Things Fall Apart is a 1958 novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe that centers around Okonkwo, a local wrestler and leader of an Igbo village, and depicts the culture of the Igbo people prior to and during the arrival of British colonialism in Nigeria. The title refers to how Okonkwo's personal world falls apart as British colonialism disrupts and eventually destroys his village's traditional way of life. The novel explores themes of faith, tradition, and colonialism through characters like Okonkwo, his family, and British missionaries who arrive to spread Christianity.

1. Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

2. Chinua Achebe Born November 16, 1930 From Nigeria Christian parents raised him in Igbo village of Ogidi in southeastern Nigeria Called ‘the father of modern African writing’ – What do you think this means?

3. Things Fall Apart Originally published in 1958 Title comes from William Butler Yeats poem “The Second Coming” Novel centers around Okonkwo, a local tribal wrestler British colonialism is quite prevalent Novel captures culture of Igbo people

4. Things Fall Apart Characters Okonkwo – protagonist, father Unoka – Okonkwo’s deceased father Ekwefi – Okonkwo’s second wife Nwoye – Okonkwo’s eldest son Obierika – friend of Okonkwo Mr. Brown – British missionary Rev. James Smith – Brown’s successor

5. Important ideas to think about… To what does the title refer? Where does faith / Catholicism show up within the novel? Is this book relevant today? Is it applicable to today’s world? What writing conventions are used to convey the story? At what point do we see the ‘beast’ released within Okonkwo?