Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is considered the archetypal modern African novel in English. It was published in 1958 when many African countries were still under colonial rule. The novel depicts the late 1800s in Nigeria and focuses on the early experiences and effects of British colonialism on the Igbo people and their traditional society. It follows the life of Okonkwo, a respected Igbo man, whose success and status fall apart with the introduction of British colonial administration and Christian missionaries, representing the collapse of traditional Igbo culture.

1. Topic: “Things Fall Apart as a Historical Fiction”

2.  Born: 16th Nov. 1930
 Died: 21 March 2013
 Occupation: Writer, Professor.
 Nationality: Nigerian
 Notable Works:-
• Things Fall Apart
• Arrow of God
Chinua Achebe

3. Author: Chinua Achebe
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: 1958
It is seen as the archetypal
modern African novel in
English.
Things Fall Apart

4. What is Historical Fiction?
Ambiguous term
Historical fiction is a literary genre in
which the plot takes place in a setting located
in the past.

5. The
character of
history
Based on or
concerned
with events
in history.
Historical
Literary work whose
content is produced by
the imagination and is
not necessarily based
on fact.
The category of
literature
comprising works of
this kind, including
novels, short stories,
and plays.
Fiction

6. Things Fall Apart as Historical Novel
When the novel was published it was a time often
called the Nigerian Renaissance because in that
period a large number of very strong Nigerian writers
began to create a powerful new literature that drew
on the traditional oral literature, European literature
and the changing times in Nigeria and in Africa at
large writers as varied as Ben Okri and Whole
Soyinka developed in the context of the ideas and
energy of the Nigerian Renaissance, but Achebe is
considered one of the earliest and best novelist to
have come one of the top English – speaking
novelists of his time anywhere.
( Jiffynotes )

7. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a novel whose
title bears the central massage of the work. The title
‘Things Fall Apart’ foreshadows the tragedy which takes
place at the end of the novel. The novel depicts the
tragedy of an individual as well as the tragedy of a
society.
The protagonist of the novel Okonkwo who was rich and
respectable at the beginning of the novel meets a tragic
fate at the end of the novel. Achebe portrays how an
ambitious, well known, and respected African
Okonkwo’s life falls apart.
Significance of The Title

8.  But when he suffers, his whole
tribe also suffers. At the beginning of
the novel, the Ibo society was a
peaceful, organic society, but at the
end of the novel it falls into pieces.
Thus, the novel records not only
falling apart of Okonkwo’s life but
also his whole society.

10.  In 1958 much of Africa was still under to
colonialist yoke, although few countries had
already achieved independence. Set in a time of
great change for Africans.
Two
painful
features
in the
Novel
The
humiliations
visited on
Africans by
colonialism
The corruption
and
inefficiency of
what replaced
colonial rule

11. Things fall Apart in particular focuses on
the early experience of colonialism as it
occurred in Nigeria in the late 1800's, from the
first days of contact with the British to
widespread British administration.
Achebe is interested British administration.
Achebe is interested in showing Igbo society
in the period of transition when rooted,
traditional values are put in conflict with an
alien and more powerful culture that will tear
them apart.
( Jiffynotes )

12. Achebe paints a vivid picture of Ibo society
both before and after the arrival of white men,
and avoids the temptation to idealize either
culture.
 In this context, he believe that the novelist
must have a social commitment.
"The writer cannot be excused from the task of
reduction and regeneration that must be done.

13.  “I for one would not wish to be
excused. I would be quite satisfied if my
novels did no more that just teach my
readers that their past – with all its
imperfection – was not one long night of
savagery from which the Europeans
acting of God's behalf delivered them."

14. Thank You
Source :-
http://www. Jiffynotes.com / Thingsfall Apart/
HistoricalContext.html