Things Fall Apart
Chapters 9-11
Chapter 9
• For the first time in days, Okonkwo sleeps. Ekwefi
bangs on Okonkwo’s door and tells him Ezinma is
dying. Okonkwo determines that Ezinma has a
fever and goes to the bush to collect the
ingredients needed to make the medicine for her.
• Ezinma and Ekwefi have a close relationship. Out
of ten children Ezinma is the only survivor.
• Ekwefi is Okonkwo’s second wife, who ran away
from her first husband to live with Okonkwo.
Chapter 9
• After the death of Ekwefi second child, Okonkwo
goes to a medicine man who tells him the second
child is an ogbanje, an evil child that reenters the
mother’s womb only to die again and again. The
medicine man destroys the body of the dead
child in order to prevent it from coming again and
buried it in the Evil Forest.
• In the novel, the Evil Forest is located across the
stream from the village where anything that was
not condoned by the religion of Umuofia was
sent.
Chapter 9
• Ezinma is born a sickly child, but comes
through each illness determined to live.
• When Ezinma’s iyi-uwa, her physical link to
the world is found, Ekwefi allows herself to
believe that Ezinma just might be in the world
to stay. Still, each time Ezinma becomes ill,
Ekwefi is terrified that this illness would carry
her child from her world.
Chapter 9
• When Okonkwo returns with a bag full of
grasses and leaves, he mixes them together.
• When the medicine is ready, Okonkwo places
Ezinma on a stool near the steaming pot and
covers the child with a mat. The strong steam
causes Ezinma to cry. Finally, after the mat is
removed, Ezinma lays down and falls fast to
sleep.
Chapter 10
• The village gathers at the ceremonial place
waiting for the trials to begin. Three men and
one woman – Mgbafo and her brothers stand
before the elders.
• The egwugwu, the clans ancestral spirits,
emerge from a hut, masked, and take the nine
empty stools in order of seniority
• Shhhh! Okonkwo is the egwugwu from his
village, but no one was supposed to know.
Chapter 10
• Uzowulu stands before the egwugwu and
states his case. He tells how he was beaten by
his in-laws and his wife and children were
taken from him. Owing them nothing,
Uzowulu explains he wants his wife back.
• The woman’s brothers speak of Uzowulu’s
cruelty toward their sister. They took her from
Uzowulu’s hut to save her life.
Chapter 10
• They agree to return Mgbafo if Uzowulu vows
to change his ways; if he does not, the brother
will ruin his manhood.
• The egwugwu find in favor of Mgbafo. They
tell Uzowulu to beg his in-laws for forgiveness.
• After these findings another group comes
before the egwugwu, and the great land case
begins.
Chapter 11
• After Okonkwo finishes his dinner, Ekwefi tells a
folk story about a greedy and cleaver tortoise.
• Ezinma begins to tell her story; Chielo tells Ekwefi
that Agbala, the Oracle, wants to see Okonkwo’s
daughter, Ezinma.
• Okonkwo wants Agbala to wait until morning, but
is reminded not to defy a god’s will.
• Chielo puts Ezinma on her back and refuses to let
anyone follow; Ekwefi follows anyway.
Chapter 11
• Chielo visits the nine villages before reaching
Agbala’s cave. Ekwefi stays outside. If needed,
Ekwefi will defend Ezinma; even if it means
standing against all the gods in the world.
• Ekwefi hears a noise. She sees Okonkwo standing
with a machete in his hand. He waits with Ekwefi.
• As they sit Ekwefi is reminded of when she ran
away from her first husband to be Okonkwo’s
wife.