Ngugi's extract & TFA

In what ways does this text influence your understanding of Achebe’s use of language and stylistic choices in Things Fall Apart?

Ngugi's extract was beneficial to understand better Achebe's use of language and stylistic choices in TFA. Ngugi starts by saying how important language is to him and his culture. He somewhat explores the topic of orality without directly addressing it and explains that how with his language has given him a unique view on the world, through proverbs and songs. His given explanation of the importance of language can help us justify Achebe's choice in publishing a book that exposes a mostly western audiences Igbo terms.This choice is to be able to keep the authenticity of the book as well as portray as much as the culture as possible, and language plays a big role in that. Not only is this choice of publishing terms as they are in the book is to be able to show the culture, but also to break stereotypes about African civilisations that are portrayed as brutes and savages, or in this case specifically the Ibgo people; even if they were not literate they still have as much complexity as the existent modernised world.

 The extract goes in a chronological order, and although is not characteristic of African storytelling, it is notable that once the author talks about the colonial school, he used "I" and "my" instead of "we" and "our" from previous paragraphs showing the no longer collectivistic environment. Achebe does a similar thing by starting the book in part 1 in a circulatory narrative and once colonialist arrives adopts a more linear narrative. 

Gender in TFA

1.  The first paragraph that begins “Okonkwo rules his household with a heavy hand…” In this paragraph, we learn about his fear of weakness and how he learns that agbala means both “woman” and a man who has no title. Discuss how this affects his attitude and views about gender.

This affects his attitude as it highlights the way he ranks women in society, as the Ibgo world does value rank and prestige. Since women have a title similar to men that do not have title, this shows that women are at the bottom of societal construct and expectations upon them. The causes Okonkwo to give less value to women, but also to have a lot less expectations towards them.

2.  “Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell, and which she no doubt still told to her younger children… […] That was the kind of story Nwoye loved. But he now knew that they were for foolish women and children, and he knew that his father wanted him to be a man. And so he feigned that he no longer cared for women’s stories…” (53‐54) What does this passage tell us about the conflict between father and son? What does it tell us about what gender means in the novel? How does it foreshadow Nwoye’s later conversion?

The whole argument is that Nwoye loves stories but that his mother tells him but turns them down because of the ideology that his father has imposed on him, so that he is able to gain his father's respect and be more masculine in his eyes. This shows the conflicting views on what masculinity is and what men should act and enjoy. Having to always mask his true intent and feelings, Nwoye's later conversion is foreshadowed as from this moment he realises he will not be able around his father to be his true self.

3.  Women “never saw the inside of the [egwugwu house]. No woman ever did. They scrubbed and painted the outside walls under the supervision of men. If they imagined what was inside, they kept their imagination to themselves. No woman ever asked questions about the most powerful and the most secret cult in the clan” (88). This is a good example of how women and men have different social roles in Igbo society. Discuss this passage and what it means to the novel.

This passage highlights the submissive role of women and the strength and intimidating nature of men. The passage is able to contrast the role and rank both genders have in society and shows what are the gender beliefs and values in the community.

4.  The discussion of motherland and “mother is supreme” on p. 133‐135. What does this add to our understanding of gender in the novel?

Uchendu literally says "A child belongs to its father", showing the importance and supremacy of fathers in the household. This allows to contrast the gender roles that are within the community when it comes to parenting as the mother is supposed to have a more emotional connect and the father has a more straightforward relation with his children.

5.  The very important passage in which Okonkwo’s friend Ofoedu discusses the relationship of a well‐known couple, Ndulue and Ozoemena, who have both died at the same time. Obierika says “It was always said that Ndulue and Ozoemena had one mind. ..He could not do anything without telling her.” To which Okonkwo replied, “I did not know that. I thought he was a strong man in his youth.” And Ofoedu says, “He was indeed.” (68) This is a key passage as it shows that other esteemed elders in the village do not share Okonkwo’s view that warriors cannot be loving or gentle or close to others; it demonstrates that his rigid position on what constitutes strong masculine behaviour is not shared by all Igbo men. Do you agree? Why?

Yes this passage shows how Okonkwo has a conflicting belief with Oberkia and how he believes that any display of affection or overly giving importance to women is a risk to masculinity.

Creation of a thesis

Prompt: With reference to Things Fall Apart, show how sub-plots or secondary characters contribute to the reader’s understanding and appreciation of the work as a whole.

In the novel by Chinua Achebe, "Things Fall Apart", Okonkwo's family help characterise Okonkwo in an indirect matter by highlighting his hypermasculinity and contributes to the conflicts throughout the novel by contrasting different values.