Flashcards for Things Fall Apart

Ekwefi

Ekwefi is Okonkwo's second wife and the mother of Ezinma in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart.

character

Ezinma

Ezinma is the only surviving child of Okonkwo and Ekwefi in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, and her character sheds light on themes of gender, identity, and the disruption of colonialism in Igbo society.

character

Ikemefuna

Ikemefuna is a boy from Mbaino who is sent to Umuofia as compensation for the murder of a clansman's wife.

character

Mr. Brown

Mr. Brown is the first Christian missionary to make a notable impact in Umuofia, arriving just before the novel's main conflict escalates.

character

Nwoye

Nwoye is Okonkwo's eldest son in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, and his journey reflects a quiet yet profound rebellion against his father's harsh vision of masculinity.

character

Obierika

Obierika is Okonkwo's closest friend and serves as the novel's key voice of thoughtful reflection.

character

Okonkwo

Okonkwo is the tragic hero of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart.

character

Reverend James Smith

Reverend James Smith is the rigid, uncompromising Christian missionary who takes over from the more tolerant Mr. Brown as head of the Umuofia church.

character

The District Commissioner

The District Commissioner symbolizes British colonial authority in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart.

character

Unoka

Unoka is Okonkwo's late father, serving as a cautionary figure who looms over the novel rather than taking an active role.

character

Fire

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, fire represents Okonkwo's intense masculinity and the dangerous impact of unchecked ambition.

Palm-Wine

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, palm-wine represents the energy, community ties, and cultural identity of Igbo society.

The Drums

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, the drums symbolize the heartbeat of Igbo community identity, tradition, and social structure.

The Egwugwu Masks

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, the egwugwu masks embody the sacred authority, shared identity, and ancestral strength of Igbo culture.

The Locusts

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, locusts represent the onset of European colonialism and the tempting yet destructive forces that ultimately lead to the collapse of Igbo society.

Yams

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, yams serve as a strong symbol of masculinity, status, and the traditional Igbo social structure.

Allegory

The arc of Okonkwo's life serves as a powerful reflection of Igbo civilization's struggle during colonialism.

Narrative Poem

Achebe uses a third-person omniscient narrator who seamlessly shifts between Okonkwo's thoughts and the collective voice of Umuofia.

Motif

Fire and flame are recurring motifs that reflect Okonkwo's character and its inherent dangers.

Irony

Achebe uses both dramatic and structural irony throughout the novel.

Simile

Achebe's similes are rooted in the natural and agricultural world of Umuofia, anchoring the novel in its environment while adding depth through comparison.

Symbolism

The yam serves as the novel's most significant symbol.

Juxtaposition

Achebe structures the novel by continually contrasting Igbo and colonial worldviews, refusing to portray either as simply right or wrong.

Personification

Achebe gives the chi — a person's individual spirit or personal god — a lively personality, making it an active force with its own desires.

Extended Metaphor

The clan is compared to a living organism—one that can be healthy, sick, or even die—throughout all three parts of the story.

Allusion

The title of the novel references W. B. Yeats's poem 'The Second Coming,' particularly the line 'Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.'