Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe

Things Fall Apart is a novel by Chinua Achebe, published in 1958. It is one of the most important works of African literature and is often studied for its portrayal of African society before and after the arrival of European colonizers. The novel is set in pre-colonial Nigeria and follows the life of Okonkwo, a respected leader in the Igbo community of Umuofia.

Lesson Plan: Things Fall Apart – IBDP English A

Lesson Objectives:

• Develop students’ understanding of key themes, characters, and cultural contexts in Things Fall Apart.
• Analyze Achebe’s use of language, symbolism, and structure.
• Explore global issues such as colonialism, identity, and gender roles.
• Prepare students for Paper 2 comparative essays and the Individual Oral (IO) by integrating the novel’s analysis with global issues.

1. Introduction to the Text (Day 1)

Objective:

• Introduce the novel’s context: Nigeria, colonialism, and African literature.
• Discuss the significance of Chinua Achebe in post-colonial literature.

Activities:

• Warm-up Discussion: Ask students what they know about colonialism and African history. How might a novel from Nigeria in the 1950s reflect these themes?
• Presentation: Overview of Nigeria’s history, colonization, and Achebe’s role in African literature.
• Class Reading: Read the first chapter aloud. Discuss initial impressions of Okonkwo as a character and the depiction of Igbo culture.

Homework:

• Read Chapters 2-4. Highlight instances where Achebe explores Igbo culture.

2. Themes and Global Issues (Day 2)

Objective:

• Identify and explore the key themes and global issues in the novel (e.g., tradition vs. change, colonialism, gender roles, identity).

Activities:

• Group Discussion: Break the class into small groups. Assign each group a theme: tradition vs. change, masculinity, fate vs. free will, and cultural conflict. Ask groups to find quotes and examples from Chapters 1-4 related to their theme.
• Class Sharing: Each group presents their findings and discusses how Achebe weaves these themes into the narrative.
• Individual Oral (IO) Preparation: Begin linking themes to global issues for potential IO exploration. For example, how does Achebe’s portrayal of Okonkwo reflect broader issues of identity and colonization?

Homework:

• Read Chapters 5-7 and find passages where gender roles are discussed.

3. Character Analysis (Day 3)

Objective:

• Analyze the characters of Okonkwo, Nwoye, and Ekwefi, focusing on their motivations and roles in the larger context of the novel.

Activities:

• Character Mapping: Create a character map on the board with Okonkwo at the center. Ask students to fill in details about his personality, motivations, and fears based on their reading.
• Close Reading Exercise: Analyze a passage where Okonkwo interacts with Nwoye. Discuss how Achebe portrays their conflicting values and how this ties into the novel’s themes of masculinity and tradition vs. change.

Homework:

• Read Chapters 8-10. Write a paragraph discussing how Achebe portrays the tension between the individual and the community through Okonkwo.

4. Narrative Structure and Symbolism (Day 4)

Objective: Analyze Achebe’s narrative structure and use of symbolism, including key events such as the Week of Peace and the killing of Ikemefuna.

Activities:

• Discussion: Analyze the narrative structure. Why does Achebe alternate between scenes of daily life and dramatic conflict? How does this reflect the theme of change and continuity?
• Symbolism Activity: Identify symbolic elements in the novel (e.g., yams, locusts, fire). Discuss how these symbols reinforce the novel’s themes.
• Mini-Essay Prep: Students will write a short essay on how Achebe uses symbolism to enhance the conflict between tradition and colonial change.

Homework:

• Write a draft of the mini-essay.

5. The Impact of Colonialism (Day 5)

Objective: Discuss the arrival of the colonizers and its effect on the Igbo society, exploring how Achebe presents colonialism’s complex impact on culture, religion, and governance.

Activities:

• Textual Analysis: Read the chapter where the white missionaries arrive. Discuss Achebe’s tone and perspective on colonialism.
• Debate: Divide the class into two groups. One group argues that Achebe portrays colonialism as destructive; the other argues that the novel presents colonialism as both destructive and transformative.

Homework: Read Chapters 11-13. Prepare notes on how Achebe presents the clash of cultures and religions.

6. Comparative Essay Preparation (Day 6)

Objective: Prepare students for Paper 2 by comparing Things Fall Apart with another work studied in the course.

Activities:

• Comparison Chart: Students fill out a chart comparing themes, narrative style, and characters in Things Fall Apart and another text they’ve studied, such as The Tempest or The Great Gatsby.
• Essay Practice: Assign a comparative essay prompt. For example, “Compare the ways in which Achebe and another author explore the theme of identity in the face of cultural change.”

Homework: Write a rough draft of the comparative essay.

7. Closing Discussion and Review (Day 7)

Objective: Review key themes, characters, and passages in preparation for Paper 2 and the IO.

Activities:

• Group Review: Break students into small groups to review key scenes from the novel. Ask each group to prepare a presentation on how these scenes could be analyzed for the IO.
• Q&A: Students ask questions about the novel or essay-writing tips.

Homework: Finalize the comparative essay.

Assessment Methods:

• Formative Assessments: Group discussions, mini-essay, debate, and symbolism activity.
• Summative Assessments: Comparative essay and preparation for IO.
• Feedback: Provide individualized feedback on essay drafts and oral presentations to guide improvement for final assessments.

Summary:

The novel is divided into three parts:

1. Part One: It introduces the Igbo society and Okonkwo’s rise to prominence. His fear of being perceived as weak leads him to harshly discipline his family, particularly his son Nwoye.
2. Part Two: Okonkwo is exiled for accidentally killing a clansman. During his exile, Christian missionaries arrive and begin to convert members of the Igbo community, including Okonkwo’s son Nwoye.
3. Part Three: Okonkwo returns to Umuofia to find that the society has been deeply affected by the presence of the colonizers. In the end, Okonkwo, unable to adapt to the changes, takes his own life.

Significance: Things Fall Apart is often seen as a response to European literature that depicted Africa as a dark and uncivilized continent. Achebe provides a rich, complex view of pre-colonial African life and the destructive impact of colonization. The novel is studied for its themes of cultural clash, the consequences of colonialism, and the struggle to maintain identity in a changing world.

Thematic Quotes

These theme-quotes quotes and instances from will give you an easy access to the heart of the work, so that you can plan your essays and IOs more easily, with rich ideas. However, this is not an alternative for a close reading of the book. You know, it is worth reading the original books. 

1. Identity

• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “The white man is a fool. He does not know our customs, and he is quick to judge us.”
• “The church has come and has won our brothers.”
• “Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.”
• “It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him.”
• “Our own brothers who have taken up the white man’s religion and they help to uphold his government.”
• “Does the white man understand our custom about land?”
• “A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi.”
• “He had no patience with unsuccessful men.”
• “He had no patience with his father.”
• “The elders said that if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”
• “Okonkwo had clearly washed his hands, and so he ate with kings and elders.”
• “His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.”
• “A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.”
• “Okonkwo was not a man of thought but of action.”
• “A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi.”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”

2. Culture and Tradition

• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “Our fathers never dreamed of such a thing; they never killed their brothers.”
• “We must root out this evil.”
• “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”
• “Does the white man understand our custom about land?”
• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The clan was like a lizard; if it lost its tail it soon grew another.”
• “The church has come and has won our brothers.”
• “Our fathers never dreamed of such a thing; they never killed their brothers.”
• “A child’s fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which its mother puts into its palm.”
• “A child belongs to its father, and a man belongs to his fatherland.”
• “The elders said that if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”
• “Okonkwo had clearly washed his hands, and so he ate with kings and elders.”
• “His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.”
• “A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.”
• “The white man is a fool. He does not know our customs, and he is quick to judge us.”
• “Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.”
• “It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him.”
• “The white man has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”

3. Power and Authority

• “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand.”
• “No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children, he was not really a man.”
• “Okonkwo was not a man of thought but of action.”
• “The elders said that if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”
• “He had no patience with unsuccessful men.”
• “The white man has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “He had no patience with his father.”
• “A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.”
• “A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi.”
• “His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.”
• “The church has come and has won our brothers.”
• “Our own brothers who have taken up the white man’s religion and they help to uphold his government.”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “Does the white man understand our custom about land?”
• “The white man is a fool. He does not know our customs, and he is quick to judge us.”
• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.”
• “It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him.”
• “The white man has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”

4. Colonialism and Its Impact

• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “Our own brothers who have taken up the white man’s religion and they help to uphold his government.”
• “The white man is a fool. He does not know our customs, and he is quick to judge us.”
• “Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.”
• “The church has come and has won our brothers.”
• “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”
• “We must root out this evil.”
• “Our fathers never dreamed of such a thing; they never killed their brothers.”
• “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him.”
• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “Does the white man understand our custom about land?”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “The white man has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “Our own brothers who have taken up the white man’s religion and they help to uphold his government.”
• “The white man is a fool. He does not know our customs, and he is quick to judge us.”
• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The church has come and has won our brothers.”

5. Conflict and Resolution

• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “The clan was like a lizard; if it lost its tail it soon grew another.”
• “The church has come and has won our brothers.”
• “Does the white man understand our custom about land?”
• “Our fathers never dreamed of such a thing; they never killed their brothers.”
• “We must root out this evil.”
• “Our fathers never dreamed of such a thing; they never killed their brothers.”
• “We must root out this evil. And if our brothers take the side of evil we must root them out too.”
• “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”
• “The white man is a fool. He does not know our customs, and he is quick to judge us.”
• “The white man has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “The church has come and has won our brothers.”
• “Our fathers never dreamed of such a thing; they never killed their brothers.”
• “The clan was like a lizard; if it lost its tail it soon grew another.”
• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.”

6. Gender Roles and Patriarchy

• “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand.”
• “No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children, he was not really a man.”
• “He had no patience with unsuccessful men.”
• “He had no patience with his father.”
• “A child belongs to its father, and a man belongs to his fatherland.”
• “The elders said that if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”
• “Okonkwo had clearly washed his hands, and so he ate with kings and elders.”
• “His whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.”
• “A man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness.”
• “A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi.”
• “Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.”
• “The white man is a fool. He does not know our customs, and he is quick to judge us.”
• “The church has come and has won our brothers.”
• “Our own brothers who have taken up the white man’s religion and they help to uphold his government.”
• “The white man has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “Does the white man understand our custom about land?”
• “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion.”
• “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
• “It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him.”
• “The white man has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”

Line of Inquiry with Instances

1. Exploration of Cultural Collision and Its Consequences

• The arrival of the missionaries in Umuofia.
• Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity.
• The destruction of the sacred Python by a convert.
• The church’s establishment in the Evil Forest.
• The response of the clan to the missionaries’ presence.
• Okonkwo’s reaction to Nwoye’s conversion.
• The imposition of Western education on the Igbo children.
• The breaking of traditional bonds within families due to conversion.
• The British administration’s introduction of new laws.
• The building of a court in Umuofia.
• The influence of the District Commissioner on local leadership.
• The erosion of traditional beliefs and practices.
• The division within the community over accepting or rejecting the new religion.
• The burning of the church by the clan.
• The clash between traditional justice and colonial law.
• The capture and humiliation of Umuofia’s leaders by the British.
• The payment of fines by the clan leaders to secure their release.
• The decline of the Egwugwu’s power and authority.
• Okonkwo’s final act of defiance against the colonizers.
• The ultimate disintegration of Umuofia’s societal structure.

2. Investigation of Masculinity and Its Impact on Identity

• Okonkwo’s disdain for his father’s perceived weakness.
• His obsession with being strong and successful.
• His harsh treatment of his wives and children.
• His participation in the killing of Ikemefuna to avoid being seen as weak.
• His determination to be the opposite of his father.
• His anger when he perceives his son Nwoye as weak.
• His pride in his wrestling victories.
• His fear of being thought of as effeminate.
• His disdain for men who cannot control their women.
• His belief that masculinity is tied to aggression and violence.
• His reaction to Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity.
• His refusal to show emotion, equating it with weakness.
• His drive to become a wealthy and respected man in the village.
• His perception of masculinity as the ultimate measure of a man’s worth.
• His decision to kill Ikemefuna despite his inner conflict.
• His shame and anger after being exiled for accidental manslaughter.
• His reaction to the changes in Umuofia upon his return from exile.
• His decision to resist the colonizers with violence.
• His inability to adapt to the new social order, which he sees as weak.
• His final decision to take his own life rather than submit to the new authorities.

3. Analysis of the Role of Religion in Shaping Societal Structures

• The Igbo society’s traditional worship of multiple gods.
• The significance of the Oracle of the Hills and Caves.
• The influence of the priestess Chielo on the village.
• The role of the Earth goddess in determining justice.
• The impact of the Christian missionaries on traditional beliefs.
• Nwoye’s internal conflict between the new religion and his father’s expectations.
• The conversion of outcasts to Christianity.
• The establishment of the church in the Evil Forest.
• The clash between Christian teachings and traditional practices.
• The burning of the church as a response to sacrilege.
• The division in the clan over religious allegiance.
• The disruption of traditional ceremonies by the new religion.
• The questioning of traditional gods by the converts.
• The conversion of clan members who feel marginalized.
• The missionaries’ strategy of targeting the weak and outcast.
• The impact of Christianity on the Igbo justice system.
• The introduction of monotheism to a polytheistic society.
• The conflict between personal faith and communal obligations.
• The transformation of Nwoye under Christian influence.
• The ultimate decline of traditional religious authority in the face of colonization.

4. Examination of the Impact of Colonialism on Indigenous Governance

• The introduction of British legal systems in Umuofia.
• The establishment of the District Commissioner’s court.
• The enforcement of new laws by the British authorities.
• The imposition of fines and taxes on the villagers.
• The loss of power by traditional leaders like the egwugwu.
• The destruction of the Igbo justice system.
• The capture and imprisonment of Umuofia’s leaders.
• The erosion of respect for the village elders.
• The decline of the clan’s ability to govern itself.
• The shift in power dynamics within the community.
• The forced acceptance of British rule.
• The replacement of indigenous leadership with colonial administrators.
• The conflict between traditional justice and colonial law.
• The disempowerment of the village oracle and priests.
• The dismantling of the clan’s decision-making processes.
• The imposition of Christianity as part of the colonial project.
• The use of divide-and-rule tactics by the British.
• The transformation of Umuofia from a self-governing society to a colonial outpost.
• The diminishing role of the elders in resolving disputes.
• The loss of autonomy and self-determination by the Igbo people.

5. Discussion on the Concept of Fate vs. Free Will

• Okonkwo’s belief in his ability to shape his destiny.
• His fear of becoming like his father.
• His determination to succeed at all costs.
• The role of the Oracle in guiding decisions.
• The belief in personal chi and its influence on one’s life.
• The role of fate in Okonkwo’s accidental killing of Ezeudu’s son.
• His exile as a result of this act.
• The tension between destiny and individual action in Okonkwo’s life.
• His struggle against the fate imposed by colonialism.
• The role of the gods in determining the clan’s actions.
• The Oracle’s prophecy about Ikemefuna’s death.
• Okonkwo’s decision to participate in Ikemefuna’s death.
• The belief that one’s chi determines success or failure.
• The role of fate in the clan’s downfall.
• Okonkwo’s final act of defiance against his perceived fate.
• The inevitability of change and its impact on Umuofia.
• The influence of ancestral spirits on the living.
• The role of fate in Nwoye’s rejection of his father’s beliefs.
• The clash between Okonkwo’s will and the forces of fate.
• The ultimate powerlessness of the individual against fate and colonialism.

6. Exploration of Gender Dynamics and Their Influence on Power Structures

• The male-dominated hierarchy in Umuofia.
• The role of women in Igbo society.
• Okonkwo’s view of women as weak and inferior.
• The significance of male titles and status.
• The marginalization of women in religious and political life.
• The use of women as symbols of status through marriage.
• The role of women in maintaining the household and family.
• The impact of patriarchy on Okonkwo’s relationships with his wives.
• The association of masculinity with strength and aggression.
• The lack of agency for women in major clan decisions.
• The role of the priestess Chielo as an exception to male dominance.
• The contrast between male and female power in spiritual matters.
• The treatment of women in the context of war and conflict.
• The influence of colonialism on traditional gender roles.
• The representation of women in Igbo folklore and proverbs.
• The role of women in religious rituals and their exclusion from certain practices.
• The depiction of female characters as nurturing yet subordinate.
• The role of gender expectations in shaping Okonkwo’s identity.
• The impact of gender norms on Nwoye’s development.
• The tension between traditional gender roles and the changes brought by colonialism.

7. Analysis of the Role of Storytelling and Oral Tradition in Preserving History

• The use of proverbs to convey wisdom in Umuofia.
• The telling of folktales by elders to teach lessons.
• The role of the griot in preserving clan history.
• The significance of oral tradition in Igbo culture.
• The transmission of cultural values through storytelling.
• The use of stories to explain natural phenomena and social customs.
• The role of oral history in maintaining communal memory.
• The impact of colonization on the oral tradition.
• The contrast between written and oral histories in the novel.
• The role of storytelling in reinforcing gender roles.
• The use of stories to instill fear and caution in children.
• The portrayal of oral tradition as a link to the past.
• The adaptation of stories to reflect contemporary issues.
• The role of folktales in shaping moral and ethical behavior.
• The impact of Christianity on the traditional storytelling practice.
• The importance of oral tradition in maintaining identity.
• The use of storytelling as a form of resistance against colonization.
• The portrayal of storytelling as a communal activity.
• The role of oral tradition in the transmission of religious beliefs.
• The preservation of clan history through generations of storytellers.

8. Examination of the Impact of Fear on Human Behavior

• Okonkwo’s fear of becoming like his father.
• His fear of showing any sign of weakness.
• The fear that drives him to kill Ikemefuna.
• The clan’s fear of offending the gods.
• The fear of the unknown brought by the missionaries.
• Okonkwo’s fear of losing his status and power.
• The fear of social ostracization that leads to conformity.
• The fear of change within the community.
• The fear that prevents the clan from taking a unified stand against the colonizers.
• The fear of the new religion and its consequences.
• The fear of death and the afterlife in traditional beliefs.
• Okonkwo’s fear of his son Nwoye’s perceived softness.
• The fear that leads to the preservation of harmful traditions.
• The fear of retribution from the gods for breaking taboos.
• The fear of the wrath of the Earth goddess.
• The fear of losing cultural identity in the face of colonialism.
• The fear of the breakdown of social order.
• The fear that drives the villagers to attack the church.
• Okonkwo’s fear of being seen as weak in the eyes of others.
• The fear that ultimately leads Okonkwo to take his own life.

9. Analysis of Tradition vs. Change and Its Impact on Society

• The preservation of Igbo customs in the face of colonial influence.
• The conflict between traditional beliefs and Christianity.
• The tension between old and new ways of life in Umuofia.
• The resistance to change by clan elders.
• The adaptation of some villagers to the new religion.
• The struggle to maintain cultural identity amidst colonization.
• The decline of traditional rituals and ceremonies.
• The clash between traditional justice and British law.
• The impact of Western education on Igbo children.
• The loss of respect for traditional leaders.
• The introduction of new agricultural practices by the colonizers.
• The transformation of social structures under colonial rule.
• The erosion of communal decision-making processes.
• The changes in gender roles due to colonial influence.
• The impact of change on family dynamics.
• The adaptation of Igbo society to new economic realities.
• The decline of oral tradition with the introduction of writing.
• The conflict between preserving the past and embracing the future.
• The tension between individual desires and communal obligations.
• The ultimate disintegration of traditional society under the pressure of change.

10. Exploration of the Role of Leadership and Its Impact on Community Cohesion

• Okonkwo’s leadership in the clan and his influence on others.
• His role in the decision to kill Ikemefuna.
• The leadership of the egwugwu in maintaining order.
• The role of the village elders in decision-making.
• The impact of Okonkwo’s exile on his leadership status.
• The leadership of the missionaries in converting the villagers.
• The influence of the District Commissioner on village governance.
• The loss of traditional leadership to colonial authorities.
• The role of the Oracle in guiding the clan’s decisions.
• The conflict between Okonkwo and other clan leaders over how to respond to the colonizers.
• The leadership of Chielo as the priestess of the Oracle.
• The impact of Okonkwo’s leadership style on his family.
• The leadership of the British in imposing new laws.
• The decline of communal leadership as individuals convert to Christianity.
• The role of leadership in the resistance against colonization.
• The impact of the loss of leadership on clan cohesion.
• The contrast between Okonkwo’s leadership and that of his father.
• The leadership of the clan in upholding traditional values.
• The role of leadership in the preservation of cultural identity.
• The ultimate failure of leadership in preventing the collapse of Umuofia society.

Best Pairs