Things Fall Apart Textual Analysis Thread

[J_Rho]

Things Fall Apart Textual Analysis Thread

A place to discuss anything related to the VCE English & QCE Literature text 'Things Fall Apart' by Achebe Chinua

Achebe, Chinua, Things Fall Apart, Penguin, 2006 (first published 1958) (1)
Set in Eastern Nigeria during the time of colonial expansion into Africa, Things Fall Apart tells the story of Okonkwo, a proud and highly respected tribesman from Umofia, somewhere near the Lower Niger. From immature young man to respected clansman, Okonkwo must deal with all the challenges that face a man growing up in a changing world. Ashamed of his father, obedient to the gods, and responsible for his many wives and children, Okonkwo’s life is turned upside down after his accidental shooting of an elder’s son and the arrival of missionaries and colonial administrators intent on shifting the power structure in the small village.
Chinua Achebe explores what it means to be an African man in a tribal society whose very existence is under threat from colonisers. Achebe immerses the audience in another world, using the themes of cultural difference, tradition and change, masculinity, religion and family, to give the reader insight into a raw, brutal and beautiful life.