Things Fall Apart

Proverb

a brief popular epigram or maxim; a short statement of wisdom

epigraph

a quotation set at the beginning of a literary work or one of it’s divisions to suggest it’s theme

theme

a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation

characterization

the act of characterizing 

conflict

to be different, opposed or contradictory; to fail to be in agreement or accord

mood

a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion

tone

accent or inflection expressive of a mood or emotion

juxtaposition

the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect

foil

a foil is a character who is the opposite of the protagonist; their presence highlights the traits of the protagonist

irony

the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning

satire

wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly (as of a person, government, or society)

broadly : humor that criticizes weakness or wrongdoing

tragedy/tragic flaw

a flaw in character that brings about the downfall of the hero of a tragedy; a disastrous event

Okonkwo

a “self-made man;” devoted to his clan and proud but also impatient and stubborn

Ikemefuna

boy from neighboring clan; seized by Umuofia warriors and lives as adopted child; preferred by Okonkwo

Nwoye

Okonkwo’s son; belittled by his father; unappreciated

Nwoye’s mother/Okonkwo’s first wife (we aren’t told her name)

forgiving and gentle 

Unoka

Okonkwo’s father; when he died, he left his family in debt

Ekwefi

Okonkwo’s second wife; Ezinma’s mom

Ezinma

Okonkwo’s daughter and favorite child

Mr. Brown

he first white missionary to arrive in Umuofia

Mr. Smith

another white missionary with different methods than Mr. Brown

Obierika

Okonkwo’s good friend and foil. A foil is a character who is the opposite of the protagonist; their presence highlights the traits of the protagonist.

Maduka

Obierika’s son

Akueke

Obierika’s daughter

Ezeudu

a respected elder of the village

Ozo

leadership position

Ogbanji

in igbo culture, a baby who is a changeling/evil spirit; continually reincarnated, bringing pain and suffering

Iyi-uwa

the stone or other object that connects the ogbanji to the spirit world; it is believed that if it is destroyed, the child will live and the spell is broken

Egwugwu

elders who form a “court” and wear masks of the ancestral gods. the way this key decision-making group is organized becomes important later