In your essay, be sure to:

• Analyze how Achebe uses Okonkwo's character to symbolize the broader struggle of Igbo society against colonial disruption.
• Examine at least two specific scenes or passages that highlight the conflict between tradition and change.
• Discuss how Achebe's narrative perspective—as both an insider and a critic of Igbo culture—adds complexity to a straightforward interpretation of colonialism as the only destructive force.
• Reflect on the novel's title (inspired by W.B. Yeats's "The Second Coming") and explain how it shapes Achebe's thematic argument.

Length

4–6 pages (approximately 1,000–1,500 words)

Format

Standard literary analysis essay with a clear thesis, textual evidence, and proper MLA or APA citation of the novel.

Guiding Questions to Consider Before Writing

• What is Okonkwo's greatest fear, and how does that fear influence his decisions?
• How does Achebe employ foil characters (e.g., Obierika, Unoka) to complicate our perception of Okonkwo?
• Is Okonkwo a victim of circumstance, a victim of his own character, or both?

Requirements

• Minimum 5 paragraphs (introduction, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion)
• At least 3 direct quotations from the text
• Include a clearly stated thesis in the introduction
• Address a counterargument in one body paragraph