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Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
Study Guide
Summary
Plot Overview
Five Key Questions
What Does the Ending Mean?
Summary & Analysis
Chapters 1–3
Chapters 4–6
Chapters 7–8
Chapters 9–11
Chapters 12–13
Chapters 14–16
Chapters 17–19
Chapters 20–21
Chapters 22–23
Chapters 24–25
Characters
Character List
Okonkwo
Nwoye
Ezinma
Mr. Brown
Ikemefuna
Unoka
Main Ideas
Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
What’s with the Proverbs in
Things Fall Apart
?
Quotes
Important Quotations Explained
Quotes By Theme
Generational divide
Pride
Repression
Drum language
Ethnographic distance
Quotes By Section
Chapters 1–3
Chapters 4–6
Chapters 7–8
Chapters 9–11
Chapters 12–13
Chapters 14–16
Chapters 17–19
Chapters 20–21
Chapters 22–23
Chapters 24–25
Quotes By Character
Okonkwo
Nwoye
Ezinma
Mr. Brown
Ikemefuna
Unoka
Further Study
Context
Things Fall Apart on the Eve of Nigerian Independence
Achebe at the Crossroads of European Modernism and African Realism
Movie Adaptations
Full Book Quiz
Section Quizzes
Character List
Analysis of Major Characters
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
Chapters 1-3
Chapters 4-6
Chapters 7-8
Chapters 9-11
Chapters 12-13
Chapters 14-16
Chapters 17-19
Chapters 20-21
Chapters 22-23
Chapters 24-25
Study Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Companion Texts
Writing Help
How to Write Literary Analysis
Suggested Essay Topics
Sample A+ Essay
How to Cite This SparkNote
Further study
Chapters 1-3 Quiz
Chapters 1-3 Quiz
1
of 5
Who is the Cat?
One of the spirit gods the villagers believe in
A great wrestler whom Okonkwo beat as a young man
Okonkwo’s father, Unoka
Okonkwo is called the Cat when he wrestles
2
of 5
Why did people laugh at Okonkwo’s father, Unoka?
Because he slept in the public square and begged for money
Because he was short, skinny, and spoke in a high voice
Because he was poor, a “loafer,” and borrowed money without paying it back
Because his yam harvests were always pathetic
3
of 5
What does Okonkwo think about his son, Nwoye?
That he is industrious and takes after his father
That he is sullen and depressed
That even though he’s only 12 he’s already a man
That he may be lazy and lacking ambition
4
of 5
Why is Ikemefuna sent from another village to live with Okonkwo?
As part of the price for a woman being murdered
Because Ikemefuna’s parents die in a fire
Okonkwo’s family takes him in as a house servant.
As part of an arranged marriage with Ezinma
5
of 5
What did Okonkwo borrow to start his first farm?
Money
Yam seeds
An obi
Palm oil
Previous section
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols Quick Quiz
Next section
Chapters 4-6 Quick Quiz
Things Fall Apart: Popular pages
CHARACTERS
Character List
CHARACTERS
Okonkwo: Character Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
What’s with the Proverbs in
Things Fall Apart
?
QUOTES
Quotes by Theme
MAIN IDEAS
Themes
FURTHER STUDY
Review Quiz
