What is the Things Fall Apart book about?

Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man’s futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political andreligious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new …

Is Things Fall Apart worth reading?

Despite the sheer number of imageries in the book and the seriousness of the plot,the language is strikingly simple. Achebe was naturally gifted and his silky prose is devoid of any imperfection. There is nothing seemingly inordinate in his narration,and,for this reason,the book proves to be a very compelling read.

Why is Things Fall Apart a good book?

Things Fall Apart is regarded as an important novel and one of the greatest classics of our time. The story chronicles the pre-colonial life in Nigeria and the arrival of the Europeans during the late nineteenth century. The novel interrogates the clash of cultures, traditional values and belief systems.

What does the kola nut signify in Things Fall Apart?

The kola nut and the accompanying ritual that goes along with it “symbolize” the customs and signs of respect between the leaders of the Igbo tribe in Chinua Achebe‟s Things Fall Apart. A ritual is a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a certain order.

Why is the book called Things Fall Apart?

The phrase “things fall apart” is taken from the poem, “The Second Coming” by W.B Yeats, which Achebe quotes more extensively in the epigraph. The title Things Fall Apart refers to the fact that without proper balance, things do fall apart. The notion of balance in the novel is an important theme throughout the book.

Is Things Fall Apart based on a true story?

“Things Fall Apart” is not a literal true story; it may be considered allegorical or perhaps closer to historical fiction.

Is Okonkwo a tragic hero?

Okonkwo is a tragic hero in the classical sense: although he is a superior character, his tragic flaw—the equation of manliness with rashness, anger, and violence—brings about his own destruction.

Why is Things Fall Apart a masterpiece?

Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is an influential novel in African literature for three reasons. It contains Achebe’s rejection of the degrading representation of Africans by European writers, and fosters Africa’s traditional values and humanism. The excesses of Igbo customs led the protagonist to flagrant misuse of power.

Why called Things Fall Apart?

The title Things Fall Apart refers to the fact that without proper balance, things do fall apart. The notion of balance in the novel is an important theme throughout the book. Beginning with the excerpt from Yeats’ poem, the concept of balance is stressed as important; for without balance, order is lost.

What is the plot of the book Things Fall Apart?

Plot Summary. Things Fall Apart is set in Umuofia, the hometown of Okonkwo, a proud, angry, and hard-working man in his prime. Okonkwo has always felt a need to prove himself because he is the son of a failure, a man named Unoka who was heavily in debt because he preferred playing his flute and drinking palm wine to farming.

What proverbs are found in the book Things Fall Apart?

An Exploration of Proverbs in Things Fall Apart by Achebe Essay. – Proverbs A proverb is “a brief, memorable saying that expresses a truth or belief” (Proverb). “Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten” (Achebe 7), and they enhance the meaning of all the conversations. “A proverb is [basically] a short sentence based on long experience”…

Who are the main characters in Things Fall Apart?

Characterization is important because it shows a character’s true feeling and personality. The characters Okonkwo, Ekwefi, and the clan as a whole are developed in Things Fall Apart by the literary technique of characterization. The main character, Okonkwo, is portrayed throughout the novel as a round character.

What are the fables in Things Fall Apart?

An Igbo fable concerning the tortoise and the birds has gained wide distribution because it occurs in the famous novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The tortoise, who is a West African trickster figure, hears of a feast to be given by the sky-dwellers to the birds and persuades them to take him with them, winged in their feathers.