Things Fall Apart
Chapter one vocabulary and questions
Harmattan
Cowries
Kola nut
Alligator pepper
Questions
1. Who was Amalinze the Cat and how did he earn his fame? What does Okonkwo have to do with
him?
2. What is the name of the village?
3. Approximately how old is Okonkwo at this point in the story? 3
4. In his youth, what did Okonkwo do to bring honor to his village?
5. Describe Okonkwo physically.
6. When Okonkwo feels frustrated or at a loss for words, what does he generally do?
7. Okonkwo had no patience with ……………………………………………….
8. How old was Okonkwo when his father died?
9. How is the father described?
10. How is Unoka described in terms of his financial status?
11. What was the currency of the Igbo?
12. Write a brief physical description of Okonkwo’a father?
13. What are the egwugwu?
14. What time period would describe 3-4 markets?
15. What is the harmattan wind?
16. At the top of page 5, the narrator describe the first “kites” that returned. What are these?
17. Why do they describe Unoka as a failure?
18. How is the kola nut used in Igbo culture?
19. He who brings Kola brings ……………………..
20. Explain the significance of chalk in Igbo culture.
21. With what village were they preparing for war?
22. What was the measure of Okoye’s success?
23. What are the palm-oil with which words are eaten?
24. What was Okoye asking Unoka to do?
25. What was Onoka’s reaction to Okoye’s request?
26. What made Okonkwo so ashamed of his father?
27. List some of Okonkwo’s main accomplishments.
28. Age was respected among his people, but ………………………….
29. Why was the “doomed lad” sent to live in Umuofia under Okonkwo’s care?
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At what was Unoka skilled?
Describe the ritual that Okoye and Unoka participate in when Okoye comes to “visit”.
Find out where Chinua Achebe got the title for his novel?
According to information in Chapter one, what kinds of things make an Ibo man a success?
Write out at least five proverbs in chapter one.
Chapter two-Things Fall Apart
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Who asked for every man in the village to gather?
What was the superstition about children and whistling?
What other superstition is discussed?
Unlike his father, he could stand the look of ______________________
What do the Ibo use as a symbol of your bravery in warfare?
How many men are there in the nine villages?
How do we know whether Ogbuefi Ezeugo is older or younger? What is his role?
What made Ogbuefi Ezeugo and the villages so angry?
What is the proposed ultimatum?
Why was the village of Umuofia feared by its neighbors?
As what is the old woman with one leg also known?
From whom did the village always get approval regarding wars?
Why was Okonkwo sent as an emissary to Mbaino?
How long did Ikemefuna live in Okonkwo’s household?
Of what did everyone in Okonkwo’s household live in fear?
What dominated Okonkwo’s life?
What was Okonkwo’s greatest fear?
What is an agbala and why did it hurt Okonkwo to have his father called this?
Okonkwo was ruled by one passion—to hate everything his father Unoka had _______________
Who was Okonkwo’s first son?
What characteristic did he exhibit that Okonkwo hated?
How did Okonkwo react to Nwoye’s work habits?
Describe in some detail how Okonkwo’s prosperity was measured?
What does the word ndichie mean?
Was Ikemefuna aware of why he came to Umuofia?