Introduction

The story of Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart takes place in the Nigerian village of Umuofia in the late 1880s, before missionaries and other […]

Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe is a world-renowned scholar recognized for his ability to write simply, yet eloquently, about life’s universal qualities. His writing weaves together history and […]

Plot Summary

A Part I-Okonkwo’s Rise to Fame Achebe’s Things Fall Apart describes the tragic demise of an Ibo man named Okonkwo. Initially, Okonkwo rises from humble […]

Characters

A Okonkwo Out of awe and respect, the Ibo tribe refers to Okonkwo as “Roaring Flame.” Fiery of temper with a blazing appearance, Okonkwo strikes […]

Themes

A Custom and Tradition Okonkwo’s struggle to live up to what he perceives as “traditional” standards of masculinity, and his failure to adapt to a […]

Questions

How does the displacement from one’s culture affect a person psychologically? Explain possible reactions a person might have and the steps someone might take to […]

Compare and Contrast

1800s: Prior to colonization, common language and geography differentiated African societies. Six types of societies existed: hunting and gathering societies, cattle-herding societies, forest dwellers, fishermen, […]