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Objective: Through discussions and writing,
students will analyze the relationships
between characters in Things Fall Apart and
evaluate how character traits are revealed
through relationships.
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Journal entry
Character list/family tree
Discussion
How does Achebe’s portrayal of Okonkwo’s family
relationships make Okonkwo a sympathetic or
unsympathetic character?

Highlight your thesis statement
◦ Rubric
◦ Revised draft
◦ Peer editing
Things Fall Apart Essay Topics:
Okonkwo’s character
How is Things Fall Apart a response to Heart of
Darkness?
Cultural traditions
How does Things Fall Apart address a political or
social issue?
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As we are at the end of a unit (sort of), I would
like to get some feedback from you…
What is helping you learn? What types of class
activities are best for you? What types of class
activities do you enjoy the most? (These can be
activities we have done in here, or not.)
What types of activities are not working as well
for you? What would you like to do more of? Less
of?
Do you have any suggestions about ACT practice?
What can I do to help you?
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
Create a family tree of Okonkwo’s family. If
you choose, you can use page 159-160 of
your Springboard book to set it up.
As you create your family tree, look for the
relationship between that character and the
other characters, especially Okonkwo.
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Objective: Through discussions and writing,
students will analyze the relationships
between characters in Things Fall Apart and
evaluate how character traits are revealed
through relationships.
Agenda: ACT practice
Small group discussions (10 minutes)
Large group discussion
Paragraph/Exit ticket

Passage 3: 8 minutes.

What elements of culture do we gain new
insight into?
◦ Ceremonies
◦ Holidays
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How does Okonkwo treat each member of his
family?
Do you like Okonkwo as a character?
Do you understand him?
What are his positive traits? What are is flaws?
Do you think he has a fatal flaw (harmartia)?

Sympathetic character: A sympathetic
character is a fictional character in a story
whom the writer expects the reader to
identify with and care about, if not necessarily
admire.
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Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree

“This is where the writer’s integrity comes
in. Will he be strong enough to overcome
the temptation to select only those facts
which flatter him?...he will defeat his own
purpose if he is suspected of glossing
over inconvenient facts”

The Role of the Writer in a New Nation
Photo credit http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/1298/achebe/scrapbook.html

How does Achebe’s portrayal of Okonkwo’s family
relationships make Okonkwo a sympathetic or
unsympathetic character?

Use evidence to support your claim.

Quiz through chapter 8 tomorrow
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Objective: Through speaking and writing,
students will understand the characters and
culture and apply their understanding of the
Ibo culture to discussions and a written
decision from the “elders.”
Agenda: Quiz
Ibo Tableau
Small group discussions
Large group discussion
Elder’s roundtable
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1. What is the Week of Peace? (2 points)
2. What does Okonkwo do to break the Week
of Peace? (2 points)
3. Describe the relationship between Nwoye
and Ikemefuna. (2 points)
4. What is Okonkwo cautioned not to do to
Ikemefuna that he does anyway? (2 points)
Why does he do it? (2 points)
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8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
Zaw, Mitchell, Malachi, Jereme-Ashlee, Afra
Zach, Isha, Tyler, Angelica, Christian,
Isaiah, Zoe, Shea, Ashley, Chris
Amanda, Sam, Jacinda, Jacob, Jose
Inga, Halle, Mohamad, Shun, Feruza
Daniel, Ariel, Geoffrey, Rayshawn, Dipak
Naomi, Keshav, Staphanie, London, Luke
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8.
7.
5.
4.
3.
Joe, Abdul, Malachi, D’Naya, Brittany
Selena, Eduardo, Simon, Victory, Cassidy
Jesus P., Kaylee, Anis, Sandra, Cierra
Chelsea, Jesus S., Nicole, Antonio G, Sadie
Antonio I, Akmal, Johnnie, Isaiah
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
From your given chapter, decide on an important
scene (or two) and important characters.
Write the name of each character on an index
card. Each member of the group will display the
card of his or her character while standing in the
tableau (freeze frame). Consider where each
member should stand in relationship to the scene
and each other character.
Each member will step out of the freeze from to
introduce him/herself and interesting facts about
your character.
Take notes individually, so you are ready to
participate in the larger group discussion.
 How has Nwoye changed and what has caused
these changes?
 Describe the arrival of the locusts? What is the
reaction of the people of Umuofia?
 How does Okonkwo feel about Ikemefuna’s
death? How does Nwoye feel? How do you think
his death will affect their relationship?
 Is Okonkwo’s desire to be strong, wealthy, and
respected more from the culture or from his
feelings about his father? Support.
 What is the role of women in the culture?
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Scenerio 1: You are a group of elders in Umuofia.
You must decide what should happen to
Ikemefuna. You can order is death, as occurs in
the novel, or consider a different fate. Consider
the culture and values of the Umuofian people.
Write a one-page explanation and justification
for your decision.
Scenerio 2: You are a group of elders convened
to decide the fate of Okonkwo after killing
Ikemefuna. Consider the culture and the values
and evaluate what you think should happen to
him. Write a one-page explanation and
justification for your decision.

You are a group of elders convened to decide
the fate of Okonkwo after killing Ikemefuna.
Consider the culture and the values and
evaluate what you think should happen to
him. Write a one-page explanation and
justification for your decision.
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Objective: Through writing and discussion,
students will define a “civilized society”, and
analyze and evaluate if Umoufia fits their
definition.
Journal
Discussion-what is a civilized society
Writing-Does Umoufia fit this definition?
Philosophical chairs
Ending reflection

How do you define a “civilized society”? What
cultures fit this definition? Does our society
fit this definition?
Government
Moral standards
Justice system
Currency
Law and order
Non-violent way to handle problems
Communication
Proper rights-social classes
 Does Umoufia fit this definition?
Depends on the culture
Follows its own traditions
Not a lot of internal or external strife
Government
Society that follows their own rules and aspirations and traditions
A society that respects natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of
happiness)
Monetary/Currency system
Being able to provide
Baseline of communication
Protection, law enforcement
Punishment/judicial system
Putting aside your difference, treating others with kindness and
respect
Does Umoufia fit this definition?
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
Umoufia is a civilized society.
Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly
Disagree

Did your opinion change? What were the
strongest points from each side?

“the intermediate kind of personage, a man
not pre-eminently virtuous and just whose
misfortune is brought upon him not by vice
and depravity but by some error in judgment,
of the number of those in the enjoyment of
great prosperity” Must experience a “change
in fortune … not from misery to happiness,
but on the contrary from happiness to
misery”

A tragic hero is the central or main character
of a tragic story that is usually of high or
noble birth and demonstrates a “fatal flaw”—a
characteristic that prompts him or her to take
an action or make a decision that ultimately
leads to his or her downfall or death.

-A person of noble or high status who has a
mixture of good and bad in his personality.

-He has a fatal flaw which leads to his
downfall.

He usually goes on a journey or a quest.
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-He has a large capacity for suffering.
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-His downfall is often preceded by selfrealization.

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In small groups, develop an argument about
if Okonkwo fits this definition of a tragic
hero.
Large group discussion

Okonkwo is a tragic hero.
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1. How did a college degree lead Keith
Cressman to the job he has now?
2. Do you think Okonkwo is a tragic hero?
For Monday: Read through chapter 19 (p.
167)
Folktale due