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What does Okonkwo realize upon returning?
He's probably lost his high position in his fatherland; someone else probably took his place as one of the nine masked spirits and he's probably no longer in a position to lead his clan into war against the Christians.
What does Okonkwo plan to do?
He envisions rebuilding his compound with space for two more wives. Essentially, he has grand plans for himself as displaying his wealth and power in numerous ways and sees himself as being given the highest possible title.
Describe how Nwoye's decision affects Okonkwo and his family?
His loss of Nwoye doesn't alter his grand schemes much. After Nwoye's conversion to Christianity, Okonkwo gathers the rest of his five sons together and issues an ultimatum. If any of them want to be a woman, they can follow Nwoye now, but he will disown and curse them, then haunt them when he dies.
What does Okonkwo wish?
Okonkwo still wishes that Ezinma was a boy, because she understands him very well.
How has Enzima changed over time?
During the long exile, Ezinma has grown into a gorgeous young woman known in Mbanta as the "Crystal of Beauty."
What does Okonkwo want he to do?
Ezinma has had many offers of marriage, but has refused them all because Okonkwo said he wants her, and all of his other daughters, to marry a man in Umuofia.
How will Okonkwo's daughters raise his status?
Okonkwo anticipates that on his return to Umuofia, his two beautiful grown daughters - Ezinma and Obiageli - will attract the attention of powerful men, increasing his status in his fatherland.
What does Okonkwo see when he returns?
Upon returning to Umuofia, Okonkwo discovers that the Christians have gained a lot of ground. Now, their congregation doesn't consist only of outcasts and low-born members of society, but also some titled men.
Describe the growth of the church.
The white missionary is very pleased with himself, and even has held the first Holy Communion. The dreaded government has also become a reality in Okonkwo's fatherland and there is now a District Commissioner to judge cases.
Describe the court messengers.
Court messengers, who are called kotma by the Igbo people, beat those who offend the white men. The kotma are despised and because of their uniform of grey shorts, they are derisively called Ashy-Buttocks.
What upsets Okonkwo while talking to Obierika?
When discussing the white man's invasion with Obierika, Okonkwo despairs. He doesn't understand why his people don't fight back.
Why will the Christians be hard to defeat?
Obierika points out that throwing the white people out wouldn't be easy because so many men of Umuofia have joined the ranks of the Christians. Since the religion is intertwined with the government, the converts by default must support the government.
How have the Christians damaged Umofia?
The Christians have compromised the unity of the clan and has made them fall apart. In Obierika's own words, "He [the white men] has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart." This is the first (and only) reference to the title of the book.
Describe Aneto.
Obierika tells Okonkwo of a man of Umuofia, Aneto, who was even hanged by the white men. The white court settled a land dispute in favor of the man who gave them money. Aneto ended up killing the man who was taking his land, and as he tried to flee (like Okonkwo had done). But the white men took him and hanged him. The court interfered and prevented the clan's traditional process of justice.
How did Okonkwo feel about his return to the clan?
Determined
What does Okonkwo ask of his sons?
If they wish, follow Nwoye while Okonkwo still lives.
What does Okonkwo ask of his daughters?
They should marry only while in Umofia.
In what ways has Umofia changed while Okonkwo and his family have been away?
The Christian church had many converts; The white men had brought a government and built a court; The new prison was full of men who had broken the white men's laws.
Okonkwo tells Obierika that the people should fight the white men. What is Obierika's reply?
It's too late.
How do the clan's opinions regarding the new faith begin to change?
They start to soften and see the value of the changes taking place.
Why is Mr. Brown respected by the clan?
He trod softly on its faith; He made friends with the great men of the clan; He learns about the clan's beliefs.
What approach finally succeeds in converting many of the clans people to the new faith?
Building a school and a hospital in Umofia
How does Okonkwo respond to the changes in Umofia when he returns?
He's sad.
In what ways did Reverend James Smith NOT do things differently from Mr. Brown?
He did not compromise.
How does Enoch cause conflict within the clan?
He kills an ancestral spirit.
What happens as a result of Enoch's actions?
The Christians are attacked.
How do the men of Umuofia prevent the same thing from happening to them that happened to Abame?
They hold a trial.
What is the District Commissioner's punishment for the clan?
He takes a young boy and girl away from them.
How does the District Commissioner force the clan to pay the fine?
They refuse to let anyone leave Umofia
How do the messengers cheat the clan?
They charge people from Umuofia more money than people from other clans for the same goods.
How does Okonkwo feel when he returns from the white men's prison?
Afraid
What does Okonkwo say is the greatest obstacle in Umuofia?
Egonwanne
What happens when a messenger orders the men to stop meeting?
Okonkwo kills the messenger.
What does the Commissioner say is one of the most infuriating habits of the clansmen?
Their violence
What happens to Okonkwo?
he hangs himself
How does the Commissioner respond to the events at the end of the book?
He is mildly interested and considers including a chapter or paragraph about the events in his book.
What Ezimia called?
"Crystal of Beauty" She is also considered the most beautiful in the clan.
What moods does Ezimia have?
She is bipolar, and can be snappy at times.
Why did Ezimia refuse to marry the many young men?
Because her father said for her to wait till he returns to Umuofia.
What did the missionaries build?
A court.
What names do the court messengers go by?
-Kotma-Ashy Buttocks
What did the court messengers do?
-Guarded prison-Beat men who did not listen to the white mans law
What are men like from Abame?
Weak and foolish
Why did Obierika say it's too late to fight back?
Because too many people have converted and they are too powerful.
What happened to Aneto?
He was hanged in Umuru.
Why is the white man clever?
Because he came peacefully, and allowed him to stay, which he then won over there brothers.
Who says this quote? "He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart"
Obierika
Why the white man brought in a "lunatic religion", what did it also bring?
Money flowed into Umuofia
What member of flock difficult to restrain?
Enoch
What did Enoch do?
Rumor is that he killed and eaten the sacred python, and his father cursed him.
What was Mr. Brown given as a sign of dignity?
A carved elephant tusk.
What's the parallel God in the Ibo culture to the Christian faith?
Chukwu
What did Mr. Brown establish?
A school and little hospital.
What did Nwoye change his name to?
Issac
Who was Mr. Brown's successor?
Reverend James Smith
What is one of the greatest crimes a man can commit?
Unmask an Egwugwu in public.
Who was Mr. Smith's interpreter?
Okeko
What happened to Okonkwo in the end?
He hanged himself
What did Obierika tell the commisioner?
That the commisioner had driven Okonkwo to kill himself
What was the commisioner's reaction to Okonkwo's death?
He thought about how he could use the incident in his book.
What disturbed Okonkwo so much about Nwoye's actions?
He was concerned that Nwoye & his other male children would abandon their ancestors.
What group wanted to be admitted into the Christian church?
-Osu (outcasts)
What does Okonkwo wear to the town meeting?
A war dress
What does Okonkwo do at the town meeting?
He kills two court messengers
Why won't the clansmen touch Okonkwo's body and tell that the white men should do it?
They consider suicide a grave sin and that his body is now evil
What do the villagers do as revenge for Enoch's act?
Burn down his compound and the church
What does the district commisioner do to the village leaders, including Okonkwo?
He has thrown them in jail for days
How do the villagers free the men?
They collectively pay a large fine
What have the white men brought in addition to the church, school, and hospital?
A govt. and judicial system that overrides clan decisions
What happened to Mr. Brown?
He becomes sick and has to leave his church
How does the clan meet Okonkwo's return?
Indifferently
What happens 28 after the church is built?
Because nothing bad happens to the missionaries, some villagers convert
What does Nwoye do when Okonkwo confronts him about his activity with the church?
He says nothing and leaves his father forever
Which villagers start flocking to the church and become some of its most vocal members?
Villagers without a title and outcasts
Where did the missionaries spend their first four or five nights and where did they relocate?
Marketplace; village to preach the gospel
What was the response of the villagers when the missionaries asked to see their king?
They had no king but rather men of high title, chief priests, and elders
After the 'king-like people' assembled, what did the missionaries ask for?
Plot of land to build on for their shrine
Did the elders, men of high title, and chief priests give the missionaries anything? If so, what was it?
A plot of land in the Evil Forest
Why did they lack in reluctance from offering this plot of land?
They did not want the missionaries near the clan, they thought they would not accept the offer or die in a few days. The missionaries boasted about victory over death
How much of this land plot did the villagers offer the missionaries?
As much as they wanted
What was the missionaries' reaction to the offer?
Grateful, burst into song
What did the missionaries do the morning after the land was provided to them?
Began to clear it
What was the expectation(s) of the villagers about the missionaries building upon this land plot?
Mbanta residents expected them to die within 4 days.
What was situationally ironic about this expectation?
The men didn't die
What assumption did the villagers of Mbanta utilize to justify the continuation of the lives of the missionaries?
The white man's religion had unbelievable power. They wore glasses in order to see and talk to evil spirits.
What did this assumption lead to?
The missionaries winning their first three converts
What was Nwoye's initial reaction to the arrival of missionaries?
Always drawn to the religion, stayed away from missionaries b/c Okonkwo disproved, joined their preachings, new Christian stories
Who was Mr. Kiaga?
Interpreter, in charge of infant congregation
What did the white man do when he went back to Umuofia?
Built HQs, paid regular visits to Mr. Kiaga's congregation
What was Mr. Kiaga's message of invitation after the church was constructed?
"We have now built a church, and we want you all to come in EVERY SEVENTH DAY to worship the true god"
Describe the church and its location from Nwoye's perspective on the following Sunday.
Read-earth and thatch, men were singing; on circular clearing in the mouth of the Evil Forest
How long was a market week?
4 days
How long did the Gods of Mbanta provide lenience for defying their religion?
7 market weeks
What did some of the converts do as the seven market week mark was approaching?
Suspend their allegiance to the church/ Christianity
What happened on the 28th day of the church despite the foretellings of the native religion?
The converts survived
What happened that same week to the convert population?
The church won more converts
What was the name of the first woman convert?
Nneka
What was significant to her husband about the loss of Nneka from the native religion?
Her husband was happy b/c even as she was pregnant now, the 4 previous times she had given birth, she had born twins:( and they were cast intot he Evil Forest.
What was the name of Okonkwo's cousin?
Amikwu
What significant role did he play in the relationship between Okonkwo and Nwoye?
He saw Nwoye with the Christians and told Okonkwo, worsened it
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Flashcard (20)