- Ritual etiquette between the host and the guest: They pass a kola nut to each other until the host finally breaks it, honoring their gods and ancestors.
- Traditional gender roles: Women cook, tell the clan stories, and deal with ‘women’s crops,’ while men farm yams and are the warriors.
What culture and traditions are discussed in things fall apart?
In Things Fall Apart, which is set in Nigeria in the early 1900s, Chinua Achebe describes Igbo culture , which encompasses polytheistic religion, father-son inheritance, farming traditions, and belief in evil spirits.
Why is tradition important in things fall apart?
Traditions are what many cultures lived by since the dawn of man. It kept the people in touch with their ancestors . Things Fall Apart is a story about the fall of the protagonist, Okonkwo, and the Ibo culture and traditions. ... Okonkwo and his people devoted their life to their great traditions and supreme beings.
What is the oral tradition in things fall apart?
In Things Fall Apart (1958), oral tradition is manifested in many facets . Achebe primarily uses proverbs, folklores, songs and rituals to illustrate the Igbo tradition and culture. To revitalize the past, Achebe juxtaposes the identity of Igbo society in the mode of oral story.
What are some traditions in Umuofia?
The Umuofia follow a traditional ritual to determine a bride-price ; the bride’s family presents the groom’s family with a sum (represented by broomsticks) and the other party adds or subtracts sticks as they see fit.
What is the main theme of Things Fall Apart?
The Struggle Between Change and Tradition
As a story about a culture on the verge of change, Things Fall Apart deals with how the prospect and reality of change affect various characters. The tension about whether change should be privileged over tradition often involves questions of personal status.
Was really Unoka a failure?
Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure . He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a loafer, and they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back. But Unoka was such a man that he always succeeded in borrowing more, and piling up his debts.
What is the moral lesson of Things Fall Apart?
One of the most important moral lessons of Things Fall Apart is the danger of what we would now call toxic masculinity . Okonkwo epitomizes this attitude, even though it damages those around him, including members of his own family.
Why did nwoye convert to Christianity?
Why does Nwoye convert to Christianity? Nwoye converts to Christianity largely to reject the excessive standard of masculinity his father wants him up to uphold . Nwoye is not at all like his father, and Okonkwo constantly punishes him for being different.
Is Things Fall Apart a true story?
“Things Fall Apart” is not a literal true story ; it may be considered allegorical or perhaps closer to historical fiction.
How is tradition vs change a theme in things fall apart?
Change Theme Analysis. Okonkwo’s character represents tradition, since he holds conventional ideas of rank, reputation, and masculinity in high esteem. ... As the book progresses, however, Okonkwo begins to fall out of favor with the clans, and his descent signals the crumbling of traditional Umuofia society.
What does nwoye symbolize?
Nwoye’s personality was a symbol of Christianity . His father always fought against feminine behavior. His conversion to Christianity was to strengthen the symbol created by Achebe. Okonkwo’s family was his joy and pride, while Nwoye’s conversion to Christianity was the last pain he would endure.
How does nwoye represent change?
The character of Nwoye is considered a dynamic character because in the beginning of the book, he is timid, sensitive, and weak. ... However, Nwoye drastically changes later in the book by accepting Christianity . He abandons all the teachings of his clan and shifts his religous views.
What is the summary of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe?
The novel chronicles the life of Okonkwo, the leader of an Igbo community, from the events leading up to his banishment from the community for accidentally killing a clansman, through the seven years of his exile, to his return, and it addresses a particular problem of emergent Africa —the intrusion in the 1890s of ...
Is power a theme in Things Fall Apart?
Power and oppression is a significant theme in Things Fall Apart . In Umuofia, a man should perform the extraordinary to gain respect. The protagonist, Okonkwo, is a paragon of power. At the beginning of the novel, Okonkwo throws Amalinze the Cat in a wrestling match.
What is theme literature?
A literary theme is the main idea or underlying meaning a writer explores in a novel, short story, or other literary work . The theme of a story can be conveyed using characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination of all of these elements.
