Here are a few ideas for discussion points about Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. If you have any additional ideas, please let me know.
- Is Okonkwo a tragic hero? An Aristotelian one? Is he a villain?
- One of the elements of the book that is so compelling is Achebe’s authentic portrayal of a culture that contains some elements that a Western audience might find distateful or even morally wrong. How do these elements contribute to the work as a whole?
- The work’s portrayal of the relationship between men and womyn is complex. What conclusions do you take from this portrayal? What about the Igbo idea that things in the world, roles, even crimes can be divided into masculine and feminine?
- Achebe is considered to be the first African author to succesfuly fuse African forms of expression with the Western novel. In what ways does this seem to be true?
- What significance do the folk tales and legends have?
- In many way, Obierka is a foil for Okonkwo. Why, if his intention was to authentically present Igbo culture, did Achebe not make his protagonist the noble Obierka?
- How does Achebe describe the Europeans who come to Umofia? Is his depiction stereotypical? Does that matter?
- What role does Ezinma play in the novel?
- What is Achebe saying about the people who convert to Christianity at the end of the book?
Alexis recommended this book, one that I have avoided largely because of the title for a number of years. I’m glad I was able to look past the ironic title and the opening introduction of the book (seriously, skip it) to read a book that was both moving and incredibly funny.