Things Fall Apart - Ch. 1 and 2

CHAPTER 1

1. What was Okonkwo famous for?

2. Explain the significance of breaking the kola (why was it done?)

3. What determined whether a man was a success; that is, by what was a man's success measured? (list at least three different criteria [standards])

4. To the Ibo proverbs were very important. Why was this so?

5. Why was Okonkwo ashamed of his father, Unoka?

Reflection: Do you know of any proverbs that your elders told you while you were growing up? What was that proverb and what were you supposed to learn from it?
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CHAPTER 2

6. What was the message of the town crier?

7. Okonkwo was sent as an ambassador to negotiate terms to avoid a war between Umuofia and Mbaino. a) Why was Umuofia going to declare war against Mbaino? b) What were the terms of the settlement?

8. The Ibo people believed in the spirit world, which at times lent itself to what we might consider as superstitions. Explain a) why children were warned not to whistle at night, and b) why snakes were never called by name at night and what they were called.

9. a) What is the relationship between "agadi-nwayi" and the spirit world and b)why would the agadi-nwayi never fight a fight of blame?10. What was Okonkwo's greatest fear?

Reflection: What is your greatest fear?