Things Fall Apart

Lesson 21
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ELA

Unit 2

11th Grade

Lesson 21 of 25

Objective


Students will be able to analyze how Achebe brings the conflict to a climax in these chapters.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe  — Chapters 22 & 23

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Target Task


Question 1

With which of the statements about Mr. Smith would the egwugwu most agree?

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Question 2

Describe which central conflict of the novel is revealed in the climax and the events of chapter 23. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Key Questions


  • How does Achebe show the reader that Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith had very different approaches to being missionaries? Track their differences.
  • What does the proverb on p. 185 (“As a man danced so the drums were beaten for him.”) mean? What does it reveal about Mr. Smith and his relationship with the village?
  • What is the impact of Mr. Smith’s approach?
  • Who is Enoch, and what does his character do that propels the plot forward toward the conflict. 
  • In chapter 21, it had seemed that many villagers were willing to accept the missionaries. What has changed?
  • Describe the conflict on pp. 189–191. Many would describe this as the climax of the novel. Why? What themes do we see developed in this particular conflict?
  • Why is Okonkwo feeling something “akin to happiness” on p. 192?
  • On pp. 192 and 193 Achebe lets the reader know that the villagers did not notice or did not think important some of the things that the white men were doing. What mood do these phrases help to build? Why?
  • What does the District Commissioner say he is inviting the men to do? What happens instead?
  • How does Achebe use the characters of the court messengers to further develop the theme of culture and colonialism?
  • Explain how Okonkwo’s mood has changed from the beginning of the chapter to p. 195. Why?
  • Where is Obierika? What is Ezinma’s assumption about where he is?
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Lesson 20

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Lesson 22

Lesson Map

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