Things Fall ApartWritten By: Chinua Achebe

Overview

Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe in 1958 discusses the conflict brought on by changes in Okonkwo’s village Umuofia, from traditional tribal customs to Christianity forced upon him and his people by European settlers to the village. It tells the story of Africa being colonized by the British from a very personal standpoint of one whose life and outlook are being dramatically altered.

Okonkwo

• Played by: Terry Crews

• Most Stubborn Clan Leader Award

Obierika

• Played by: Robert De Niro

• Best Friend Award

Nwoye

• Played by: Jaden Smith

• Laziest Son Award

Ezinma

• Played By: China Anne Mcclain

• Best Daughter Award

Mr. Brown

• Played By: Kevin Pollak

Ekwefi

• Played by: Halle Berry

• Best Second Wife Award

Ikemefuna

• Played by: Kwesi Boakye

• Best Adopted Son Award

About The Author

• Born: November 16, 1930, Ogidi, Anambra, Nigeria

• Died: March 21, 2013, Boston, Massachusetts

• Awards: Man Booker International Prize, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, St. Louis Literary Award

• Education: University of London, University of Ibadan

Other Works

• No Longer at Ease, 1960

• The Sacrificial Egg and Other Stories, 1962

• Arrow of God, 1964

• A Man of the People, 1966

• Chike and the River, 1966

• Beware, Soul-Brother, and Other Poems, 1971

• How the Leopard Got His Claws (with John Iroaganachi), 1972

• Girls at War, 1973

• Christmas at Biafra, and Other Poems, 1973

• Morning Yet on Creation Day, 1975

The Flute, 1975 The Drum, 1978 Don't Let Him Die: An Anthology of Memorial Poems for Christofer Okigbo (editor with Dubem Okafor), 1978 Aka Weta: An Anthology of Igbo Poetry (co-editor), 1982 The Trouble With Nigeria, 1984 African Short Stories, 1984 Anthills of the Savannah, 1988 Hopes and Impediments, 1988

Childhood

• Achebe was born in the Igbo (formerly spelled Ibo) town of Ogidi in eastern Nigeria on November 16, 1930. His father was an instructor in Christian catechism for the Church Missionary Society. Nigeria was a British colony during Achebe's early years, and educated English-speaking families like the Achebes occupied a privileged position in the Nigerian power structure. His parents even named him Albert, after Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria of Great Britain. (Achebe himself chose his Igbo name when he was in college.)

Career

• After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953, Achebe joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation as a producer of radio talks.

• In 1956, he went to London to go the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Staff School.

• While in London, he submitted the manuscript for Things Fall Apart to a publisher, The novel was published in 1958 by Heinemann.

• Fame came almost instantly. Achebe has said that he never experienced the life of a struggling writer.

• Upon returning to Nigeria, Achebe rose rapidly within the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. As founder and director of the Voice of Nigeria in 1961, Achebe and his colleagues aimed at developing an identity through radio programs that talked Nigerian affairs and culture.

Test

• 1) Who is Okonkwo’s son? 7) Where did Chinua Achebe die?

• 2) Who is Okonkwo’s second wife? 8) Who was Okonkwo adopted son?

• 3) When was Chinua Achebe Born 9) Where does the story take place?

• 4) Who is Okonkwo’s best friend? 10) Who is Okonkwo’s daughter?

• 5) Were was Chinua Achebe born?

• 6) What 2 universities did Chinua Achebe attend?