Achebe's techniques - TFA

Metaphor

Figure of speech comparing things directly; e.g. "living fire" for Okonkwo, bush-fire for fame, linking character to destruction and nature.

Simile

Comparison using like/as; e.g. "like a bush-fire in the harmattan" to vividly show speed, power, or character traits.

Personification

Giving human qualities to objects/nature; e.g. drums that "sing", reflecting spiritual beliefs.

Symbolism

Objects represent ideas; yams = masculinity, fire = Okonkwo, locusts = colonisation.

Natural imagery

Images of farming, seasons, earth, rain; reflects Igbo agricultural life and tradition.

Violent imagery

Graphic descriptions of violence; e.g. machete killings, showing masculinity and brutality.

Repetition

Repeated ideas or words; focus on strength and fear of weakness shows obsession.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration; wrestling and war stories reflect oral storytelling tradition.

Juxtaposition

Placing opposites together; peaceful village life beside sudden violence highlights instability.

Irony

Contrast between expectation and outcome; Okonkwo destroys what he tries to protect.

Foreshadowing

Hints about future events; early warnings about Okonkwo's temper suggest tragedy.

Free indirect discourse

Third-person narration blends with a character's thoughts without quotation marks, often reflecting Okonkwo's mindset.

Third-person omniscient narrator

All-knowing narrator who accesses multiple characters and the wider community.

Simple declarative sentences

Short, factual statements like "Okonkwo was well known"; create authority and certainty.

Biblical / formal tone

Elevated language in missionary speech, imitating Christian authority.

Proverbs

Traditional sayings like "palm-oil with which words are eaten", expressing communal wisdom.

Oral storytelling

Folk tales such as the Tortoise story, preserving culture and values.

Igbo lexis / code-switching

Use of Igbo words like chi, obi, egwugwu within English to maintain authenticity.

Episodic structure

Chapters function as separate events, reflecting oral narrative style.

Tragic hero structure

Okonkwo's fatal flaw (fear of weakness) leads to downfall and suicide.

Contrast: tradition vs change

Igbo customs versus colonial systems, showing disruption.

Setting as technique

Umuofia before and after colonisation shows social breakdown.

Understatement

Calm tone when describing extreme events, increasing impact.

Collective voice

Phrases like "the clan decided", emphasising community over individuals.

Didactic narration

Narrator explains customs and rituals to educate the reader.

Colonial framing / meta-irony

District Commissioner reduces Okonkwo's life to a paragraph, exposing colonial arrogance.