Things Fall Apart Study Guide and Discussion Questions

'Things Fall Apart' Study Guide and Discussion Questions Things Fall Apart is a famous novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Its considered an important work in world literature, albeit a controversial one. The book has been banned in some places for its negative portrayal  of European colonialism. The book is split into three parts showing the reader the negative effects of colonization on the main characters tribe. It also shows how Christian missionaries work to convert the African population helped to forever alter their culture. The book was written in 1958 and became one of the first books from Africa to become world renowned. It is seen as an archetype for the modern African novel. This is a recommended book to read in a book club because of the depth of the work. Plot Summary Protagonist Okonkwo becomes a successful farmer and earns titles and respect in his community, even though his father, Unoka, was seen as lazy, making him a disrespected laughingstock. His father is a source of shame for Okonkwo, whos strived to be everything his father has not. Hes domineering over his family as a result, and his overarching desire to always seem manly leads to his downfall. He takes in a ward, given to him to care for as a peace offering to avoid war with the neighboring Mbaino community. An oracle says the boy must be killed, but Okonkwo is advised not to do it. He does it anyway. But its after the accidental killing of a leader in his community that he and his family are exiled for seven years. When they return, they find that much has changed in their community because of white missionaries coming to town. Theyve set up a prison, a European-style court of law, a church, school, and hospital. Okonkwo doesnt understand why the people havent revolted against these oppressors. Then, the benevolent Mr. Brown is replaced by a strict reverend who isnt interested in the peoples existing culture. Violence eventually ensues, and the local leaders are eventually taken down by the colonizers. Okonkwo cannot cope and ends his own life. Main Characters These are the main characters in the novel: Okonkwo: protagonist whose fatal flaw is his inability to adapt to change and his reverence for needing to appear tough and manlyIkemefuna: clever, resourceful boy, ward of Okonkwo, whom he kills to not appear weak; given to Okonkwo to avoid warNwoye: son of Okonkwo, who becomes a Christian, a sensitive boyEzinma: daughter of Okonkwo, bold, her fathers favorite; the only surviving child of EkwefiEkwefi: Okonkwos second wifeUnoka: Okonkwos father, whom Okonkwo strives to be the opposite of; Unoka is lazy and enjoys music and conversation; is gentle, cowardly, and not ambitious; thus, he doesnt have the respect of the townsfolk.Obierika: best friend of OkonkwoOgbuefi Ezeudu: the elder of UmuofiaMr. Brown: missionary to Umuofia and Mbanta; patient, kind, respectful, open-minded person who builds a school and hospital in Umofia and encourages people to become literate to keep up with the rest of the world; represents colonizationthe Rev. James Smith: missionary who contrasts with Mr. Bro wn in that Smith is strict and doesnt compromise; has no interest in the native peoples culture; also represents colonization Major Themes In addition to the themes of the effect of colonization on African society and how cultures clash, there are personal themes as well. Readers can also examine how peoples character leads to their outcomes, such as in the case of how adaptable they are to change or inflexible (character is destiny). An examination of the book can look at human emotions and find commonalities and universals (people are people). The destiny theme can also be examined on a societal level. Achebe illustrates the complexity of the Igbo society and how it functions- unlike the authoritarian encroachers- without a strong central government. Is it destiny for the people to have been conquered, then? You can also examine how the community and people interact to find balance and function as a society. Historical Impact Things Fall Apart has become one of the most important books in African literature, as it was among the first major works to bring the African perspective to a worldwide audience and launched the continents modern literature. It even made Western anthropologists realize theyd been getting the story wrong and led them to a reexamine their methods and scholarship on Africas history and peoples. Though controversial to write a novel in the colonizers language, the book was able to reach more people that way, and Achebe was able to work untranslatable Ibo words into the telling so that people would be able to understand them through context as they read, rather than have a translator not achieve adequate subtleties of meaning. The book awakened pride in history and community for people in Africa and led them to realize that they could tell their own stories and that they were valid. Discussion Questions What is important about the title: Things Fall Apart? Is there a reference in the novel that explains the title?What are the conflicts in Things Fall Apart? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) are present?How does Chinua Achebe reveal character in Things Fall Apart?How do the storys themes relate to the plot and characters?What are some symbols in Things Fall Apart? How do they relate to the plot and characters?Are the characters consistent in their actions? Are they fully developed characters? Are some characters more fully developed than others? How? Why?Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?  Do you think the novel is meant to be political? What point was the author trying to make? Did he succeed?Why is the novel so controversial? Do you think the book should be censored or banned? Should it be taught in schools ? How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?What is the role of family and community in this novel? How does it change with the arrival of Europeans? How does it change when the missionaries arrive?Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why? What point do you think the author was making with the conclusion of the novel? Does your perspective change knowing there is a sequel?Would you recommend this novel to a friend?How is religion portrayed in this novel? Do you think the Christian missionaries had a positive or negative impact on the characters?Whats important about the time period the novel is set in?Why do you think the authors decision to write the novel in English  rather than his native language caused controversy?What point is the author trying to make about the African identity? What problems  does the author outline? Does he offer solutions?

Mayflower Compact of 1620

Mayflower Compact of 1620 The Mayflower Compact is often cited as one of the foundations of the U.S. Constitution. This document was the initial governing document for the Plymouth Colony. It was signed on November 11, 1620, while the settlers were still aboard the Mayflower before they disembarked at Provincetown Harbor. However, the story of the creation of the Mayflower Compact begins with the Pilgrims in England. Who the Pilgrims Were Pilgrims were separatists from the Anglican Church in England. They were Protestants who did not recognize the authority of the Anglican Church and formed their own Puritan church. To escape persecution and potential  imprisonment, they fled England for Holland in 1607 and settled in the town of Leiden. Here they lived for 11 or 12 years before deciding to create their own colony in the New World. To raise money for the enterprise, they received a land patent from the Virginia Company and created their own joint-stock company. The Pilgrims returned to Southampton in England before sailing for the New World. Aboard the Mayflower The Pilgrims left aboard their ship, the  Mayflower, in 1620. There were 102 men, women, and children aboard as well as some non-puritan settlers, including  John Alden and Miles Standish. The ship was headed for Virginia but got blown off course, so the Pilgrims decided to found their colony in Cape Cod in what would later become the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They called the colony Plymouth after the harbor in England from which they departed for the New World. Since the new location for their colony was outside the areas claimed by the two chartered joint-stock companies, the Pilgrims considered themselves independent and created their own government under the Mayflower Compact. Creating the Mayflower Compact In basic terms, the Mayflower Compact was a social contract whereby the 41men who signed it agreed to abide by the rules and regulations of the new government in order to ensure civil order and their own survival. Having been forced by storms to anchor off the coast of what is now Cape Cod, Massachusetts, rather than the intended destination of the Colony of Virginia, many of the Pilgrims felt it unwise to continue with their stores of food quickly running out. Coming to grips with the reality that they would not be able to settle in the contractually-agreed-to Virginia territory, they â€Å"would use their own liberty; for none had the power to command them.† To accomplish this, the Pilgrims voted to establish their own government in the form of the Mayflower Compact. Having lived in the Dutch Republic city of Leiden before beginning their journey, the Pilgrims considered the Compact to be similar to the civil covenant that had served as the basis for their congregation in Leiden. In creating the Compact, the Pilgrim leaders drew from the â€Å"majoritarian model† of government, which assumes that women and children cannot vote, and their allegiance to the King of England. Unfortunately, the original Mayflower Compact document has been lost. However, William Bradford included a transcription of the document in his book, Of Plymouth Plantation. In part, his transcription states: Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these present solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. Significance The Mayflower Compact was the foundational document for the Plymouth Colony. It was a covenant whereby the settlers subordinated their rights to follow laws passed by the government to ensure protection and survival.   In 1802, John Quincy Adams called the Mayflower Compact â€Å"the only instance in human history of that positive, original, social compact.† Today, it is generally accepted as having influenced the nation’s Founding Fathers as they created the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Combine 7th and 8th Grades Canon Elementary School District #50 Essay

Combine 7th and 8th Grades Canon Elementary School District #50 - Essay Example Combined classrooms have advantages in developing the children’s maturity and sense of collaboration while teachers are often put in a difficult situation of managing lessons well and risking teaching efficiency. In this paper, the benefits and drawbacks of combined classrooms will be discussed and evaluate if it is appropriate for Canon Elementary School to adapt for the aim of maximizing salary of a teacher. Multi-grade classrooms are not new to education. An educational system which is more open to diversity and maximized staff members usually implements combined classrooms. For them, multi grade system is more favorable for students, teachers, and the school management since it allows the children to have â€Å"sufficient teacher attention,† introduce a sense of responsibility to the older students, and â€Å"provide greater stability and security for pupils† (Little, 2007). Furthermore, it provides the pupils a chance of social improvement, as they interact with others of different age and background. Such system is implemented by Charles Dickens Elementary School where there is a school-wide combined classrooms where it features: learning continuity for pupils in cooperation with parents and teacher, team teaching of two teachers per classroom, and learning activities based on â€Å"open-ended, integrated, thematic, co-operative approaches using varied resources† (Dolik, n.d.). The environment of Dickens provided a student-centered quality, where children and faculty members treated each other as ‘family.’ The Cross of Glory Lutheran School also imposed the same thing in their curriculum. The children are not only assessed with their abilities but also with age, which means that there is complete diversity among them. Pupils in a multi-age classrooms â€Å"break down barriers of age and gender† in the name of learning and building responsibility especially for the older students (Cross