Background 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?