Curriculum / ELA / 11th Grade / Unit 2: Things Fall Apart / Lesson 14
ELA
Unit 2
11th Grade
Lesson 14 of 25
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Write an essay in which you explain how Chinua Achebe builds the theme of the individual and community in his novel Things Fall Apart. In your essay, analyze how Achebe uses one or more of the features below (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the development of his message about colonialism. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the novel. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Achebe, but rather explain how Achebe develops his message.
As you prepare to write, consider how Achebe uses:
Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson
Lesson 13
Lesson 15
Infer Achebe’s purpose(s) for writing Things Fall Apart.
Gather basic information about the Igbo people and the impact of European colonization on the Igbo.
Predict the major themes of the novel.
Analyze the author’s characterization of the protagonist, Okonkwo.
Analyze the continued characterization of Okonkwo in chapter 2.
Describe how the author uses setting, nonlinear plot, and characterization to develop theme.
Identify examples of techniques Achebe uses to counteract Europeans’ simplistic stereotypes of Africans.
Analyze Achebe’s portrayal of women in chapter 4.
Trace Achebe’s development of Okonkwo’s tragic flaw.
Students will analyze how Achebe further develops Okonkwo’s hyper masculinity as a fatal flaw in chapter 5.
Explain how the author establishes the significance of the wrestling match to the people of Umuofia.
Analyze Okonkwo’s decision to disobey the Oracle and how this decision develops theme.
Analyze Achebe’s use of Obierika as a foil for Okonkwo.
Analyze the importance of children to the lives of women in Umuofia.
Explain the role of the egwugwu in the Umuofian judicial system.
Analyze the role of women in Umuofian society.
Explain how Achebe develops the theme of the individual and community in chapter 11.
Writing
Analyze how Achebe develops the importance of strong and harmonious ties to the Igbo community.
Explain the development of Okonkwo’s tragic flaw in chapter 13.
Trace the author’s continued development of the importance of strong harmonious ties within a community.
Analyze the shift in tone toward the missionaries over the course of chapter 16.
Analyze the symbolism of fire as it relates to Achebe’s characterization of Okonkwo’s relationships.
Analyze how Achebe develops both the theme of community and colonization in these chapters.
Analyze the disagreement between Okonkwo and Obierika, explaining how Achebe uses it to build theme.
Analyze Okonkwo’s reaction to his village and the village’s reaction to Okonkwo.
Students will be able to analyze how Achebe brings the conflict to a climax in these chapters.
Analyze how the author develops Okonkwo’s character in chapter 24.
Analyze Achebe’s use of irony and narration to communicate theme at the end of the novel.
Review
Review major themes and events of the text in order to review for tomorrow’s exam.
Assessment
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