L.O. To analyse what
Adichie might mean by a
single story?
 “You must never behave as if your life belongs to a man.
Do you hear me?' Aunty Ifeka said. 'Your life belongs to
you and you alone.”
 Meaning?
Watch the clips:
 http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20130614telling-a-new-story-of-africa
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg
Quotes Analysis:
 “...my point is that the only authentic identity for
the African is the tribe...I am Nigerian because a
white man created Nigeria and gave me that
identity. I am black because the white man
constructed black to be as different as possible from his
white. But I was Igbo before the white man came.”
Quote 2:
 “...my point is that the only authentic identity for
the African is the tribe...I am Nigerian because a
white man created Nigeria and gave me that
identity. I am black because the white man
constructed black to be as different as possible from his
white. But I was Igbo before the white man came.”
Task 1:
 Write a short presentation that seeks to explain
what Adichie might mean by a single story?
 Questions to think about:
 Who’s story is dominant?
 Who creates the story?
 In chapter 1 & 2 who’s voice in dominant?
 How is identity constructed?
Key words:
 Colonialism.
 Power.
 Identity.
L.O. To create Character profiles for
the main characters in the novel.
 List the main characters in
the novel so far.
 Odenigbo
 Olanna
 Kainene
 Ugwu
 Richard.
 Susan.
 Mr Madhu.
 Harrison.
 Jomo.
 Okon?
 Molly?
Character profiles:
 Key facts about them:
 Quotes that highlight an aspect of their character.
 An image – what do you think they look like?
 Supporting quote.
 Key events in their lives.
 Arrange all in order of importance.
 Colour code.
Questions to consider:
 What is the significance of changing narrators with
each chapter? How do the viewpoints of Ugwu and
Olanna differ? Particularly in Ch. 1, 2 & 3?
 What is the importance of Olanna’s negative view
on marriage? What about defying her parents?
Ugwu:
 Ugwu is only thirteen when he begins working as a
houseboy for Odenigbo, but he is one of the most
intelligent and observant characters in the novel. How
well does Ugwu manage the transition from village life
to the intellectual and privileged world of his employers?
How does his presence throughout affect the reader’s
experience of the story?
 Ugwu is only thirteen when he begins working as a
houseboy for Odenigbo, but he is one of the most
intelligent and observant characters in the novel. How
well does Ugwu manage the transition from village life
to the intellectual and privileged world of his employers?
How does his presence throughout affect the reader’s
experience of the story?
Social class:
 Discuss the ways in which Adichie reveals the
differences in social class among her characters.
What are the different cultural assumptions—about
themselves and others—made by educated Africans
like Odenigbo, nouveau riche Africans like Olanna’s
parents, uneducated Africans like Odenigbo’s
mother, and British expatriates like Richard’s exgirlfriend Susan?
 What does Adichie achieve through the rampant
use of sexuality? Is Olanna an over-sexualized
character?
Plenary:
 Who is the most important character in the first 3
chapters of the novel ? Why?