The document provides a character analysis of 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe, focusing on key characters such as Okonkwo, the protagonist, and his relationships with other characters like his father Unoka, his wives Ekwefi and Ezinma, and his son Nwoye. It highlights Okonkwo's tragic flaw linking manliness to violence and the contrasting qualities of other characters, such as Obierika's wisdom and Nwoye's estrangement. The summary also emphasizes the importance of reading the entire work to fully appreciate its themes and character dynamics.

1. THINGS FALL
APART
By Chinua Achebe
SUMMARISED CHARACTER
ANALYSIS
ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE GRADE 11

2. INTRODUCTION TO
CHARACTERISATION
FIRST LOOKING AT TWO TYPES OF CHARACTERS:
1. The Protagonist
• Is the main character of the story, the one whom the reader identifies with
whether or not they are likeable to them. The story centres around this
character. This character is not necessarily“good”.
2. The Antagonist
• Is the character/characters who are in opposition of the protagonist, they
are not necessarily“bad” however they oppose the protagonist in a
significant way
Can you identify the Protagonist and Antagonist in Things Fall Apart?

3. CHARACTERS TO REMEMBER!

4. • IS A WRESTLING CHAMPION IN
UMOFIA
• ACHIEVES GREAT SOCIAL AND
FINANCIAL SUCCESS
• GETS MARRIED TO THREE WOMEN
AND HAS MANY CHILDREN
• HIS TRAGIC FLAW THAT BRINGS
ABOUT HIS DESTRUCTION IS HIS
EQUATION OF MANLINESS WITH
VIOLENCE
• STRUGGLES TO EXPRESS HIS
FEELINGS

5. • UNOKA IS OKONKWO FATHER WHO IS
VASTLY DIFFERENT FROM HIM
• IN HIS LIFE HE LOVED MUSIC AND HE
PLAYED THE FLUTE
• IS VIEWED BY MANY INCLUDING
OKONKWO AS LAZY AND NEGLECTS TO
TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY
• WHEN HE DIES HE LEAVES BEHIND
UNPAID DEBTS
• OKONKWO VOWS TO BECOME THE
OPPOSITE OF HIS FATHER UNOKA IN
EVERY WAY

6. • EKWEFI IS THE SECOND WIFE TO
OKONKWO
• IS ABUSED BY OKONKWO ON MANY
OCCASIONS
• SHE STANDS UP TO OKONKWO
• IS DEVOTED TO EZINMA WHO IS
HER ONLY CHILD
• HAS EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF
NINE CHILDREN IN THE PAST
• FEARS THAT EZINMA WILL LOSE
HER LIFE SO SHE PROTECTS HER
RELENTLESSLY

7. • OBIERIKA IS OKONKWO CLOSEST
FRIEND FROM UMOFIA
• PART OF THE LEADERS OF THE VILLAGE
• OFTEN ADVICES OKONKWO OUT OF
MAKING RASH DECISIONS
• IS WISE
• HELPS OKONKWO WHEN HE IS EXILED
FROM UMOFIA

8. • EZINMA IS THE ONLY CHILD THAT
OKONKWO AND EKWEFI SHARE
• IS BELOVED BY HER MOTHER AND
FATHER
• OKONKWO OFTEN EXPRESSES THAT HE
WISHES EZINMA WERE A BOY
• IS BOLD AND OFTEN STANDS UP TO
HER FATHER
• SHE GOES AGAINST THE EXPECTATIONS
OF HER SOCIETY BY PUTTING OFF HER
ARRANGED MARRIAGE

9. • NWOYE HAS AN ESTRANGED
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER
OKONKWO
• HE HAS INTERESTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT
FROM HIS FATHER’S AND MORE CLOSELY
RESEMBLE HIS GRANDFATHER UNOKA’S
• LOOKS UP TO IKEMEFUNA
• IS TAKEN BY THE‘NEW WHITE MAN’S
RELIGION’CHRISTIANITY AND LEAVES HIS
FATHER’S HOUSE
• IS SEEN AS A DISOBEDIENT SON
• TAKES CONTROL OF HIS OWN DESTINY

10. • IKEMEFUNA WAS TAKEN IN BY OKONKWO
AFTER BEING TAKEN FROM HIS VILLAGE
• HIS FATHER MURDERS THE WIFE OF A
MAN FROM UMOFIA AND AS A RESULT HE
BECOMES THE PROPERTY OF THE
LEADERS OF UMOFIA
• BECOMES CLOSE WITH NYOWE WHO
LOOKS UP TO HIM
• GAINS THE FAVOUR OF OKONKWO
• IS KILLED BY OKONKWO WHILE BEING
LED BACK TO HIS HOME VILLAGE OF THE
MBAINO TRIBE

11. KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT
THE NOVEL IN PREPARATION FOR
YOUR EXAMS!
• LITERATURE IS NOT ABOUT THE RIGHT ANSWERS
• BE CREATIVE!
• READING THE WHOLE BOOK GIVES IT MEANING, NOT JUST
BITS OF IT
• GOOD READING OF A BOOK INCLUDES THE WHOLE BOOK IN
INTERPRETIVE, CREATIVE, PERSONAL, AND EXPLANATORY
PRACTICES
GOOD LUCK ; )

12. Visal, K. (2016). Elements of a story English literature. Slideshare.
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/elements-of-a-story-english-
literature/64506127?from_search=2
Gembey, B. (2016). Things fall apart. Slideshare. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/things-fall-
apart-65672924/65672924
Patel, C. (2017). things fall a part themes and character. Slideshare.
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/things-fall-a-part-themes-and-character/74276538
Shmoop: Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). Obierika in Things Fall Apart Character
Analysis | Shmoop. Retrieved August 15, 2024, from https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/things-fall-apart/obierika.html
Tshabalala, N. (2018, January 29). CAPS Approaches to Teaching Literature. FET Phase English
Resource. https://rsacurriculum.wordpress.com/2018/01/29/caps-approaches-to-teaching-
literature/
PICTURE SLIDE 1- Pinterest: Penguin Books UK. Things Fall Apart [Pinterest post]. Retrieved August
14, 2024, from https://pin.it/78rkqVqio
PICTURE SLIDE 2- Pinterest: Mohamed-Coyle, T. [Tanya]. [Pinterest post]. Retrieved August 14,
2024, from https://pin.it/7igG92drOS
PICTURE SLIDE 10&11- Pinterest: Annenburg Learner. [Pinterest post]. Retrieved August 14, 2024,
from https://pin.it/TSZRwPN2t
REFERENCES