Introduction
The story of Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart takes place in the Nigerian village of Umuofia in the late 1880s, before missionaries and other […]
Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe is a world-renowned scholar recognized for his ability to write simply, yet eloquently, about life’s universal qualities. His writing weaves together history and […]
Plot Summary
A Part I-Okonkwo’s Rise to Fame Achebe’s Things Fall Apart describes the tragic demise of an Ibo man named Okonkwo. Initially, Okonkwo rises from humble […]
Characters
A Okonkwo Out of awe and respect, the Ibo tribe refers to Okonkwo as “Roaring Flame.” Fiery of temper with a blazing appearance, Okonkwo strikes […]
Themes
A Custom and Tradition Okonkwo’s struggle to live up to what he perceives as “traditional” standards of masculinity, and his failure to adapt to a […]
Construction
A Tragedy Things Fall Apart chronicles the double tragedies of the deaths of Okonkwo, a revered warrior, and the Ibo, the tribe to which Okonkwo […]
Historical Perspective
A Tribal Society Things Fall Apart was published in 1958 just prior to Nigerian independence, but it depicts precolonial Africa. Achebe felt it was important […]
Compare and Contrast
1800s: Prior to colonization, common language and geography differentiated African societies. Six types of societies existed: hunting and gathering societies, cattle-herding societies, forest dwellers, fishermen, […]