Achebe Background Hupton

Who is the author of Things Fall Apart?

Chinua Achebe

What year was Things Fall Apart published?

1958

What is Chinua Achebe often referred to as?

The 'Father' of modern African literature

In which town was Chinua Achebe born?

Ogidi, Nigeria

What significant event in Achebe's life occurred in 1966?

He left his career in radio due to political conflicts leading to the Nigerian civil war.

What is the main setting of Things Fall Apart?

Umuofia, a cluster of nine villages on the lower Niger.

What does Achebe aim to portray in Things Fall Apart?

An authentic and credible account of Igbo society.

What are some major themes in Things Fall Apart?

The struggle between tradition and change, the collapse of Okonkwo's family, and the definitions of masculinity.

What is the significance of the title 'Things Fall Apart'?

It reflects the disintegration of Igbo society during colonial incursion.

What role does language play in Achebe's writing?

Achebe molds English to reflect the rhythm and lyrical quality of Nigerian languages.

What is the 'Week of Peace' in Igbo culture?

A sacred week in which violence is prohibited.

What is the bride-price in Igbo customs?

Money and property given to a bride's family by the groom's family.

What does the character Okonkwo represent?

A young leader determined to overcome his father's legacy of laziness.

What is the Igbo staple food mentioned in the text?

Yam

What is the significance of proverbs in Igbo culture?

They are considered the poetry of the oral tradition, explaining life and behavior.

What is the Igbo term for a carved wooden figure symbolizing strength?

Ikenga

What does Achebe criticize about the portrayal of Africa in European literature?

It presents Africa in a negative light to justify the slave trade.

What major award did Achebe win for Things Fall Apart?

Margaret Wrong Memorial Prize in 1959.

What is a recurring motif in Things Fall Apart?

Animal imagery.

What does Achebe's writing style incorporate to mark his stories as uniquely African?

Proverbs and idioms of African culture.

What is the impact of colonialism depicted in Things Fall Apart?

It leads to the destruction of individual, family, and culture.

What is the significance of the character Unoka in Okonkwo's life?

He represents the stigma of laziness that Okonkwo strives to overcome.

What does the term 'Osu' refer to in Igbo culture?

A class of people considered outcasts.

What is the role of Christian missionaries in the context of Things Fall Apart?

They aimed to convert the African people to Christianity.

What does Achebe's quote about the last four or five hundred years of European contact with Africa imply?

It highlights the negative portrayal of Africa and the need for Africans to tell their own stories.

What is the central conflict faced by the tribesmen in Things Fall Apart?

The struggle between resisting and embracing change.

What does the character Okonkwo's downfall symbolize?

The broader collapse of traditional Igbo society under colonial pressure.