Name:__________________________
Date: __________________
Intro to Things Fall Apart and Nigeria
Objectives: At the end of this lesson, you should be able:
 To explain historical background of Nigeria.
 Understand the greater context of Things Fall Apart.
 Read and answer questions on Chapters 1 and 2 of Things Fall Apart.
Anticipation Guide
Directions: Read each statement and circle whether you agree or disagree. Be prepared
to discuss your answers.
1. A man should be allowed to have more than one wife. AGREE DISAGREE
2. All people in the world should speak English.
AGREE DISAGREE
3. It is a person's moral duty to civilize barbarians.
AGREE DISAGREE
4. Any religion that believes in more than one god is wrong. AGREE DISAGREE
5. Twins are evil spirits who should be left out to die.
6. People who live in Africa are savages.
AGREE DISAGREE
AGREE DISAGREE
Background of Time Period, Imperialism, Scramble for Africa
By the mid-1800s, most of the European countries had industrialized. This means that they
had gone through the Industrial Revolution. Industrialized nations had cities, factories and
advanced technology.
Summarize in your own words:
Name:__________________________
Date: __________________
At the same time, many Europeans started to believe that they were better than other nations
because they had technology that the rest of the world didn’t. This feeling of strength led
European nations to believe that because they could take over other parts of the world, they
should. This idea is called Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism is based on scientist Charles
Darwin’s idea of natural selection and “survival of the fittest”, which means that only the strong
will survive. People saw natives as being weaker and more unfit to survive, and therefore felt
justified in seizing land and resources. Europeans used this idea of Social Darwinism to justify or
defend their taking over other nations by force.
Summarize in your own words:
The need for natural resources and the idea of Social Darwinism lead to the Scramble for Africa.
Many European countries took over lots of land in Africa. When one country takes over another country
by force, it is called imperialism.
Summarize in your own words:
Name:__________________________
Date: __________________
Effects of Imperialism on Africa
Negative Outcomes of European Colonization of Africa:
Africans lost most of their independence, losing control over the large majority of their
land and in many cases, they lost control of all political, social and economic decisions.
Colonization also caused a lot of death. The African population was seriously decreased by
resistance wars and new diseases such as smallpox that arose in Africa because of
Colonization.
Africans lost their independence and many of them lost their lives. They also lost a lot of
their culture. European countries did not only take over African Land—they took over African life
completely. These changes affected African culture, spiritual beliefs, practice and customs.
Europeans did not believe the culture of Africa was “civilized” so they attempted to change that
during colonization.
Some of the most problematic outcomes of the colonization of Africa were the numerous
wars that erupted dividing that African continent. Europeans created their own new boundaries
that sometimes split African tribes or forced two warring tribes to be a part of the same nation.
1. Name 3 negative outcomes of colonization of Africa:
1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________
2. What lead to a decrease in the African population during colonization?
Positive Outcomes of European Colonization of Africa:
Name:__________________________
Date: __________________
Not all of the effects of colonization were negative. In fact, some of the outcomes were
positive for Africa. Humanitarian efforts by the Europeans improved sanitation and brought
schools and hospitals to Africa.
Additionally, European colonization brought African natural resources and products to
the international marker where they were highly valued, leading to economic expansion for the
continent.
Also, the Europeans brought some of their technology to Africa. European industrial
revolution inventions such as railroads, dams, telephone/telegraph lines were brought to Africa
during the age of imperialism.
1. Name 2 positive outcomes of colonization of Africa:
1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
Nigeria
Chinua Achebe’s fictional masterpiece Things Fall Apart is set in the 1890's
and portrays the clash between Nigeria's white colonial government and the
traditional culture of the indigenous Igbo people. Achebe's novel shatters
the stereotypical European portraits of native Africans. Achebe, who is a
Nigerian native, is careful to portray the complex, advanced social
institutions and artistic traditions of Igbo culture prior to its contact with
Europeans. Yet he is just as careful not to stereotype the Europeans; he
offers varying depictions of the white man, such as the mostly benevolent
Mr. Brown, the zealous Reverend Smith, and the ruthlessly calculating
District Commissioner.
Pre-reading Questions
1. Who is Chinua Achebe?
2. Where is Chinua Achebe from?
3. Using context clues, what can you infer is the meaning of the word indigenous?
4. Is Things Fall Apart nonfiction?
5. Do you think a native Nigerian person would like or dislike being colonized by Europeans?
Why?
6. Make 2 predictions about the novel.
Name:__________________________
Date: __________________
Directions: Follow along as we read Chapter 1 aloud. We will write down the answers to the 6
questions together.
1. What do you learn about Okonkwo's character and achievements in this chapter?
2. What do you learn about Okonkwo's father, Unoka?
3. What effect has Unoka had on his son?
4. What have you learned about the village life of the Ibo in this chapter?
5. What is the Ibo's main source of food?
6. What have you learned about Ibo culture?
Directions: On your own, answer these questions in complete sentences.
Chapter 2 Questions
1. What awakens Okonkwo at the beginning of the chapter?
2. Explain the crisis that has occurred between Umofia and Mbaino.
3. How is the crisis resolved?
4. Of what is Okonkwo most afraid? (page 13)
5. Describe some of the superstitions of the Ibo mentioned in Chapter 2.
Exit Slip: (10 Points)
What is imperialism? (in your own brilliant words)
Name:__________________________
Date: __________________
Explain 3 reasons why European countries colonized Africa.
1.
2.
3.
What tribe does Okonkwo belong to?
Summarize the first 2 chapters in your own words. Who are the characters? What is the
setting? What has happened so far?
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