Things fall apart

Chapter One:
Note how Achebe immediately establishes his perspective from inside Umuofia (which is Ibo for "people of the forest") in the first sentence. The wider world consists of the group of nine related villages which comprise Umuofia and certain other villages like Mbaino. What are Okonkwo's main characteristics as he is depicted in the first few chapters? List as many as you can, being as specific as possible. What were the characteristics of his father which affect him so powerfully?
Kola is a stimulant, comparable to very strong tea or coffee, which is served on most social occasions in this culture. It is also one ingredient after which Coca Cola is named. Note how the ritual for sharing kola is described without being explained. Why do you think Achebe does this? He will continue to introduce Ibo customs in this fashion throughout the novel.
One becomes influential in this culture by earning titles. As with the Potlatch Indians of our region and many other peoples, this is an expensive proposition which involves the dispersing most of one's painfully accumulated wealth. What do you think are the social functions of such a system?
One of the most famous lines in the novel is "proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten." What does this mean? Palm oil is a rich yellow oil pressed from the fruit of certain palm trees and used both for fuel and cooking. Look for other proverbs as you read. Cowry shells threaded on strings were traditionally used as a means of exchange by many African cultures. The villages' distance from the sea makes them sufficiently rare to serve as money. Cowries from as far away as Southeast Asia have been found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Okonkwo characteristics are he seems to be aggressive, not patient, mournful, wealthy, and has 3 wives. The fact that his father was agressive, he was lazy, and did not know how to control his wealth. Achebe does this because he allows the characters in his story to perform the ritual so that way the read feels like they are really there. I think that the social functions of the system is sorta like a common wealth. Like everyone is given the same kind of pay no matter the job. I also think that the men primarily do the work. The quote is saying that proverbs are what people see to be true and that people follow these proverbs.
Chapter Two
What effect does night have on the people? What do they fear? How do they deal with their fear of snakes at night? Palm-wine is a naturally fermented product of the palm-wine tree, a sort of natural beer. What is the cause and nature of the conflict with Mbaino? Beginning with this chapter, trace how women are related to the religious beliefs of the people. What is the purpose of the taking of Ikemefuna? Note how Achebe foreshadows the boy's doom even as he introduces him.
In what ways does Okonkwo overcompensate for his father's weaknesses? In what ways is he presented as unusual for his culture? What is his attitude toward women? Why does he dislike his son Nwoye so much?
In this polygamous culture each household is enclosed in a compound. Each wife lives in a hut with her children, and the husband visits each wife in turn, though he has his own hut as well. Children are often cared for more or less communally. What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of this form of social structure are?
What seems to be Achebe's attitude toward this culture so far? Is his depicting it as an ideal one? Can you cite any passages which imply a critical attitude?
The night scares the people. They believe that evil spirits will attack them. They keep silent so that way the snake is not tempted to come over because it hears sounds. The cause of the conflict with Mbaino was Umuofia's daughter being killed there at a market. Mbaino was seen as a blood thirsty place and to pay for the death they had to choose between war or a young and a virgin as compensation for the death. The purpose for taking ikemefuna was because he was the youngest. He overcompensates by ruling with a heavy hand so that way his children will never be lazy. He is unusual because he dislikes everything, like the gods. He doesnt take them seriously. Nwoye makes his father upset because he is lazy *which reminds him of his father*.
Chapter Three
The priestess of Agbala is introduced at the beginning of this chapter. She is a very significant figure in this book. What effect does her status have on your judgment of the roles played by women in the culture? The chi or personal spirit (rather like the daemon of Socrates) is a recurring theme in the book. The term "second burial" is a delayed funeral ceremony given after the family has had time to prepare.
How is awareness of rank observed in the drinking of the palm wine? Note that this chapter contains another proverb about proverbs. How does share-cropping work? What is the relationship of women to agriculture? Note that a customary way of committing suicide in this culture is hanging. How does Okonkwo react to "the worst year in living memory?"
It seem sort of odd because the women in this culture seem to be like slaves and seen as under men, but yet this oracle is considered important and she is a woman who is held in highly in that culture. Share cropping works by there is a mulitple of farmers who share the same land and make a profit off of it. The relationship of women to agriculture is they dont play a huge roll in it, however they do grow women crops. He reacts by saying he survived.
Chapter Four
What are Okonkwo's virtues? What are his faults? What does this proverb mean, "When a man says yes his chi says yes also"? What is Okonkwo's relationship with Ikemefuna like? What is the crime that causes Okonkwo's to be reprimanded? What does it tell you about the values of the culture? Achebe portrays this aspect of traditional Nigerian life in a very different fashion from Buchi Emecheta, who we will read later. What evidence is there in this chapter that customs have changed over time? That customs differ among contemporary cultures? What are the limits of the power of the village rain-maker? Note Nwoye's affection for Ikemefuna. It will be significant later.

Chapter Nine
The story of the mosquito is one of several West African tales which explain why these insects buzz irritatingly in people's ears. Why does Ekwefi prize her daughter Ezinma so highly? In this chapter the notion of the ogbanje is treated at length. What attitudes toward children does it reflect? Note how it balances against the "throwing away" of twins. Does Achebe seem to validate the belief in ogbanje?
Ekwefi prizes her daughter Ezinma so highly because she is the child that survived over the age of 3. The attitudes that are reflected are seen as precious.