In Things Fall Apart, a novel by Chinua Achebe, Achebe uses diction, foreshadowing, similes and personification to express the theme that supernatural beliefs have a large impact on people in a society.

The egwugwu are elders who wear masks and dress as elders and they represent the ancestors. The egwugwu serve as a center of political power. judge civil and criminal disputes and
Answer: Part 1, Chapter 10, Pages 87-90
“Each of the nine egwugwu represented a village of the clan… The nine villages of Umuofia had grown out of the first father of the clan.” page 89

Before: Ezinma gets sick and she is taken care of by Okonkwo and his second wife Ekwefi
After: Okonkwo was having dinner while Ekwefi was telling Ezinma the folk story about the tortoise and the birds. The story tells you about the feast of the birds.
Importance: This brings other elements of their culture to the book, and helps expand on the reader’s view on their beliefs.

“Okonkwo’s wives…might have noticed that the second egwugwu had the springy walk of Okonkwo. And they might have noticed that
Okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders…But if they thought these things, they kept them within themselves.” pgs 89-90
 Achebe develops the character of Okonkwo and his wives to show his role and position in Umuofia. Achebe shows the reader that
Okonkwo is in fact one of the egwugwu do know that Okonkwo is the second and that he really does have a high rank in Umuofian society already. This also shows the reader the amount of respect and fear that Okonkwo’s wives have.
Because they have to keep their tradition, they lie even though they egwugwu.

“’ Yaa!’ replied the thunderous crowd; the silence descended from the sky and swallowed the noise.” page 92
 In this part of the book, silence has the ability to swallow noise.
This happened after the Evil Forest yelled ‘
.
Umuofia kwenu crowd of people. Achebe uses this device to support the theme supernatural beliefs have a large impact on people in a society as it shows you how the people of Umuofia react to the coming out to start the judgement
!’ to the egwugwu

The author, Chinua Achebe, used the story of the tortoise and the birds to foreshadow upcoming events such as colonialism within
Okonkwo’s village.
 The birds in the story represent the village and all their innocence towards the new white settlers, while the Tortoise represents the white men, or European missionaries, who steal from the villagers.
 Tortoise is a “widely-traveled man who knew the customs of different peoples”.
 This section hints at the struggle between the European missionaries’ customs compared to the customs of the Igbo village. These innocent birds listened to the experienced Tortoise but end up regretting that decision when he steals all their food and pride.

“The band of page 188 egwugwu moved like a furious whirlwind to Enoch’s compound and with machete and fire reduced it to a desolate heap.”
 Here, Achebe compares the egwugwu to a furious whirlwind. This event itself came about because Enoch had unmarked an this example by showing the anger and the actions of the egwugwu which is said to kill the spirit. Achebe emphasizes the theme supernatural beliefs have a large impact on people in a society with
, egwugwu.

“terrifying spectacle” page 89
Terrifying: cause to feel/experience great fear
Spectacle: a visually striking performance or play
 These two words show that the people, although scared, were interested in watching the egwugwu.
 Achebe uses this to exemplify the theme supernatural beliefs have a large impact on people in a society

In Things Fall Apart, a novel by Chinua Achebe, Achebe uses diction, similes and personification to express the theme that supernatural beliefs have a large impact on people in a
society.
The egwugwu are a large part of the beliefs of Umuofian society, contributing not only religious aspects but supernatural aspects as well. Because of the novel. egwugwu , many important events occur in the

Achebe strongly apposed the Eurocentric view that was spreading throughout the African people. He wanted to tell people to ultimately respect their culture and their values. The egwugwu, consequently, are present in Igbo society and in the novel in order to contradict the Eurocentric values and to promote the respect of culture and tradition.