Things Fall Apart

Write a paper on one of the following topics.

In your answer, draw on specific incidents from throughout the book to illuminate its meaning.

EITHER

What do you find ironic or disturbing about the end of the book?

Focus on the thoughts of the District Commissioner, and the title of his book, and discuss incidents from throughout the book to show what is so awful about the way he thinks about Okonkwo.

OR

Achebe describes how, for the Ibo, Things Fall Apart when Europeans arrive. A whole way of life disappears. The Europeans (and perhaps we, their descendants) would call it progress. Okonkwo would call it a tragedy, a horror.

Describe what is lost when these Things Fall Apart. Are there any failures to the European ideas of progress in this book?

OR

Describe Ibo culture as revealed through their family/gender/age-specific roles, their religion, their music and dance, and/or their festivals and holidays. What are the unique and valuable aspects of their culture?