THINGS FALL
APART
Chinua Achebe
COLONIALISM VS IMPERIALISM
COLONIALISM IMPERIALISM
◦the policy or practice of ◦a policy of extending a
acquiring full or partial country's power and
political control over
influence through
another country, occupying
it with settlers, and colonization, use of
exploiting it economically. military force, or other
means
British Colonialisation
◦The British colonized Africa in about 1870. When they heard of all
of Africa's valuable resources such as gold, ivory, salt and more,
they did not hesitate on conquering the land. They wanted these
resources because they needed them for manufacturing.
◦From 1880-1900 Britain gained control over or occupied what are
now known as Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Gambia,
Sierra Leone, northwestern Somalia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana,
Nigeria, Ghana, and Malawi.
◦ At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a
century, was the foremost global power.
The Flag of Nigeria between 1914 and
1960 was a British blue ensign with a
green Star of David surrounding a Tudor
Crown (later changed to a St Edward's
Crown in 1953) with the white word
"Nigeria" under it on a red disc.
New Nigerian flag
Chinua Achebe
◦ Chinua Achebe, born Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe, 16 November 1930
– 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic.
His first novel Things Fall Apart (1958), often considered his
masterpiece, is the most widely read book in modern African literature.
◦ A titled Igbo chief himself, Achebe's novels focus on the traditions of
Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of
Western and traditional African values during and after the colonial
era. His style relies heavily on the Igbo oral tradition, and combines
straightforward, narration with representations of folk stories,
proverbs, and oratory.
◦ Things Fall Apart went on to become one of the most important books
in African literature. Selling over 20 million copies around the world, it
was translated into 57 languages, making Achebe the most translated
African writer of all time.
Igbo culture
◦Pronounced EE-boh
◦People of southeastern Nigeria.
◦The YAM is very important to the Igbo culture as it is their
staple crop. The New yam festival is celebrated annually to
secure a good harvest. (Our main character in the novel is a
Yam farmer – more on this later).
◦We will gradually learn more about the culture as we read the
novel.
The TRAGIC HERO
◦ Our main character in the novel, Okonkwo, is a tragic hero within the
context of the novel.
◦ Aristotle (a Greek philosopher) coined the term. It later became a famous
and commonly used character trope in European literature, especially by
Shakespeare.
◦ A TRAGIC HERO IS DEFINED AS A PROTAGONIST WHO IS CONSIDERED AN
HONEST/STANDUP CHARACTER, BUT HAS ONE MAJOR FLAW THAT
CAUSES THEIR DOWNFALL.
◦ Okonkwo’s status a tragic hero in Greek tradition adds a layer of
complexity of the novel and is the author’s way of showing that African
characters and African societies are just as complex, detailed and
meaningful as characters in European novels.
THEMES
◦THE SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE OF THE TITLE OF
THE NOVEL
◦THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF THE IGBO LIFE
◦SPIRIT WORLD: IMPORTANCE OF THE
ANCESTORS
◦OKONKWO AS A TRAGIC HERO
◦THE CLASH OF CULTURES