Things Fall Apart PCMAC瓦解 pcmac.pptVIP

Things Fall Apart A novel By Chinua Achebe (1958) Chinua Achebe- background information Born Albert Chinualumogu Achebe in 1930 Grew up in Ogidi, Nigeria, one of the 1st centers of missionary work Lived as both a Christian and a member of the Ibo tribe Taught at several American Universities and in his native country Background (continued) Has written extensively, including articles, novels, short stories, essays, and children’s books Is recognized for his ability to write simply yet eloquently about life’s universal qualities Writes primarily about his native land, Africa Historical Context- Tribal Society Story takes place in the tribal village of Umoufia in the late 1880’s, prior to English colonization The Ibo worship many gods who are represented by priests and priestesses within the tribe Each individual has a personal god, or chi, that directs his actions The Ibo are a hunting and gathering society with yams as the primary crop Tribal Society (continued) People in the village are grouped according to family, and the eldest male member holds the most power Large emphasis on tribal traditions and rituals Village concerns, including legislation, were handled by tribal councils System encouraged hard work and the spread of wealth In the novel, Umuofia is respected and feared by other villages Historical Context- the spread of Christianity Christianity took its strongest hold in Africa when the majority of the missionaries arrived in the late 1800’s Missionaries provided education and attempted to convert tribes from their “heathanistic” beliefs Africans were distrustful of European Christians at first, but many eventually converted As more members adopted European values, the clans divided and conflicts arose Historical Context- English Colonization After the arrival of the British, conflicts between villages were resolved by white governmental rules When violence involved missionaries or bureaucrats, British soldiers would often slaughter entire villages inst