Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Religion- throughout the novel religion is a main focus to the Umofia tribe. They believe in the oracle which guides their beliefs and helps them make many decisions. In addition, they have a strong emphasis on the belief of many gods that help them in different ways. Yet as the novel progresses their religion and beliefs are challenge by the "white" people who are missionaries looking to convert the people of Umofia and neighboring villages to Christianity. As the novel unravels and comes to an end there are constant challenges to their beliefs and ideas in relation to god and religion.
Philosophy- In the novel Things Fall Apart the philosophies believed for many years by the villagers is constantly challenged as missionaries arrive. A constant debate arises between the villagers of whether to keep the old or take in the new. Their beliefs in the oracle and the evil forest become doubtful as the missionaries are able to succeed living in the "Evil Forest." Thus a theme of whether it is better to keep the old or bring in the new arises.
Art
Types of Art:
Due to the diversity of the Igbo people, there is no specific art style. But most Igbo carve and use masks, but the function of these masks is different at each village. They also place an emphasis on architecture, landscapes and story telling.
Due to the diversity of the Igbo people, there is no specific art style. But most Igbo carve and use masks, but the function of these masks is different at each village. They also place an emphasis on architecture, landscapes and story telling.
Igbo Masks:
The Igbo are a large and diverse population, they have absorbed many influences from surrounding cultures, and as a result, their artwork is very diverse.
The Igbo are a large and diverse population, they have absorbed many influences from surrounding cultures, and as a result, their artwork is very diverse.
Igbo culture embraces the idea of a wide variety of gods, rather than being exclusive to one or several god. In the artwork surrounding their worship, there is a great emphasis on process rather than product, because the emphasis put on motion. This love of motion is evident in their masquerades in which the audience follows and often dances and shadows the dancers movements.
This is seen in the celebrations they have throughout the novel, for example in chapter 22. There is a celebration in honor of the earth deity. Here, Enoche unmasks a egwugwu and by tradition this eliminates the spirit. This is because in traditional Igbo religion the human underneath the mask is not present, the mask is transformed into the spirit.
Art of storytelling:
Achebe uses the art of traditional storytelling. He references legends of the tribe this helps to illustrate what believe and respect.
For example:
-Childhood expiences
Chinua Achebe
Born on November 16, 1930
Raised in Igbo village
Had 5 siblings
Name unabbreviated is Chinualumogu, means “may god fight on my behalf”- was a prayer for
divine protection and stability
Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic
Raised by Christian parents
Life style relies on Igbo oral tradition
Published Things Fall Apart in 1959
Devoted supporter of Biafran Independence – served as ambassador for people of the new nation
Novels focus on traditions
- Igbo society
- Effect of Christian influences
- Clash of values during and after colonial era
Book is a milestone in African literature
Sold more than 8 million copies
Followed with a sequel No Longer at Ease
Published with Nigeria was under Colonial rule
Book based on family history
Grandfather was an important part of Igbo culture
www.northern.edu/hastingw/achebe.htm
http://www.wikipedia.com/
Born on November 16, 1930
Raised in Igbo village
Had 5 siblings
Name unabbreviated is Chinualumogu, means “may god fight on my behalf”- was a prayer for
divine protection and stability
Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic
Raised by Christian parents
Life style relies on Igbo oral tradition
Published Things Fall Apart in 1959
Devoted supporter of Biafran Independence – served as ambassador for people of the new nation
Novels focus on traditions
- Igbo society
- Effect of Christian influences
- Clash of values during and after colonial era
Book is a milestone in African literature
Sold more than 8 million copies
Followed with a sequel No Longer at Ease
Published with Nigeria was under Colonial rule
Book based on family history
Grandfather was an important part of Igbo culture
www.northern.edu/hastingw/achebe.htm
http://www.wikipedia.com/
ABBY
Things Fall Apart Poem--
The title for Achebe's novel comes from the following poem by the Irish poet William Butler Yeats.
The Second Coming (1921)
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.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
things are beginning "to fall apart" even before the white man arrives. The Igbo culture is shown to be quite flexible and presumably would have resolved its own contradictions in its own way without the intervention of the Europeans.
http://www.northern.edu/hastingw/achebe.htm
The Second Coming (1921)
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.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
things are beginning "to fall apart" even before the white man arrives. The Igbo culture is shown to be quite flexible and presumably would have resolved its own contradictions in its own way without the intervention of the Europeans.
http://www.northern.edu/hastingw/achebe.htm
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Connections To Poetry/Music
"Who will wrestle for our villiage?
Okafo will wrestle for our villiage.
Has he thrown a hundred men?
He has thrown four hundred men
Has he thrown a hundred Cats?
He has throw four hundred Cats.
Then send him word to fight for us."(P 51)
"If i hold her hand
She says, 'Don't touch!'
If I hold her foot
She says, 'Don't touch!'
But when I hold her waist-beads
She pretends not to know." (P 118)
"The rain is falling, the sun is shining, Alone Nnadi is cooking and eating." (P 35)
Chinua Achebe does NOT directly address the need for poetry in a persons life. What Achebe DOES do though, is use poetry effectively and creatively to try and show the reader that poetry is beautiful and does add to a persons life, but is not nesacary. The reason for this is becuase Achebe goes hundreds of pages without poems, but the poems he does use are strong, and bold, and powerful and help portray the image on the book.
Poetry is not nesacary for a person's life thematicaly, BUT it is very important in the portrayal of setting, plot, theme and characters. The poem on page 51 shows the plot, setting and character of the book because it shows how the people lived in that time. It shows that you must prove yourself to fight, and also that warriors ruled the time and place, unlike today where army's and guns dominate the fighting.
Poetry is of the upmost importance in novels to portray themes, character traits, setting and plot and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe does a masterful job of not over using this techinque, but using it to perfection to get his message across.
THEMES
Whether Change is good or bad.
Throughout the novel there is a constant challenge of whether change is good or bad. Through most of the beggining of the novel the Clan seems to be hesistent to change. Yet as the novel continues and with the arival of christianity what used to be a world of traditions becomes a world of christianity. The clan is shown the belief that there is only one god rather than many and many other ideas that change the way they think.
It is ok to show non masculine features.
Through the main character Okonkwo the reader is soon able to realize the struggles a person has when they are to caught up in showing masculine features. Okonkwo's constant fear of being seen like his father lead him to portray himself as a harsh non sentimental man. Yet, deep inside he knows that he does care specially when he shows affection towards Ikemfuma.
Sometimes it is a good idea to forget the past.
Throughout the book, Okonkwo is haunted by the shadow of his father. He is constantly trying to get past his shadow and finds himself making decisions that he would not make had he not have to overcome his father's mistakes. Thus the author tries to show the reader that they should forget the past.
Old vs New.
As the story goes on, the characters struggle with deciding what is a better choice the new or the old. As missionaries come into town, new ideas and a different religion that challenges the clans custom creates conflicts. Many of the people in the clan are made to choose between new and old.
You don't have to care too much about what others think.
As the novel progresses the reader begans to understand through the eyes of Okonkwo that maybe its not always good to care of what people think. Eventhough Okonkwo does not display these characters most readers will be able to see that if Okonkwo would ignore the talk in the village and what people think he might be able to live more calmly.
Throughout the novel there is a constant challenge of whether change is good or bad. Through most of the beggining of the novel the Clan seems to be hesistent to change. Yet as the novel continues and with the arival of christianity what used to be a world of traditions becomes a world of christianity. The clan is shown the belief that there is only one god rather than many and many other ideas that change the way they think.
It is ok to show non masculine features.
Through the main character Okonkwo the reader is soon able to realize the struggles a person has when they are to caught up in showing masculine features. Okonkwo's constant fear of being seen like his father lead him to portray himself as a harsh non sentimental man. Yet, deep inside he knows that he does care specially when he shows affection towards Ikemfuma.
Sometimes it is a good idea to forget the past.
Throughout the book, Okonkwo is haunted by the shadow of his father. He is constantly trying to get past his shadow and finds himself making decisions that he would not make had he not have to overcome his father's mistakes. Thus the author tries to show the reader that they should forget the past.
Old vs New.
As the story goes on, the characters struggle with deciding what is a better choice the new or the old. As missionaries come into town, new ideas and a different religion that challenges the clans custom creates conflicts. Many of the people in the clan are made to choose between new and old.
You don't have to care too much about what others think.
As the novel progresses the reader begans to understand through the eyes of Okonkwo that maybe its not always good to care of what people think. Eventhough Okonkwo does not display these characters most readers will be able to see that if Okonkwo would ignore the talk in the village and what people think he might be able to live more calmly.
CHARACTERS
Okonkwo- is main character of the story. He has three wives and is a clan leader. He is an example of a rags to riches story because his father Unoka, was a lazy individual who was look upon with shame by the clan. As a result Okonkwo has lived his whole life trying to put his fathers shame in the past and make sure that he does not follow in his footsteps.
Nwoye- is the oldest male son of Okonkwo, who throughout the story Okonkow seems him as weak and lazy just like Unoka, Okonkwos father. Okonkwo despises this and is constantly fearing that Nwoye will end up putting him to shame. As the story unravels Nwoye converts to christianity.
Ezinma- is Okonkwo's daughter who he believes should have been a male. He believes that if she would have been a male she would have been the perfect son because she displays great qualities and characteristics. In addition, she is Ekwefi's only surviving daughter.
Ekwefi- is Okonkwo's second wife who has had ten children of which only Ezinma has survived. As a result she treats Ezinma like and equal. Ekwefi's life revolves around Enzima because she adores her and fears having to loose her.
Ikemefuna- is a boy who becomes Okonkwo's adoptive son when a neighboring village gives him to Umofia(the village) because of a crime commited by the neightboring village. Okonkwo becomes very close to Ikemefuna who eventually dies at the hand of Okonkwo. Ikemfuma becomes a good friend of Nwoye and even calls Okonkow "father"
Nwoye- is the oldest male son of Okonkwo, who throughout the story Okonkow seems him as weak and lazy just like Unoka, Okonkwos father. Okonkwo despises this and is constantly fearing that Nwoye will end up putting him to shame. As the story unravels Nwoye converts to christianity.
Ezinma- is Okonkwo's daughter who he believes should have been a male. He believes that if she would have been a male she would have been the perfect son because she displays great qualities and characteristics. In addition, she is Ekwefi's only surviving daughter.
Ekwefi- is Okonkwo's second wife who has had ten children of which only Ezinma has survived. As a result she treats Ezinma like and equal. Ekwefi's life revolves around Enzima because she adores her and fears having to loose her.
Ikemefuna- is a boy who becomes Okonkwo's adoptive son when a neighboring village gives him to Umofia(the village) because of a crime commited by the neightboring village. Okonkwo becomes very close to Ikemefuna who eventually dies at the hand of Okonkwo. Ikemfuma becomes a good friend of Nwoye and even calls Okonkow "father"
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