When Things

Fall Apart
BY: Chinua Achebe
 I AM
The Village, Family, and Nature.
I like the company of others and trust.
Boldness, Love and Strength are important to me.
I find satisfaction in spoiling my loved ones
I can be bitter and sad from the pain of my past.
But I use that pain to become a devoted mother.
I take punishment with gritted teeth
My bravery is undeniable
I always stand up for what I believe in

I AM EKWEFI

I AM POEM
 Chapter # item/characteristics with support
Characteristics of Ibo Culture Kola Nut:
● “He who brings the kola brings life” (6).
1
● “Unoka accepted the honor of breaking the kola” (6).
Kola nut is part of the hospitality tradition of the tribe.

Cowrie Shells:
● “Each group there represents a debt to someone, and each stroke is one hundred
1
cowries” (7).
Cowrie shells are used as currency in the Ibo culture.

Moonlight Nights:
2 ● “When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk” (2).
If there is light the children are able to play, so nights without any moonlight children are
unable to play, so only during the day or moonlight nights.
Feast of New Yam:
5 ● “It was an occasion for giving thanks to Ani, the earth goddess and the source of
all fertility” (5).
Was a festival held every year before harvest in the Ibo culture.

Punishment of Crime:
13 ● “It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who
committed it must flee from the land”(13).
Whenever a crime was committed the man had to flee.
 Quality Explanation Text Evidence
Okonkwo worked very hard to be a “Okonkwo did not have the start in
Nobility noble man, he worked his way up life which many young men usually
to the top because he did not have had. He did not inherit a barn from

Tragic Hero :
such a noble birth. his father. There was no barn to
inherit”(4)

Okonkwo fears of being weak lead But, his whole life was dominated

Okonkwo
Tragic Flaw him to becoming great but also by fear, the fear of failure and of
made his downfall as well. weakness...It was the fear of
himself,lest should be found to
resemble his father”(13).

Capable of Okonkwo dealt with great “They set fire to his houses,
Great suffering when he came from demolished his red walls, killed his
nothing and worked hard for animals, and destroyed his
Suffering
everything he wanted to be barn”(13).
destroyed.

Okonkwo felt terrible for the “Okonkwo did not taste any food for
Recognition killing of Ikemefuna and felt guilt two days after the death of
and grief and he recognized his Ikemefuna”(8).
wrongs .
Chapter # Proverb What I think it means Proverbs
“Among the Ibo, the art of conversation is Speaking in proverbs makes everything seem a bit nicer;
regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm flows better; is easier to “swallow”—perhaps like a
1 oil with which words are eaten” (1). euphemism in place of something harsher.

“As the elders said, if a child washed his hands, If a person is capable and can accomplish things without
1 he could eat with kings” (1). being told, they are esteemed in this culture.

“A man who pays respect to the great paves the It means if you respect being great, you are able to
3 way for his own greatness”(3). become great yourself.

“Those whose palm kernels were cracked for It means people who are blessed with luck from the gods
4 them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to need to be humble. They should not think they are better
be humble”(4). just because of luck.

“When mother cow is chewing grass its young This proverb means that children do what their parents
8 ones watch its mouth”(8). do and learn from them. That's why it is important for
parents to set a good example for their children.
 Effect of the figurative language
on the overall theme of the
Quote Device
excerpt. Write in COMPLETE
SENTENCES.

“The crime was of two kinds, Irony It is ironic because he fears

male and female”(13). females in some way and only
relies on his masculinity.

Figurative
Language “Ikemefuna felt his legs melting
under him” (7).
Metaphor It is a metaphor because his legs
could not actual melt but he was
just really nervous and scared.

Simile Okonkwo was not a giant and did

not have limbs of a mosquito he
“He felt like a drunken giant with
just felt very weak and was
the limbs of a mosquito”(8).
unable to walk very well.