Things Fall Apart Test Essay

Chinua Achebe in his novel, Things Fall Apart, writes in a way that Erich Auerbach would describe as biblical style. Biblical style involves suspense, biblical allusions, the ambiguity of purpose, and gaps leading to interpretation. Achebe uses this biblical style to focus on the downfall of Okonkwo, the main character.

In Things Fall Apart there are many cultural collisions created by the introduction of Western ideas into Ibo culture. One example of a cultural collision caused by the introduction of Western ideas into Ibo culture is when Okonkwo’s first son, Nwoye converts to Christianity. This causes a cultural collision between Okonkwo and Nwoye because Nwoye wants to become a Christian, but Okonkwo doesn’t like the white men or Christianity. This cultural collision is caused by the white men bringing in western ideas to Ibo culture. This collision is very important to the book because it leads to the destruction of Okonkwo and fuels his anger. This collision shapes the meaning of the novel as a whole by symbolizing many things

Things Falls Apart tells of the tragedy that takes place when people are out of their place. The first half of the novel contains relatively routine events in the life of Okonkwo. It is not until the second half, when the Europeans arrive, that his life is significantly disrupted. Achebe says that, to Conrad, it is very

Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Chinua Achebe about the fictional people of the Ibo tribe in Umuofia. The practices of this African tribal society are depicted through the third person limited point of view that follows the main protagonist of the novel known as Okonkwo. The novel illustrates practices and values that are sanctioned by the society as they end up struggling to maintain their prevalence once colonists arrive. As a culture, the Ibo people of Things Fall Apart have practices that shape their society by showcasing what is seen as important. This includes their invaluable idea of masculinity in which they see to require strength and success. The patriarchal rule of Ibo society establishes the framework that leads to the perceived inadequacy of females and

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe features the character Nwoye, the son of one of the strongest and most powerful men in the village, Okonkwo. Okonkwo is scared of failure because that is what his father became, so he is incredibly harsh on Nwoye. When the western men invade, Nwoye is torn between two worlds: converting to Christianity where he can start a new life, orstaying loyal to his family and village. Nwyoe ultimately makes the choice to go against his father. Due to the arrival of western culture, Nwoye leaves his family, converts to Christianity, and changes his name.

Things Fall Apart is a story about personal beliefs and customs and also a story about conflict. There is struggle between family, culture, and religion of the Ibo people which is all brought on by a difference in personal beliefs and customs. There are the strong opinions of the main character, Okonkwo. We are also introduced to the views of his village, Umuofia. Finally, we see how things fall apart when these beliefs and customs are confronted by those of the white missionaries. Chinua Achebe is a product of both native and European cultures. This has a great effect on the telling of the story. When he tells the story with an understanding and personal experiences in both cultures. He does not portray the African culture and their

When comparing the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe and William butler Yeats poem “The Second Coming”, at first there seem to be no similarities except for the phrase “things fall apart” which is used in both. But as one closely examinee the reasons why both authors use this sentence, one realizes that both of them try to show a great change, which, in the poem is related to reality, while in the novel is related to the story.

In Things Fall Apart Okonkwo and Mr. Keats when they try to teach free thinking. Nwoye and Keats students wanted to be their own man . They did not want to have to live up to the expectations of their fathers. Nwoye takes on the ways of Christianity in hope of a better life . The DPS wanting to be more creative and free thinking without restrictions. Okonkwo feels dishonored by Nwoye’s turn towards Christianity. Neil's father feels the same about his son wanting to be an artist not a Doctor. Nwoye’s move to Christianity shows the loss of Okonkwo’s power over his life as did the administration and parents in Dead Poet's Society . In The Second Coming the loss of control is symbolized by the line “the falcon does not hear the falconer ” . Where the falcon is the symbol of the lesser power and the falconer the symbol of the higher power just like the other two. The line says that after time passes and changes take place powers change . The last reflective idea between the poem, the movie and the book is the respect towards a superior force . The superior force is not always an object that one can feel or hold in his or her hand but it could be as simple as an idea. The superior force in The Second Coming was not the apocolypse but it was time. Time cannot be paused or turned back so whatever is done may never be changed . Which seems to apply in all three. Time does not allow the world to prepare for The Second Coming, So all hope is lost . The Superior force in Things Fall Apart is the spread of Christianity . Christianity creates Chaos in Umuofia . It makes all the people that were loyal to their ancestors forget about where they were from . The culture of the people in Umuofia was slowly put to extinction by the spread of Christianity. In Dead Poet's Society there is a stark contrast to the cyclical, “one size fits all” philosophy of life that

“Things fall apart; the center cannot hold” (“The Second Coming”). In the novel Things Fall Apart, the village’s belief system began to collapse. In “The Second Coming”, the narrator is witnessing an era coming to an end, and in “Ozymandias,” a statue of a tyrant falls apart, symbolizing the destruction of his legacy. There is a central theme shared amongst these three works. Things throughout history, good or bad, like religions, infamous leaders, or eras in history all inevitably come to an end.

Art wraps itself in the darkest aspects of humanity. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver survey colonialism with the lense of tragedy, representing its pain in similar manners. Both novels revolve around the perpetration of destruction, showing how each tragic hero encourages the growth of suffering in the world around them. This growth of suffering adds to the tragic vision of colonialism as shown in both novels. Both novels examine colonialism via a portrayal of tragic heroes — Okonkwo, the colonized, and Nathan Price, the colonizer — who both perpetuate tragedy with shared inabilities to compromise.

In Things Fall Apart the Igbo tribe and Christianity bring about a yin-yang concept in that there is an unbalance and then balance between inequality and equality. When the first reverend comes he brings balance and equality while showing that Christianity has the capability to bring calm in the midst of chaos. The second reverend, Reverend Smith shows that Christianity is capable of bringing destruction and inequality. The two opposite reverends bring about a balance and created a whole.

The book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is a fictional look at the social and cultural life of an African tribe of the lower Niger River region. It depicts the every day life of the tribe and its members. It also shows the culture and customs of the tribe.

     Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats have been considered literary classics. Although there may be a gap between the times of publication, the themes and connotations are strikingly similar. In both works, there is a progression of chaos in time caused by change and eventually leads to an end.

The novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a commanding account about the rise and fall of an African tribe. The powerful narrative depicts the life and customs of the people and how they change through the years. Theere are many different ideas and characters that are preseneted throughout the novel. The depiction of women is one aspect that is of extreme relevance. It can be shown through several passages in the novel that the women are actually the unseen power behind the mighty Umofian tribe.

The Apocalypse on earth has started and The Anti-Christ a beast of half-human, a half animal is rising, and the world is being pulled into the darkness of hell through the gyre. This is what the poem “The Second Coming” by William Butler Keats is about. Even though “The Second Coming” is about Revolutions, to the reader Keats is left looking at the events of the world around him and trying to take in all the violent acts of war and the devastation, that leaves him struggling to understand religion.