book report

Francisca Martinez
Mrs. Smith
Eng.9H Per.4
20 May 2010
Book Report

1. Things Fall Apart
2. Chinua Achebe
3. 209 Pgs
4. Tragedy
5. AP List
6. Although his father was a lazy man who earned no titles in the Ibo tribe, Okonkwo is a great man in his home of Umuofia. Okonkwo is selected by the elders to be the guardian of Ikemefuna, a boy taken prisoner by the tribe. For three years the boy lives with Okonkwo's family and they grow fond of him. Then the elders decide that the boy must be killed. Rather than seem weak and feminine to the other men of the tribe, Okonkwo helps to kill the boy. Shortly after Ikemefuna's death, things begin to go wrong for Okonkwo. He and his family are sent into exile for seven years to appease the gods he has offended with murder. Okonkwo returns to his village after his exile to find it a changed place. He realizes with despair that the people of Umuofia are not going to fight to protect themselves because they let the white messengers escape and so all is lost for the Ibo tribe. When the local leader of the white government comes to Okonkwo's house to take him to court, he finds that Okonkwo has hanged himself, ruining his great reputation.
7. The main character grows from being insecure of himself into being afraid of failure. His personality worsens, resulting in his death.
8. My favorite part of the book is when Okonkwo defeats the best wrestler in town because that is his first success.
9. One of the themes is man vs. social pressure because Okonkwo always wants to look good in front of the village and he wants social power. He struggles to be grateful for what he already has.
10. "Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten."(7)
This quote is metaphorically explaining the misunderstandings between the Igbo and the Europeans.