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Revision Notes on Things Fall Apart iGCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE
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My revision notes on the novel Things Fall Apart iGCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE LEVEL 9
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iGCSE English LiteratureTHINGS FALL APART
The main themes include colonization (the process of settling among and establishing
control over the indigenous people of an area); the action of appropriating a domain for
one’s own), family- mainly father and son relationships, religion, tradition (tradition
suffers because of change brought about by modern ways), language, masculinity, and
fate and free will. Things Fall Apart follows Okonkwo, the novel's protagonist, as he navigates
relationships with his family, community, and culture all while his culture is being erased through
colonization.
Okonkwo is the main character/ protagonist. He can be viewed as a tragic hero; a tragic hero is
where we see the demise of the protagonist normally because of a flaw in his character.
The narrative structure of Things Fall Apart follows a cyclical pattern that chronicles
Okonkwo’s youth in Umuofia, his seven-year exile in Mbanta, and his eventual return home.
Each of the novel’s three parts covers one of these periods of Okonkwo’s life. The novel’s three
parts also map onto a gendered narrative structure that follows Okonkwo from fatherland to
motherland back to fatherland. This gendered narrative structure functions in counterpoint with
Okonkwo’s ongoing obsession with his own masculinity. Despite every attempt to gain status
and become an exemplar of traditional Igbo masculinity, Okonkwo suffers from a feeling of
relentless emasculation. Okonkwo’s struggle to achieve recognition repeatedly draws him into
conflict with his community, eventually leading both to his own downfall and to that of Umuofia
and the nine villages.
‘The clan had undergone such profound change…’ How is change significant in
Things Fall Apart? You must consider the context of the novel in your answer.
, (AO1) • change is a significant theme in the novel, especially with the arrival of the white men. Umuofia
transforms over time and the characters react to this change
• Nwoye changes as he matures. He becomes manlier owing to Ikemefuna’s influence. When Nwoye
learns that Ikemefuna is dead, something changes within him as he feels devastated by his loss. Nwoye
recalls the time when he heard an abandoned baby crying in the forest and feels lost without
Ikemefuna. Nwoye converts to Christianity and changes his name to Isaac
• the arrival of the Christians challenges Igbo (Ibo in the novel) society. When the Christian church is
built, it divides families and society
• when Okonkwo returns to Umuofia after his seven-year exile in Mbanta, he discovers that the village
has changed significantly during his absence and he feels deeply unhappy
• Okonkwo is a traditionalist and will not compromise. He is unable to adapt to the changes in Umuofia
and feels that life as he knew it is ‘breaking up and falling apart’. Okonkwo’s position changes
throughout the novel. He begins by being respected and successful but at the end is a failed outcast
from society
• Obierika questions some tribal laws and believes that some changes can improve Igbo society. He is
more receptive to change
• other villagers welcome change, as the white men are bringing wealth to the village through the
export of palm oil and palm nut kernels
• the white man’s government introduces the court, ‘court messengers’, the prison and executions. The
nature of the village changes beyond recognition.
Explore the relationship between Ikemefuna and Nwoye in the novel. You must
consider the context of the novel in your answer.
(AO4) • when Nwoye mourns the loss of Ikemefuna, Igbo customs and traditions are remembered, such
as the custom of leaving twins in the forest to die
• Achebe implies that clinging to old traditions and an unwillingness to change may contribute to their
downfall. Achebe does not pass judgement on the point of view of indigenous tribes, but he illustrates
the kinds of circumstances that could make things fall apart
• Obierika questions the Igbo traditions and rituals, as well as their tribal law. He thinks that change
may improve the Igbo society
• as the Christians begin to gain power, the villagers see their traditional beliefs as outdated and
powerless. For example, Mbanta's Evil Forest proves to be less sinister than they have believed.
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