Things Fall Apart IOP
Emily Werner
Block 1-4
Thesis
In the tragic novel, Things Fall Apart, Chinua
Achebe illustrates the theme that actions have
consequences through the use of a simile,
flashback, and symbol.
Question
#6 How does Ikemefuna’s death impact
Nwoye’s relationship with his father?
Quick Answer
• Nwoye’s relationship with his father worsens
after Ikemefuna’s death.
• He is afraid of his father and they become
even more distant than before.
(Page 63)
(Page 149)
Connection 1
(Page 147)
Connection 2
(page 152)
Character Development
• Nwoye:
– afraid of his father
– converts to Christianity
– way to be himself
• Okonkwo:
– ungrateful for his son
– worried about the rest of his family converting
and him failing
– selfish
Diction
• Captivate - attract and hold the interest and
attention of; charm.
– “But there was a young lad who had been
captivated” (page 147).
– This quote is talking about when Nwoye converted
to Christianity
– Achebe uses this word to emphasize that Nwoye
had found something better in the new religion; a
way to escape his life and be who he wanted to
be, and it seemed to charm him as well.
Simile
(Page 61)
Flashback
(Pages 61 and 62)
Symbol
(Page 153)
Theme
• Achebe uses these literary devices to develop
the theme that actions have consequences
– Okonkwo is selfish and unthankful for his son
Nwoye
– Okonkwo’s actions cause Nwoye to feel like he
doesn’t belong
– Nwoye leaves home and joins the missionaries
– Okonkwo becomes worried that the rest of his
family will convert to Christianity and he will have
failed
Author’s Purpose
• Achebe includes this topic in his novel, Things Fall
Apart, to illustrate that sometimes people will find
something new to believe in or a way to escape when
they don’t feel like they belong.
• In Achebe’s life, he grew up around Christianity and it
had a strong influence on his family, so that could be
one reason why he includes the impact of Christianity
on Nwoye’s life