Things Fall Apart Study Guide

Name______

1. What is the setting of the book? 2. How do the Ibo people speak about things? 3. How is a man judged in Ibo culture? 4. What is their staple crop? 5. Describe the Ibo religion. 6. What are the Ibo people afraid of? 7. What is their government like? 8. Why does Okonkwo dislike his father? 9. Why does Okonkwo dislike Nwoye? 10. What are Okonkwo’s fears? 11. How did Unoka die and what is the significance? 12. Why does Okonkwo call the man a woman? 13. How does Okonkwo treat his wives? 14. Why does Okonkwo like Ikemefuna? 15. Why does Nwoye like Ikemefuna? 16. Why does Okonkwo shoot Ekwefi? 17. Why does Okonkwo beat Ojuigo? 18. What festivals are observed in Ibo culture? 19. What is the Ibo’s favorite sport? 20. Why does Ikemefuna come to live in Umuofia? 21. Why does Okonkwo kill Ikemefuna? 22. How does Nwoye respond to Ikemefuna’s death? 23. Why did Ezeudo tell Okonkwo to not kill Ikemefuna? 24. Why didn’t Obierika participate in killing Ikemefuna? 25. How does Okonkwo respond when Ezinma is sick? 26. How do the Ibo feel about traditions different from their own? 27. How are the egwugwu like judges? 28. What is the meaning of the tortoise story? 29. Why does Agbala want to see Ezinma? 30. What crime does Okonkwo commit at Ezeudo’s funeral? 31. What is Okonkwo’s punishment? How does he feel about it? 32. What were Okonkwo’s ambitions? 33. Where does Okonkwo go after committing the female crime? 34. What 3 things does Uchendu tell Okonkwo? 35. Why is it difficult for Okonkwo to start farming in Mbanta? 36. What is the story of Abame? 37. How do Uchendu and Okonkwo react to the story of Abame? 38. What changes occur in Omuofia while Okonkwo is in Mbanta? 39. What do the missionaries say about Ibo religion? 40. Why does Nwoye join the Christians? 41. Why does the mother of twins join the Christians? 42. Why do the osu join the Christians? 43. Why do they give the Christians land in the evil forest? 44. What problems are there between the Christians and the Ibo? 45. What does the old man in Mbanta say about the young generation? 46. What happens when Okonkwo returns to Umuofia after 7 years? 47. What signs of “development” are there in Umuofia? 48. Why have the men lost their power to fight? Things Fall Apart Study Guide

49. What are some positive impacts of the Christians? 50. What are some negative impacts of the Christians? 51. What causes the egwugwu to destroy the church and Enoch’s compound? 52. Why does Okonkwo get imprisoned? 53. What is meant by the proverb about Eneke the bird that is always on the wing? 54. How are the Ibo people treated in prison? 55. Why does Okonkwo kill the messenger? 56. Why does Okonkwo kill himself? 57. From whose point of view is Chapter 25 told? 58. What is ironic about Okonkwo’s death? 59. Also study proverbs

Themes  Masculine/Feminine  Fear  Father/Sons influence  Justice  Impacts of the Missionaries  Fate vs. Free Will  Cultural Documentation  Governance

CHARACTERS (Make a 5 x 5 BINGO board with a free space in the middle) 1. Unoka 2. Okonkwo 3. Nwoye’s Mother 4. Nwoye 5. Ekwefi 6. Ezinma 7. Ojuigo 8. Ikemefuna 9. Udo’s wife 10. Agbala 11. Chielo 12. Nwakibie 13. Ezeudu 14. Obierika 15. Uchendu 16. osu 17. Enoch 18. Mr. Kiaga 19. Mr. Brown 20. Mr. Smith 21. District Commissioner 22. kotma 23. Chukwu 24. egwugwu

Villages Umuofia, Mbanta, Mbaino, Abame, Umuru