Things Fall ApartTHINGS FALL APART tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around Okonkwo, a "strong man" of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first of these stories traces Okonkwo's fall from grace with the tribal world in which he lives, and in its classical purity of line and economical beauty it provides us with a powerful fable about the immemorial conflict between the individual and society. The second story, which is as modern as the first is ancient, and which elevates the book to a tragic plane, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world through the arrival of aggressive, proselytizing European missionaries. These twin dramas are perfectly harmonized, and they are modulated by an awareness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history, and the mysterious compulsions of the soul. THINGS FALL APART is the most illuminating and permanent monument we have to the modern African experience as seen from within. |
From inside the book
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Page 27
... tree ? Or are you all deaf and dumb ? ' As a matter of fact the tree was very much alive . Okonkwo's second wife had merely cut a few leaves off it to wrap some food , and she said so . Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a ...
... tree ? Or are you all deaf and dumb ? ' As a matter of fact the tree was very much alive . Okonkwo's second wife had merely cut a few leaves off it to wrap some food , and she said so . Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a ...
Page 48
... trees for the afternoon , ' he said . ' Who taps your tall trees for you ? ' asked Obierika . ' Umezulike ... tree but he can tap the short ones standing on the ground . It is like Dimaragana , who would not lend his knife for ...
... trees for the afternoon , ' he said . ' Who taps your tall trees for you ? ' asked Obierika . ' Umezulike ... tree but he can tap the short ones standing on the ground . It is like Dimaragana , who would not lend his knife for ...
Page 57
... tree Ezinma turned left into the bush , and the crowd followed her . Because of her size she made her way through trees and creepers more quickly than her fol- lowers . The bush was alive with the tread of feet on dry leaves and sticks ...
... tree Ezinma turned left into the bush , and the crowd followed her . Because of her size she made her way through trees and creepers more quickly than her fol- lowers . The bush was alive with the tread of feet on dry leaves and sticks ...
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Common terms and phrases
Abame Achebe Agbala alliga ancestors Aneto beat began brothers brought buried CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ called cam wood cassava Chielo child Chinua Chinua Achebe Chukwu church clan cooking court messengers cowries crowd CRUZ The University darkness daughter District Commissioner drums earth egwugwu Ekwefi elders Evil Forest Ezinma father fear feast fire foo-foo goatskin hand happened harmattan harvest head heard Ikemefuna in-laws iyi-uwa Kiaga killed king of crops kinsmen knew kola nut Library UNIVERSITY Longer at Ease looked matchet Mbaino Mbanta missionaries morning neighbours night Nwakibie Nwoye Nwoye's mother Obiageli Obierika ogbanje Ogbuefi Okagbue Oracle palm priestess rain replied returned rose round season soon spirit stood story talking things thought told took Tortoise tree Uchendu University Library UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA/SANTA Unoka Uzowulu voice walked wife wine wives woman women yams young