1. Part 1 Traditions and Values
Things Fall Apart
Part 1
Traditions and Values

2. Tradition
Definition: a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time
Examples:
One of our town's time-honored traditions is to have an Easter egg hunt the week before Easter.
It is their tradition to give thanks before they start eating.
There's an office tradition of wearing casual clothes on Fridays.
They no longer follow the traditions of their ancestors.
We broke with tradition and had goose for Thanksgiving instead of turkey.
By tradition, the celebration begins at midnight.
They no longer follow tradition.
According to tradition, the goddess lies sleeping beneath the mountain.

3. Examples of Traditions in Things Fall Apart
Wrestling The Week of Peace Inheritance The New Yam Festival Egwugwu Ceremony Funerals Bride Price Ceremony

4. Values
Definition: something useful or important that promotes the sound functioning of the family and strengthens a society.

6. TFA BP 1
Prompt: In chapters 1-13, you have read and learned about the Ibo culture. In a well-written paragraph, discuss two specific Ibo traditions, explain the values demonstrated by the tradition and how these values affect the lifestyle of the Ibo people.

7. Topic Sentence Elements
Subject = Two important Ibo values
Argument = These values are the foundation for the Ibo way of life.
Focus = Two Ibo traditions that reveal the Ibo values.

8. Topic Sentence Frame
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, the Ibo people’s values of ______________ and ______________ serve as the foundation for the Ibo way of life and are revealed through the traditions of _____________ and ___________________.

9. Topic Sentence Example
In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, the Ibo people’s values of success and kinship serve as the foundation for the Ibo way of life and are revealed through the traditions of inheritance and the Week of Peace.

10. Concrete Details
Find an example of each tradition your paragraph will focus on. Look for examples that also reveal each value stated in your topic sentence.

11. Concrete Details Examples
CD1 - Inheritance: “Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men had. He neither inherited a barn nor a title, nor even a young wife” (Achebe 18)
CD 2 - Week of Peace: “The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. The earth goddess whom you have insulted may refuse to give us her increase and we shall all perish” (Achebe 30)

12. Context
Answer the following questions about the concrete detail. In addition, add descriptions to the characters that relate to the values you have chosen as the subject in your topic sentence.
WHO – Who is speaking? Who is he/she speaking to?
WHERE – Where does this take place?
WHEN – When does this take place?
WHAT – What important events lead up to this?

13. Context Example for CD1
Okonkwo, the main character, lives in the Ibo village of Umuofia in present day Nigeria. His father, Unoka, accumulated massive debt and failed as a father and a provider: “Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men had. He neither inherited a barn nor a title, nor even a young wife” (Achebe 18).

14. Context Example for CD 2
It is during this sacred week that Okonkwo beats his third wife Ojiugo and, therefore, breaks the tradition of peace. The assault is an unprecedented violation and Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess, tells Okonkwo, “The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. The earth goddess whom you have insulted may refuse to give us her increase and we shall all perish” (Achebe 30).