Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Guide to the setting and characters

Researched and prepared by Mrs. Burns

Who is the author and why does he write about Africa?

Chinua Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart to offer literature to his readers that portrayed Africa from an African rather than a European point of view. In his latest book, Home and Exile, he writes:

"I am glad to reassure everyone about my abiding faith in the profession of literature and further to suggest that the kind of careful and even cautious mode of reading that I am impliedly advocating does not signal despair; rather it is the strongest vote of confidence we can give our writers and their work-----to put them on notice that we will go to their offering for wholesome pleasure and insight, and not for a rehash of old stereotypes which gained currency long ago in the slave trade and poisoned, perhaps forever, the wellsprings of our common humanity. As a writer, I am all for such challenge and such expectations from my readers."(Achebe, 34-35)

Where in the world is Nigeria?

http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/igbo.htm

The setting for Things Fall Apart is an Igbo village in the African country Nigeria.

http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/igbo.htm

The Igbo village where the main character, Okonkwo, lived might have looked something like this one. See page 14 in the book Things Fall Apart for Achebe's description of the village.

When? The year when the story begins is 1890.

Who?

Use this chart to keep Okonkwo's family and some of the other important characters straight.

What?

What is a kola nut?

"The igbos have great penchant for kolanut which has four parts. It is a symbol of progress; happiness. The four segments characterises the impending blessing which will be bestowed on anyone who participate in the sharing/eating of the kolanut.It serves a point of contact for progression in every area of the lives of those who partake in eating of the kolanut."

Copyright © 2003 Theresa Emenike. All rights reserved.

http://www.amaigbo.plus.com/files/orji.html

What is a kite?

A kite is a bird of prey, something like a hawk.

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fbpw/black_sk.htm

Works Cited

Achebe, Chinua. Home and Exile. New York: Anchor Books, 2000.

---------- Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor Books, 1959.

Emenike, Theresa. "Amaigbo Heritage". Feb. 2003. 1 Dec. 2003. <http://www.amaigbo.plus.com/files/orji.html>

"Things Fall Apart". University of St. Francis. 1 Dec. 2003. <http://www.stfrancis.edu/en/student/achebe/chinua/tfa.htm>.

More Web Resources

Things Fall Apart Concept Map

http://collaboratory.nunet.net/goals2000/eddy/Achebe/Influences.html

Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart Study Guide

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/anglophone/achebe.html

Database:

Encyclopedia Britannica Online ----- Search "Igbo"

URL: http://school.eb.com

The library can provide the username and password.