Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
SlideShare a Scribd company logo
Things Fall Apart
     Chinua Achebe


 Introduction
 Background
 Discussion Starters
Things Fall Apart
   Chinua Achebe
Things Fall Apart: Introduction

Change is a part of life.




But when drastic changes transform the world
you know—how do you deal with them?
Things Fall Apart: Introduction

Okonkwo is a member of the Ibo people in the
African country of Nigeria in the late 1800s.


                            Okonkwo is a
                            wealthy farmer and
                            is well respected in
                            his clan.
Things Fall Apart: Introduction

Okonkwo has a big family that follows the traditions
of the Ibo people.
                     He has three wives;

                       a son, Nwoye;

                      and two
                      daughters, Obiageli
                      and Ezinma.
                      He also cares for a young
                      boy, Ikemefuma, who has been
                      brought to the village as a
                      hostage.
Things Fall Apart: Introduction


Okonkwo believes in the Ibo traditions.

                           He values strength
                           and hard work and
                           looks down on
                           gentleness and
                           compassion.


Okonkwo will do anything to be different from his
father, who was considered weak and died in
disgrace.
Things Fall Apart: Introduction

But Okonkwo’s desire to succeed and
to stamp out weakness leads him to
commit many violent acts… some of
which bring him into conflict with his
clan.
Things Fall Apart: Introduction




One day a senseless act changes his life. He and his
family are sent away from the village.
Things Fall Apart: Introduction

While Okonkwo and his family are away, changes
begin to take place in their village.


Christian missionaries
arrive—determined to
change the Ibo way of life.
Things Fall Apart: Introduction


After seven years, Okonkwo and his family return
home.
                         What changes will he
                         find in the village?


                           Will Okonkwo be able
                           to adjust to a world
                           that has fallen apart?
Things Fall Apart: Background


Things Fall Apart is set during a period of British
colonial rule of Nigeria in the late 1800s.

                        Nigeria became a British
                        colony in 1886.
Things Fall Apart: Background
Christian missionaries arrived in Nigeria in
the mid-1800s, and by the end of the
century had begun a strong conversion
campaign. They wanted the African people
to embrace Christianity.
Things Fall Apart: Background
Traditional Ibo religion was based on an earth
goddess and a creator god. Other deities and
spirits were also honored.
                      Animals were used as
                      sacrifices in religious
                      ceremonies.
Things Fall Apart: Background

The Ibo were subsistence farmers,crops means
In Ibo culture, women grew food which
they grew crops to survive.




Men grew the important yam crop. Women grew
other crops.
Things Fall Apart: Background


An Ibo village was part of a clan network made up
of about five thousand people that were


• led by a council of men
  that made decisions
  democratically

 • shared a common
   market and meeting
   place
Things Fall Apart: Discussion Starters


Discuss (1)
Okonkwo believes that strength and toughness
are more important than compassion and
gentleness.
• In what circumstances might this attitude help
a person succeed?
• When could it cause problems?
Things Fall Apart: Discussion Starters

Discuss (2)
  The European missionaries want the Ibo to
  change their way of life.
• Why do some people want to impose their
  culture on another?
• Can one culture judge another by its own
  standards?
• When do you think it’s acceptable to encourage
  a group of people to change their way of life?
  When is it not acceptable?

More Related Content

Things fall apart powerpoint

  • 1. Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe Introduction Background Discussion Starters
  • 2. Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe
  • 3. Things Fall Apart: Introduction Change is a part of life. But when drastic changes transform the world you know—how do you deal with them?
  • 4. Things Fall Apart: Introduction Okonkwo is a member of the Ibo people in the African country of Nigeria in the late 1800s. Okonkwo is a wealthy farmer and is well respected in his clan.
  • 5. Things Fall Apart: Introduction Okonkwo has a big family that follows the traditions of the Ibo people. He has three wives; a son, Nwoye; and two daughters, Obiageli and Ezinma. He also cares for a young boy, Ikemefuma, who has been brought to the village as a hostage.
  • 6. Things Fall Apart: Introduction Okonkwo believes in the Ibo traditions. He values strength and hard work and looks down on gentleness and compassion. Okonkwo will do anything to be different from his father, who was considered weak and died in disgrace.
  • 7. Things Fall Apart: Introduction But Okonkwo’s desire to succeed and to stamp out weakness leads him to commit many violent acts… some of which bring him into conflict with his clan.
  • 8. Things Fall Apart: Introduction One day a senseless act changes his life. He and his family are sent away from the village.
  • 9. Things Fall Apart: Introduction While Okonkwo and his family are away, changes begin to take place in their village. Christian missionaries arrive—determined to change the Ibo way of life.
  • 10. Things Fall Apart: Introduction After seven years, Okonkwo and his family return home. What changes will he find in the village? Will Okonkwo be able to adjust to a world that has fallen apart?
  • 11. Things Fall Apart: Background Things Fall Apart is set during a period of British colonial rule of Nigeria in the late 1800s. Nigeria became a British colony in 1886.
  • 12. Things Fall Apart: Background Christian missionaries arrived in Nigeria in the mid-1800s, and by the end of the century had begun a strong conversion campaign. They wanted the African people to embrace Christianity.
  • 13. Things Fall Apart: Background Traditional Ibo religion was based on an earth goddess and a creator god. Other deities and spirits were also honored. Animals were used as sacrifices in religious ceremonies.
  • 14. Things Fall Apart: Background The Ibo were subsistence farmers,crops means In Ibo culture, women grew food which they grew crops to survive. Men grew the important yam crop. Women grew other crops.
  • 15. Things Fall Apart: Background An Ibo village was part of a clan network made up of about five thousand people that were • led by a council of men that made decisions democratically • shared a common market and meeting place
  • 16. Things Fall Apart: Discussion Starters Discuss (1) Okonkwo believes that strength and toughness are more important than compassion and gentleness. • In what circumstances might this attitude help a person succeed? • When could it cause problems?
  • 17. Things Fall Apart: Discussion Starters Discuss (2) The European missionaries want the Ibo to change their way of life. • Why do some people want to impose their culture on another? • Can one culture judge another by its own standards? • When do you think it’s acceptable to encourage a group of people to change their way of life? When is it not acceptable?