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My Level 9 revision notes "Things Fall Apart" GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE
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iGCSE English LiteratureTHINGS FALL APART
Introductory Notes:
One of Chinua Achebe’s primary goals in writing this book was to present western readers with a
thriving, dynamic African society. Many other works at the time presented Africa as a wild and primitive
world that was completely different from our own. Achebe worked to change the perceptions and
assumptions about the place and its people. The novel is a testimony of the cultural confrontation
during the period of British colonisation. In the Igbo culture the past exists concurrent with the present
in the tales told by parents to children, by elders to youngsters, through the egwugwn processions
where ancestral spirits preside over domestic disputes. It is therefore a historical as well as a cultural
novel.
Things Fall Apart depicts the tragic downfall of a strong African clansman faced with the encroaching
presence of colonialism. Okonkwo represents a man tied to his clan’s culture; moreover, Okonkwo
represents the essence of male vigour within the tribe as he strives to lead the clan with strength and
stoicism, persistently avoiding the appearance of weakness. Yet Okonkwo’s strength falters under the
weight of an ever-changing Africa when his family and his clan encounter a novel way of life through the
white man’s Christian religion. The first part of the novel centres on Okonkwo, his family, and the rituals
of his tribe. Achebe depicts how Okonkwo’s relationships with his father, Unoka; his son, Nwoye; his
daughter, Ezinma; and Ikemefuna, a boy who calls Okonkwo father, all define Okonkwo’s identity.
Despite his trials in the beginning of the novel, including his exile from the clan, the true test of
Okonkwo’s strength comes with the entrance of Mr. Brown, Reverend Smith, and the other white men.
As Christianity begins to spread through the clan, Okonkwo’s eldest son becomes a missionary, conflict
arises between the clan and the government of the colonists, and Okonkwo’s desire to lead the clan
results in violence as he kills a white man. Yet the tribe does not partake in his violence, and Okonkwo
reacts by taking his own life.
The title of the book was taken from a poem called “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats. The very first
stanza of this intense work draws the reader in to a world of chaos, which can be easily tied to the
experience of Okonkwo and his tribe.
“Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
,Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.” – W.B. Yeats
• In this poem — ironically, a product of European thought — Yeats describes an
apocalyptic vision in which the world collapses into anarchy because of an internal flaw
in humanity.
• In Things Fall Apart, Achebe illustrates this vision by showing us what happened in the
Igbo society of Nigeria at the time of its colonisation by the British.
• Because of internal weaknesses within the native structure and the divided nature of Igbo
society, the community of Umuofia in this novel is unable to withstand the arrival of
foreign religion, commerce, technology, and government.
• In "The Second Coming," Yeats evokes the anti-Christ leading an anarchic world to
destruction.
This ominous tone gradually emerges in Things Fall Apart as an intrusive religious
presence and an insensitive government together cause the traditional Umuofian world to
fall apart.
…………………………
Themes:
The main themes include colonisation (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.
, Custom and Tradition -The Ibo tribe are rooted in traditions and customs that dictates the
lives of its members. The Igbo tribe becomes threatened when this new religion is introduced
and questions their beliefs and traditions that bears meaning to their world.
Fate and Free Will -One of the main conflicts is the clash between Okonkwo's determination
to succeed and fate. He chooses to kill Ikemefuna even after members of the tribe advised
him not to take part. He is then exiled and blames his fate and he in the end chooses to take
his own life.
Gender - Ibo life is gendered. The role of the woman is to be make a pure bride for an
honourable man, then be a submissive wife, and to also bear many children. The role of the
man is to provide for his family and be brave on the battlefield.
Respect and Reputation -Reputation is based on merit and is denoted by ankle bracelets
the men wear. The men gain reputation through bravery in battle, skill at wrestling, and the
size of their yam harvest.
Fear - Many of the characters have fear. Okonkwo fears being lazy like his father. Ekwefi
fears losing her only daughter. Nwoye fears his father's wrath.
Culture Clash - The arrival of the white man and the tribesmen differed greatly in culture.
The white man does not honour the tribe's customs and tries to impose their culture as being
better. This created a division between the tribesmen.
Language and Communication -The Christians speak English and require an interpreter
and inevitably get lost in translation.
……………………….
Okonkwo as a Tragic Hero
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. As
tensions between Umuofia and the white man’s society test Okonkwo’s greatness, his fear of
failure and desire to succeed supersede his ability to thrive as a hero. Moreover, Okonkwo’s
need to prove his masculinity serves as a catalyst to his inability to understand not only the
world of the white man but the needs of his own tribe, thus resulting in his loss of heroism.
When the time came from the Hills and Caves for Ikemefuna to be sacrificed, Okonkwo did not
change the fate of Ikemefuna which could have been avoided. His consciousness of how weak
he would look before his tribesmen deluded Okonkwo. This consciousness of Okonkwo was
nothing but falsely carried beliefs of masculine strength among the Umuofia tribesmen. To
voice out for his love of his adopted would have been a strength.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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