Things Fall Apart

Lesson 7
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ELA

Unit 2

11th Grade

Lesson 7 of 25

Objective


Students will analyze how Achebe further develops Okonkwo’s hyper masculinity as a fatal flaw in chapter 5.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe  — Chapter 5

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Target Task


Question 1

It can be reasonably inferred from p. 42 that fire is used as a symbol for

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Question 2

Which choice provides the best evidence from p. 42 to support the answer to the above question?

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Question 3

Okonkwo has a fear of being perceived as not masculine enough. Provide evidence from the chapter to support this statement.

Key Questions


  • What is the New Yam Festival and how does Okonkwo feel about it? What does this reveal about him? (p. 37)
  • Describe the abrupt change in mood on p. 38. What does this show about Okonkwo?
  • When Okonkwo’s wife mutters “something about guns that never shot,” what can we reasonably infer that she meant? How does he respond? Why? What is ironic in his response?
  • Achebe associates Okonkwo with fire in these pages. Why? 
  • According to p. 44, how does Okonkwo feel about Enzinma? Why might he only show his fondness on “very rare occasions”?

Notes


  • Students have studied the word “potent” earlier in the unit. Introducing the word “impotent” during the discussion of Okonkwo and his gun would help students to better understand Achebe’s characterization of Okonkwo and his fear of being perceived as weak or not masculine enough.
  • In addition to the reference to impotence, Achebe also associates Okonkwo with fire, a force that consumes and destroys. In characterizing Okonkwo this way, Achebe suggests that his hyper masculinity is a destructive, not creative, force
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