WEEK 31 DO
NOWS
DO NOW: MONDAY, APRIL 14TH, 2014
 On your Dawn Portfolio do the following:
Highlight your THESIS
Underline TOPIC SENTENCES for
body paragraphs
CRS
MID 603 Understand the overall approach
taken by an author or narrator (e.g. point of
view, kinds of evidence use) in virtually any
passage
OBJECTIVE
SWBAT identify Achebe’s purpose in writing
the novel, Things Fall Apart.
INTRODUCTION
In your journals, you will taker notes
on the following: the Author, Novel &
Setting
Things Fall
Apart
By Chinua
Achebe
(CHIN-wa aCHE-beh)
CHINUA ACHEBE
 B. 1930 in Ogidi, Nigeria (Africa)
 The most widely-read African novelist
 Achebe's work is primarily interested in African politics, the depiction of
Africa and Africans in the West, and the effects of
on African societies.
colonization
WHAT IS COLONIZATION?
CHINUA ACHEBE
 Famous for attacking Western views of Africa. For example,
criticizing books about Africa written by Europeans.
 One goal was to teach his readers that Africa’s history was “not
one long night of savagery from which the first Europeans acting
on God's behalf delivered them (the peoples of Africa).”
CHINUA ACHEBE
NIGERIA
 Most populous country in Africa, twice the size of California
 Large oil supplier to the U.S.
 Under British rule from 1890 until 1960 when independence was
finally achieved
 From 1966-1999, Nigeria was ruled by a series of military dictators
NIGERIA
Democracy was finally established in
1999.
This history of violence & oppression
affected Achebe, and telling this story
became one of his purposes in writing
Things Fall Apart.
THINGS FALL APART
 Achebe’s purposes in writing this novel:
 Inform the outside world about Ibo cultural traditions
 Remind his own people of their past & declare that it had value
 Address the Western perception of Africa as “the Dark Continent”
THE IBO PEOPLE
AKA: Igbo
Almost all Nigerians are black Africans. The
country has more than 250 different ethnic
groups which differ from one another in
language and in some of their customs and
traditions. The three largest ethnic groups are
the Hausa, the Yoruba, and the Igbo/Ibo.
IBO VILLAGE SCENE
A MUD HOUSE
A NIGERIAN FARM LIKE
IBO WARRIORS
IBO WRESTLERS
IBO DANCERS
EGWUGWU
IBO MEN AND BOYS
NIGERIAN DANCE MASK
HEART OF DARKNESS
 By Joseph Conrad
Heart of Darkness centers around Marlow and his journey up the Congo
River to meet Kurtz, an idealistic man of great abilities. Marlow takes a job
as a riverboat captain with the Company to help with trade in the Congo.
As he travels to Africa and then up the Congo, Marlow encounters
widespread disorganization and brutality in the Company’s stations. The
native inhabitants of the region have been forced into the Company’s
service, and they suffer terribly from overwork and ill treatment at the
hands of the Company’s agents.
HEART OF DARKNESS
 With a partner, read the following excerpt and answer the questions
that follow.
EXIT TICKET
 After reading Heart of Darkness, what might the purpose of Achebe
writing Things Fall Apart?
DO NOW: TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH
SSR
THINGS FALL APART EPIGRAPH
 Turning and turning in the widening gyre
 The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
 Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
 Mere anarchy is loosened upon the world.
 - W.B.Yeats, “The Second Coming”
TFA CHAPTER 1 CHECK
1.
What is the setting of Things Fall Apart?
2.
Who is the protagonist?
3.
What is Okonkwo famous for in his village?
4.
Who is Unoka? Describe Unoka.
5.
How does Okonkwo feel about Unoka? Why?
READING OBJECTIVE
SWBAT compare the reputations of
Okonkwo and Unoka in order to
explain the significance of what
Okonkwo values.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON?
REPUTATIONS…
UNOKA
OKONKWO
CLOSE READ
 Things Fall Apart, Chapter 1, pg. 8

When Unoka died, he had no title at all and he was heavily in
debt…
EXIT TICKET
 In one paragraph, create a claim for the following
question. Support the claim with evidence from Things
Fall Apart Chapter 1.
 What does Okonkwo value? Why does he value these
things?
HOMEWORK
•
Compare and contrast the PHYSICAL APPEARANCE of Okonkwo and
Unoka.
•
This can be done through illustration, paragraph form, or both!
•
Direct evidence must be cited.
•
Finally, answer the following question:
 How does Achebe’s physical description of Okonkwo and Unoka
contribute to their character?
DO NOW: WEDNESDAY, 16TH, 2014
 Clear your desk of ALL material
DO NOW: THURSDAY, APRIL 17TH, 2014
SSR
OBJECTIVE:
SWBAT compare and contrast the
cultures of Umofia and Mbaino
CHAPTER 2 READING
 With your partner, you will read this chapter keeping in mind both
Umoufia and Mbaino culture. Use the 2 Chart to assist you in organizing
your thoughts.
 In addition to the T-chart, there will be a series of questions to answer
while reading.
CHAPTER 2:
DIRECTIONS: STOP ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING PAGES TO DISCUSS EACH
PROMPT. THEN, RESPOND TO EACH IN YOUR NOVELS ON POST-ITS.
9: Compare and contrast the town crier and our western news.
9: Belief systems develop out of the experiences humans have of
what they see around them. Consider the setting of the novel and
make an inference as to why the Ibo were afraid of the dark.
11: What was the conflict between the villages of Mbaino and
Umuofia?
12: What are the men of Umuofia threatening to do in response to
Mbaino? Is this a justified response? Why or why not?
13: Identify details that reveal what motivates Okonkwo’s actions
and decisions. At this point in the novel, is he a sympathetic
character or not? Explain your reasoning.
HOMEWORK
 In a response of 15 lines, answer the following question as it relates to
Chapter 2:
Compare and contrast the cultures of Umoufia and Mbaino. Explain their
similarities and differences. Make sure to use evidence in your explanation.
 Read Chapter 3