honors world literature: things fall apart matching final exam

vice

a moral failing or bad habit that leads a character to make unethical or harmful choices

egwugwu

ancestral spirits of the clan represented by masked elders who serve as judge in the igbo legal system

osu

outcasts in igbo society, considered spiritually inferior and often rejected by the community even after conversion to christianity

agbala

the oracle of the hills and caves, whose messages guide the spiritual and political decisions of the igbo people

ogbanji

a child believed to die and be reborn repeatedly to the same mother, often causing grief and fear within the family

igbo

the ethnic group and culture at the center of Things Fall Apart, characterized by a complex social, religious, and legal system

negative motivation

a driving force based on fear, shame, or avoidance (ex. Okonkwo’s fear of becoming like his father)

positive motivation

a driving force based on aspiration, love, or values (ex. Mr. Brown’s desire to peacefully convert and educate)

okonkwo

a proud, ambitious Igbo warrior whose fear of weakness and need for respect drive his rise and tragic downfall

unoka

Okonkwo’s lazy and gentle father, whose failure and reputation for weakness deeply shape Okonkwo’s obsessive need to be strong and respected

nwoye

Okonkwo’s sensitive and questioning son who eventually rejects his father’s values and converts to Christianity, symbolizing cultural change

ikemfuna

a boy given to Umuofia as a peace settlement, who becomes like a son to Okonkwo, but is tragically killed to preserve Okonkwo’s honor

ezinma

Okonkwo’s favorite daughter and the only surviving child of Ekwefi, whom he wishes were a son due to her strength and intelligence

oberika

Okonkwo’s thoughtful friend who provides a more balanced view of Igbo traditions and helps care for Okonkwo’s family during his exile

agbala

the oracle of the hills and caves, representing spiritual authority in Igbo culture and influencing key community decisions

chukwu

the supreme god in Igbo religion, seem as the creator, above all other deities, and somewhat parallel to the Christian God

mr. brown

the first missionary in Umuofia who shows respect for Igbo culture and uses diplomacy to gain converts and build schools and hospitals

mr. smith

the rigid and intolerant missionary who replaces Mr. Brown, escalating tensions between the Igbo and the colonizers

the district commissioner

a colonial official who represents British imperial authority and dehumanizes the Igbo people, planning to reduce their complex culture to a chapter in a book