step does Nwoye take concerning the missionaries?

2. Why does Okonkwo threaten to kill Nwoye?

3. What attracts Nwoye to the new religion? Does Nwoye’s religious decision show strength or weakness? Why?

4. What new institution does Mr. Kiaga set up in Umuofia?

5. One of Okonkwo’s nicknames is “Roaring Flame” What does this metaphorical name mean? How do you interpret Okonkwo’s though, “Living fire begets cold, impotent ash”?

6. What is the ironic result of the Ibo having the missionaries build their church in the evil forest?

Part II, chapters 18 and 19

1. In Ibo society, what was an outcast?

2. What role did outcasts play in bringing Christianity to Iboland?

3. On two occasions, converts actively threaten the religious traditions in Mbanta. What are the occasions?

4. What unfortunate event happens to the Christians during the week before Easter?

5. Why is there no punishment in Ibo law for killing a python?

6. Why could the clan not kill the converts?

7. What does Uchendu mean when he says, “An animal rubs its aching flank against a tree, a man asks his kinsman to scratch him.”

Part II, chapters 20, 21, 22

1. How has Umuofia changed during Okonkwo’s exile? Give three specific examples.

2. Who is Chukwu? Describe Chukwu in two or three sentences.

3. How does Enoch spark a conflict in Umuofia? What does the clan do about it?

4. Compare Mr. Brown to Mr. Smith. What do you think of each?

5. There is a saying in Umuofia, “As a man dances, so the drums are beaten for him.” What does it mean?

Part III, chapters 23, 24, 25

1. What happens when six men from Umuofia are called to the District Commissioner’s office? What punishment does the D.C. prescribe? How do the guards treat the six men?

2. What does Okonkwo do when five court messengers arrive at a meeting in Umuofia?

3. How does Okonkwo die?

4. At the end of chapter 24, Okonkwo hears his clansmen asking, “Why did he do it?” To what are they referring and why do you think he did it?

5. What help does Obierika request from the D.C.? Why?

6. Why does Achebe choose to end the novel with the thoughts of the D.C.? What do you think about his thoughts?

7. One of the characteristics of the tragic hero is that he faces his downfall in a way that allows him to be viewed as a hero. Do you think this applies to Okonkwo? Does Okonkwo redeem himself?

8. How can the story of Okonkwo’s life be viewed as tragic?