1. Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe

2. Unit Goals (2017) #1: To read and enjoy reading.
#2:  To understand Achebe's goals for writing Things Fall Apart.
#3:  To evaluate what literary choices he made to achieve those goals.  

3. Assessment (2017)
We will discuss Achebe’s purpose and authorial choices. To make that conversation rich and meaningful, it will help for you to have some notes to refer to.
Therefore, for Goal #3, I encourage you to consider one (or more if you’re so motivated!) of the elements below.
Shifting POV
Character Development
Conflict/Resolution

4. Due Dates
You should aim to have through at least Part I and into Part 2 done over Spring Break.
We will discuss through Part I on Monday, April 17.
Tentative overall due date: April 26

5. Chinua Achebe’s Novels
Achebe's novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society,
the effect of Christian influences, and
the clash of values during and after the colonial era.

6. In his own words…
“It does help if you have the kind of temperament I have, which tries to recover something from our past. So you have one food in the past and also one foot in the present. You try to interpret the past for the present.”

7. Things Fall Apart: Purpose
Things Fall Apart is set in the 1890s, during the coming of the white man to Nigeria.
In part, the novel is a response and antidote to a large tradition of European literature in which Africans are depicted as primitive and mindless savages.

9. His purpose (cont)
His purpose is bringing dignity back to the individuals of Africa.
Consistently presented as ignorant, dark, almost sinister people with no sense of justice or purpose.

10. Chinua Achebe’s Life Grew up in Ogidi, a village in Nigeria
His father taught at the missionary school
In 1958 Things Fall Apart was published
He passed away in 2013

11. Pre-Reading Activities and Context

12. Optional Pre-Reading Brainstorm:
What does the phrase “things fall apart” mean?
What kinds of things fall apart?
What do people do when stuff falls apart?

13. Okonkwo It follows a tragic hero, as the title suggests.
It’s important to track him as he goes.

15. Igbo, Nigeria- location of story

16. Ibo Villages Few miles from each other- spoke different languages
Customs:
4 day market week
The kola nut ritual
New Yam festival

18. Igbo People
Nigeria figure
The University of Iowa
Museum of Art

19. Ibo Economy
Economy based on “root crops”
Men grew yam
Women grew beans, cassava, and cocoyam

20. Rituals
We are going to see a lot of rituals in the story….why might they be there?

21. Yam Festival

22. Kola Nut
Kola Nuts
Kola Nut Tree

23. Cassava

24. Igbo Masks

25. Igbo Masks Defined Used during festivals Used during ceremonies
Used to symbolize beauty