Things Fall Apart Chapter Reading Questions, Guidelines, and Resources
Part One
Chapter 1
- Compare and Contrast Okonkwo with his father Unoka. Give a direct quotation that reveals something about Okonkwo’s character and cultural standing in his village. Give a direct quotation that reveals something about Unoka’s character and his cultural standing in his village.
Traditional Igbo Wrestling Video Clip
Traditional Igbo Instruments and Music
Chapter 2
- Describe the cultural norms of war in Umuofia. Use a direct quotation that reveals a specific cultural aspect of war in Umuofia.
- Describe Okonkwo’s cultural standing in Umuofia. Give at least two quotations that reveal his cultural status as a male.
- Describe Okonkwo’s family. Give one quotation that reveals the culture of the family system in Umuofia.
- Describe Unoka’s cultural standing in Umuofia. Give one quotation that reveals his cultural status as a male.
- Describe Unoka’s death and burial. Give two direct quotation that reveals the cultural practices surrounding death in Umuofia.
- Describe Okonkwo’s process of attaining power and wealth in Umuofia. Give one quotation that shows Okonkwo’s process of gaining power and wealth in his culture.
- Describe Okonkwo’s relationship with Ikemefuna. Give one quotation that reveals Okonkwo’s feelings towards Ikemefuna.
- Describe the Umuofian cultural practice known as “The Week of Peace.” Give one quotation that explains the cultural practice.
- Describe Okonkwo’s disruption of “The Week of Peace.” Give one direct quotation that reveals how Okonkwo broke “The Week of Peace” shared cultural agreements.
- Describe how Ikemefuna’s feelings towards Okonkwo’s at the end of chapter 4. Give one direct quotation that reveals Ikemefuna’s feelings towards his new family.
- Describe the cultural celebration “The Feast of the New Yam.” Give three direct quotations that reveal the various traditions and roles performed by the 1.)men, 2.)women, and 3.)children of Umuofia in preparation for the feast.
- Describe how Okonkwo feels about “The Feast of the New Yam.” Give a direct quotation that reveals Okonkwo’s feelings.
- Describe the culture of marriage in Umuofia. Give two direct quotations that reveal the relationship between Okonkwo’s wives.
- Describe the culture of wrestling in Umuofia. Give three direct quotations that show the various cultural aspects of wrestling in Igbo culture.
- What is revealed about Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves in Chapter 6? Give one direct quotation that reveals the Oracles true identity.
- Describe the cultural norms around masculinity in Umuofia. Give one direct quotation that shows how Okonkwo teaches masculinity to Ikemefuna and Nwoye.
- Describe the cultural beliefs and traditions around locusts in Umuofia. Give one direct quotation that reveals the cultural importance of locusts.
- Describe the cultural decision making process in relation to Ikemefuna in Chapter 7. Give one direct quotation that reveals what the elders tell Okonkwo to do in regards to Ikemefuna. Give one direct quotation that reveals what Okonkwo actually does in regards to Ikemefuna.
Entomophagy: Eat locusts, they are healthier than beef, scientists say
Preparing and Eating Locusts
Chapter 8
- Describe how Okonkwo feels at the beginning of the chapter. Give one direct quotation that reveals Okonkwo’s state of mind.
- Describe the conversation between Okonkwo and his friend Obierika. Give one quotation that reveals Okonkwo’s criticism of Obierika’s involvement with Ikemefuna. Give one direct quotation that reveals Obierika’s response to Okonkwo’s criticism.
- Describe the culture of arranged marriage in Umuofia. Give three direct quotations that reveal the various cultural norms around arranged marriages.
- Describe the conversation between the men of Umuofia in regards to other cultures. Give one direct quotation that reveals the men of Umuofia’s cultural bias towards other cultures.
1.Describe the relationship between Ekwefi and her daughter Ezinma. Give one direct quotation that reveals the closeness of their relationship.
2. Decsribe Ekwefi’s struggles around childbirth. Give one direct quotation that reveals the hardship Ekwefi faces in relation to childbirth.
3.Describe Ezinma and her “iyi-uwa.” Give one direct quotation that reveals the cultural belief around iyi-uwa.
4. Describe Okonkwo’s feelings towards his daughter Ezinma. Give one direct quptation that reveals Okonkowo’s feelings towards Ezinma.
Chapter 10
Describe the egwugwu. What is the egwugwu? What is their cultural role in Umuofia? Give three direct quotations that reveal the role and importance of the egwugwu in Umofian culture.
Igbo dancing with egwugwu spirits
West African Mask Ceremony
Chapter 11
1.Describe the story that Ekwefi tells her daughter Enzinma about the tortoise. Give one direct quotations that reveals the conflict of the story. Give one direct quotation that reveals the resolution of the story.
2. Describe the incident between Chielo, the priestess of Agbala, and Ezinma. Give two direct quotations that reveal the incident.
Chapter 12
1.Describe the cultural preparation for Obierika’s daughter’s “uri.” Give three direct quotations that reveal the various preparations and traditions that are involved for the uri.
Chapter 13
1.Describe the cultural practice surrounding Ezeudu’s death. Give two direct quotations that reveal the various preparations and traditions that are involved in the burial of an elder in Umuofia.
2.Describe the incident of Okonkwo’s gun at the end of the chapter. Give one direct quotation that reveals the cultural response to the incident.
Part Two
Chapter 14
- Describe how Okonkwo is received by his mother’s family at the beginning of Chapter 14. Give one direct quotation that reveals how Okonkwo is supported by his extended family.
- Describe how Okonkwo feels about his new farm and obi. Give one direct quotation that reveals Okonkwo’s feelings about his new farm.
- Describe the speech that Uchendu gives to Okonkwo near the end of the chapter. Give one direct quotation that reveals Uchendu’s feelings towards Okonkwo. Give one direct quotation that reveals the lesson Uchendu is trying to teach Okonkwo.
Chapter 15
1. Describe the visiting of Obierika in Chapter 15. Give one direct quotation that reveals the terrible news that Obierieka brings to Okonkwo.
2. Describe the story of the white man riding the iron horse. Give one direct quotation that reveals the prediction of the Oracle. Give one direct quotation that reveals what the white men did to Abame.
3. Describe Uchendu and Okonkwo’s response to the news of Abame. Give one direct quotation that reveals the Uchendu’s feelings. Give one direct quote that reveals Okonkwo’s feelings.
Chapter 16
- The British often designated local “leaders” to administer the lower levels of their empire. But the men they chose were often not the real leaders, and the British often assumed the existence of a centralized chieftainship where none existed. Similarly the missionaries have designated as their contact man an individual who lacks the status to make him respected by his people. Why might a man who lacks cultural/social status be likely to gain such a position? Why might such a man convert to Christianity?
- How does the village of Mbanta respond when the missionaries tell them their religion is false? Does this reaction surprise you? Why or why not? Give one direct quotation that reveals the people of Mbanta’s response.
- Why has Nwoye become a Christian? Why does the new religion appeal to him? Give one direct quotation that reveals Nwoye’s reasoning.
- Why is it so difficult for the village of Mbanta to understand Christian worship? Give one direct quotation that reveals the people of Mbanta’s difficulty in understanding.
Chapter 17
- What misunderstandings are evident in this chapter between the missionaries and the people of the village? Give one direct quotation that reveal a misunderstanding between the missionaries and the people of the village.
- How does giving the missionaries a plot of land in the Evil Forest backfire? Give one direct quotation that reveals how the missionaries respond to the Evil Forest plot.
- “Blessed is he who forsakes his father and his mother for my sake” (152). Who says this and what does it mean? How is it different from Igbo religious beliefs?
Chapter 18
- The Osu are introduced in this chapter. Explain their role in the clan and why the Osu are willing to convert to Christianity. Give one direct quotation that reveals the Osu decision to convert to Christianity.
- Describe the incident with the python and how the leaders of Umuofia decide to deal with the incident. Give one direct quotation that reveals the decision of the leaders. Give one direct quotation that reveals how Okonkwo wants to deal with the python incident.
- Describe how the Christian missionaries begin to alter the Igbo culture. Give one direct quotation that reveals the missionaries influence on the Igbo culture.
Chapter 19
- When praying for his ancestors, Uchendu does not ask for wealth (165). Why not? Does this prayer reflect Okonkwo’s beliefs?
- “A child cannot pay for its mother milks” (166). What does this proverb mean in relation to Okonkwo’s circumstances?
- What does the final speaker in this chapter say is the main threat posed by Christianity?
- Consider the beliefs that Okonkwo values most, what might he think is the main threat posed by Christianity?
Chapter 20
- On page 172 Okonkwo relates converting to Christianity with what? Why does he do this?
- Why is it important to Okonkwo that his daughters marry men from Umuofia? Give a direct quotation that reveals Okonkwo’s feelings about his daughters.
- Describe why Christians have been imprisoning people from Umuofia. Give a direct quotation that reveals the new laws that the Christians have brought to Umuofia.
- The final phrase of Obierika’s speech alludes to the title of the novel (176). In your own words, summarize Obierika’s thoughts on the white men.
- Explain why some of the villagers, even those who are not converts to Christianity, welcome the British. Give a quotation that supports why the Christians are welcome by some of the villagers.
- Describe the conversation that Mr. Brown and Akunna have. What is unique about their religious debate? Give one direct quotation from Mr. Brown and one direct quotation from Akunna.
- What is the significance if Mr. Brown’s name? Why Brown and not Johnson or Matthews?
- In your own opinion, is Mr. Brown a good Christian? Explain your reasoning and support your claim with a direct quotation.
Chapter 22
- Mr. Brown’s failing health causes him to leave Nigeria; he is replaced by a man named Reverend Smith. Describe the differences between Reverend Brown and Smith. Give one direct quotation that reveals a major difference between the two reverends.
- Describe how Enoch and Okonkwo are similar? Give one direct quotation that supports your claim.
- Describe the burning of the church? How does the language barrier affect Mr. Smith’s understanding of the burning of the church? Give one direct quotation that reveals the language barrier.
- Why is Okonkwo “almost happy again” (192)? Describe what has allowed Okonkwo to feel more at ease. Give one direct quotation that reveals his feelings.
- What does the District Commissioner say is the motive of the British in colonizing the Africans?
- Describe what happens to Okonkwo and the other five men. Give a direct quotation that explains what happens to the men. Predict what this treatment will lead to; what will happen next.
- Describe how the presence of whites is negatively affecting the cultural norms of the people of Umuofia. Give one direct quotation that explains the negative affect.
- Explain how the arrival of the white men has severely altered the clan’s sense of brotherhood? Give two direct quotation that reveals the division between the Umuofian community.
- Describe what happens at the end of the chapter with Okonkwo. In your own opinion is Okonkwo a defiant hero? Explain your reasoning.
- What is the custom that the men of Umuofia explain to the District Commissioner in relation to Okonkwo’s body? Give a direct quotation that explains the custom.