Things fall apart Chapter 1 quotes

'His fame rested on solid personal achievements'

Shows how Okonkwo was a deeply respected Character

‘brough honour to his village’ (by throwing Amalinze the Cat)

Shows respect and status

‘as slippery as a fish in water’

figurative language reflects Igbo appreciation of language and storytelling

‘Okonkwo’s fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan’

harmattan - wind occurring Dec-Feb

‘tall and huge’

Physical description of Okonkwo

‘Very severe look’

Physical description of Okonkwo

‘seemed to walk on springs, as if he was going to pounce on somebody’

Shows how Okonkwo is fearsome and being around him fills you with tension

‘slight stammer’

Okonkwo description

‘Whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists.’

Negative characteristic of Okonkwo

‘He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father.’

Dynamic of relationship between Okonkwo and his father

‘He was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow’

Unoka personality decription

‘tall but very thin and had a slight stoop’

Physical description of Unoka

‘Unoka would play with them, his face beaming with blessedness and peace’

Description of Unoka and his instruments

‘Unoka, the grown-up was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat.’

Achebe explores Okonkwo’s childhood experience with his father.

‘People laughed at him’

Unoka was a loafer and people would laugh at him for it.

‘Unoka was never happy when it came to wars. He was in fact a coward and could not bear the sight of blood.’

Contrast to Okonkwo’s ‘nine heads’

‘…He had a large barn full of yams and he had three wives’

About Okoye who was also a musician. Contrasts with Unoka, showing how despite the profession he chose, he still could’ve been successful.

‘Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.’

Link to context

‘The sun will shine on those who stand, before it shines on those who kneel under them.’

Proverb, used by Unoka when Okoye is asking for his money back. Those who are more generous etc will be rewarded first.