Things Fall Apart

Lesson 10
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ELA

Unit 2

11th Grade

Lesson 10 of 25

Objective


Analyze Achebe’s use of Obierika as a foil for Okonkwo.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe  — Chapter 8

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Target Task


Question 1

With which of the following statements about Okonkwo would Obierika most likely agree?

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Question 2

It can be reasonably inferred that the author includes a lengthy description of the bride price negotiation in order to

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Question 3

What does the reader better understand about Okonkwo through Achebe’s use of Obierika as a foil for him? Describe using evidence from the text.

Key Questions


  • How is Okonkwo dealing with Ikemefuna’s death on p. 63?
  • How does the author describe Nwoye’s reaction to Okonkwo?
  • Who does Okonkwo wish was a girl? Why?
  • How does the author develop Okonkwo’s tragic flaw on p. 65?
  • What do Okonkwo’s comments about Obierika’s son reveal about Okonkwo’s feelings for his own sons?
  • What is Obierika’s tone toward Okonkwo at the bottom of p. 66 and top of p. 67? Why? What do we learn about Obierika?
  • Okonkwo seems to value traditional Igbo culture over change. Where do you see evidence of this?
  • How are Okonkwo and Obierika similar? Different?
  • What do we learn about Okonkwo and Obierika’s relationship based on the invitation for Okonkwo to participate in the bride price ceremony?
  • How would you describe the mood of the bride price negotiation? Why?
  • Why might the author have included this anecdote in the text?
  • What do the final paragraphs reveal about the Igbo men’s opinions of white men?

Notes


By the end of this class students should see that Obierika, while traditional and strong like Okonkwo, does not share Okonkwo’s fear of being weak. In fact, Okonkwo’s hyper masculinity is threatening his relationship with his son, with Obierika, and with his village at this point.

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Lesson 9

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Lesson 11

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