Things Fall Apart
Chapters 17-25 Wrap-Up
Name-_________________________
I. Quote Analysis:
DIRECTIONS: Use the quotes to answer each of the following questions on a separate sheet of
paper.
“Living fire begets cold, impotent ash” (134).
1. Who is being characterized? Explain.
2. What is being foreshadowed? Explain.
“Mr. Brown’s successor was the Reverend James Smith, and he was a different kind of man. He
condemned openly Mr. Brown’s policy of compromise and accommodation. He saw things as
black and white. And black was evil. He saw the world as a battlefield in which the children of
light were locked in mortal conflict with the sons of darkness. He spoke in his sermons about
sheep and goats and about wheat and tares. He believed in slaying the prophets of Baal” (158).
1. How is Mr. Brown characterized by his name? Explain.
2. How is Reverend James Smith characterized by his name? Explain.
3. Explain how Mr. Brown and Reverend James Smith are foils.
4. How is Reverend James Smith’s philosophy illustrated here? Explain.
5. Explain how the Biblical allusion adds to Reverend James Smith’s characterization.
“The Commissioner did not understand what Obierka….Lower Niger” (177-9).
1. Explain how the District Commissioner’s racism is portrayed.
2. Identify the line where Achebe changes the point-of-view. What is his purpose in changing
the point-of-view?
3. How has Okonkwo lost everything he had worked for? How has his death advantaged the
District Commissioner? Be sure to comment on his book.
4. The District Commissioner comments that Okonkwo’s life can be summed up in a paragraph
in his new book. Achebe wrote a novel about Okonkwo’s life. What is Achebe’s purpose in
including this statement? Explain.
5. Look back to your original quotes sheet. How has Okonkwo become his father? Explain.
6. Okonkwo is a tragic hero. Identify his tragic flaw and explain its significance. Define catharsis.
Did you experience it?
II. Extension Activities
DIRECTIONS: Complete these activities on the same sheet of paper.
1.For chapters seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen:
a. Skim through each chapter to find the one WORD that best sums up the chapter. For
each word, provide an argument that refers to the events of the chapter to prove that the word
chosen is the best summation for the chapter.
b. Skim through each chapter to find the one SENTENCE that best sums up the chapter.
For each word, provide an argument that refers to the events of the chapter to prove that the
sentence chosen is the best summation for the chapter.
2. For chapters twenty, twenty-one, and twenty-two:
a. Make a claim the chapter. A claim is an explanation or interpretation of some aspect of what
is being examined. It can be about Author’s purpose, a motif,characterization, or a theme.
b. Identify support for your claim. What things did you read, know or feel that lend evidence
to your claim? You may use any aspects of the lecture or the novel.
c. Raise a question to your claim. Examples of questions you can raise: What may make you
doubt the claim? What seems left hanging? What isn’t fully explained? What further ideas or
issues does you claim raise?
3. For chapter twenty-five, create a CSI:
a. Choose a color that you feel best represents or captures the essence of the chapter.
b. Choose a symbol that you feel best represents or captures the essence of the chapter.
c. Choose an image that you feel best represents or captures the essence of the chapter.
III. Poetry Extension
1st Reading - Read the poem one time slowly and carefully. What do you think the poem is
about? Record your thoughts.
2nd Reading - Read the poem again and really think about what it means. Do you see
anything you missed the first time? Look for symbolism and figurative language. Is there
a deeper meaning? If you haven’t changed your opinion from your first reading, record
examples of figurative language and imagery.
3rd+ Reading - Read it again, as many times as needed to understand the poem fully. Record
any additional thoughts or feelings about the poem. What techniques did the poet use to convey
his or her message?
ONCE THE PEACE MAP IS COMPLETED: What is Achebe’s purpose in this allusion? Explain
how ONE of the predominant images lends itself to a theme, motif, or purpose of Things Fall
Apart.