Guthrie 1 Language and Identity in Postcolonial African Literature: A Case Study of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart A Thesis Submitted to The Faculty of the School of Communication In Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Arts in English By Abigail K. Guthrie 1 April 2011 Guthrie 2 Liberty University School of Communication Master of Arts in English ____________________________________________________________ __________________ Dr. Jaeshil Kim‚ Thesis Chair Date ______
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As the acclaimed author of Things Fall Apart‚ Chinua Achebe once said‚ “Art has a social purpose [and] art belongs to the people… The total life of a man is reflected in his art” (Popova). These words hold true in Ibo culture‚ for whom the presence of art is essential. The tribe often uses masks‚ carvings‚ and tattoos as forms of artistic expression (“Igbo”). Tattoos are essential to Ibo culture as they convey the tribe’s identity. Yams signify honor and masculinity‚ traits the Ibo idolize. Achebe
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stereotype and “The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue‚ but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story” (Adichie‚ Ted Talk) . What Adichie is saying about a single story can apply to the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Things Fall Apart is about a man named Okonkwo who encounters the issue of living in a Ibo tribe when white people come to colonize it. Okonkwo is a fascinating protagonist that we could talk about‚ Instead we will be discussing his daughter
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century and ending through the years of British Imperialism‚ “White Man’s Burden” was a common term used by Europeans to state that the white race is superior to all races and were obligated to civilize all non-white people. When one is reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe‚ they may ask themselves what makes the missionaries want to “help” others? Or what makes them think their way is better than the norm? Throughout the novel‚ readers follow the life of Okonkwo and his family as they learn to
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Therefore “Things Fall Apart” is sensational not only it was the first attempt to explore and to encounter and conquer all the problems. Hence‚ Achebe has gone under avalanche disapproval from his peers for writing in English‚ particularly from Ngugi wa Thiong’o‚ who feels
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Derrick Phillips 4/10/13 APLIT B-3 THINGS FALL APART ESSAY Things Fall Apart‚ a pivoting novel written by Nigerian native Chinua Achebe. The novel is set in Nigeria‚ Africa‚ and encompasses the adversity of a once prosperous village leader known as Okonkwo‚ and the Igbo people. The novel depicts the rise and fall of the Umuofia tribes‚ culture and society‚ as it conforms to the onset of White Europeans descending upon the continent. Not only does Africa
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Things Fall Apart in Colonial Context Things Fall Apart depicts the downfall of an Igbo community in Nigeria. The book follows the story of a protagonist‚ Okonkwo‚ a well respected leader and warrior in his community‚ during the eve of colonialism. More specifically the book highlight missionary journies to Igbo communities‚ including Okonkwo’s and whose presence was initially received with‚ welcomed with open arms or aggressive resistance. Through Okonkwo‚ we experienced how three villages responded
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and beliefs on a traditional African society. A much praised African classic "a great book‚ that bespeaks a great‚ brave‚ kind human spirit‚" first published in 1958‚ Things Fall Apart is an early narrative about the European colonization of Africa told from the point of view of the colonized people. Published on the eve of Nigerian independence in 1960 when Achebe was twenty eight Things fall apart helped reshape
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Civilized or Not? In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart‚ the Ibo culture is depicted as a civilized society although it is quite the contrary. The Ibo tribe is first portrayed as a civilized society to those who live amongst it with good morals‚ a safe environment along with its leaders‚ and a stable religion. Throughout the novel‚it is clear that the Ibo people are not a civilized society. In Things Fall Apart‚ Nwoye is an important male role who disagrees with his culture and
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look unnecessary. This is proven otherwise by how each female character in the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe contains. These roles of the women are very important in order to carry out the traditions of the Ibo culture. These roles came out in activities such as preparing meals‚ cleaning the house to even telling their children stories to ensure the children learn lessons from old folk stories. In Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe depicts the roles of women in the African culture in the late
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