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Observations
1. Through the progression of the book, Achebe develops Okonkwo in a suffocating light. How every action Okonkwo makes leads him to his death.
2. Mr. brown and Mr. Smith were totally different characters, but came from the same background. Both were English, but their approaches towards the Ibo people were vastly different. Smith had a more blunt way of dealing with the people, versus Brown was very hidden with his true intentions.
3.The Ibo people showed respect to the English people themselves, but the white men did not care at all about the Ibo people, they were there to gain followers and control the world.
Comments/Concerns
1.this book was written in such a way that you can choose which side to support without losing insight into the opposite party. This does not allow a full image of either party to be portrayed though.
2. The whole clan knew that the Christians were bad, but proceeded to do nothing and just discuss actions but not put them into effect
3.The men of the clan took off their machetes and goat skin bags for the meeting and did not bring guns, so if they held onto their weapons and defended themselves like they planned wouldn't the church/ English disapeared.
Questions
1. Why is Okonkwo's relationship with Ezinma and Ikemfuna his best relationships if he was not Ikemfuna's real dad and Ezinma was a broken obanji child? These two relationships conpared to his other children.
2. Was the fact Nwoye left his father and never look back the same as the relationship Okonkwo shared with his father; the change and search for something better than what his father had?
3.Why are the religions that most whites follow have a god complex in them? Every religion thinks it is better than other religions and you should only follow this one religion

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Observations
1. I noticed that throughout the novel religion seems to give its followers a purpose to live their lives trying to fulfill
2. Although religions vary in certain ways their core ideals are very similar to each other
3. People who have beliefs different from yours are seen as abominations or uncivilised
Concerns
1. A concern I have about the text is when Okonkwo thinks about how he is planning to use his children to gain power in his fatherland of Umuofia by either marrying them off or swearing them in to join the oso society
2. An aspect that troubled me in this novel is when the rest of the village of Umuofia did not join Okonkwo's side when he killed the messenger but rather they submitted to the Christian's society and rule
3.   Another concern that I have about the text is that a man's destiny is decided for him.
Robust Questions
1. What would have happened if the all of the African villages united against the christian missionaries?
2. If the rest of the Christians that came over treated the Ibo religion with respect is it possible that the two could have coexisted?
3.  What happens to Obierika now that his best friend, Okonkwo, has killed himself?

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Observations
1. I noticed how Okonkwo was described as a "man of action" compared to the others in the tribe who were more careful with their word choices. Achebe may have done this to juxtapose him from the other characters, foreshadowing problems from the start.
2. I noticed how we never got to hear about the reactions of Okonkwo's family after he hung himself. Achebe could have done this to mock the white man's lack of regard for people who lived in the land.
3. I noticed that the first part of the novel, which described the tribe, was longer than the next two parts which talked about white influence. Achebe may have done this to make a statement about perspectives and how we don't hear often enough about Africa from the natives who live there.

Questions
1. Was Achebe religious?
2. What happened to the Oracle - was it abolished?
3. I wonder what the main differences will be between this book and Heart of Darkness - will it at all comment on religion and society?

Comments/Concerns
1. I know polyamory is part of the Ibo culture. I almost wish we could have heard their reactions to one of the white man having only, say, one wife. This could have been used as an opportunity to compare the two different cultures more.
2. I wish we could have heard the reactions of Okonkwo's family, even though I know we didn't hear them on purpose.
3. After reading this book and seeing the fables in it, I am suddenly in the mood to read short stories about African folklore.

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Observations
1. Achebe illustrates that the Ibo people were very vulnerable to a new culture, even though they had a strong society and customs.
2. Although, Achebe portrays Mr. Brown as an kind, understanding man to the Ibo people, Mr. Brown only cares about taking over the village in mass numbers of converts.  Mr. Brown begged people to go to his schools and he assured the Ibo people that they would have a job in a few months (Clerk or Messenger) if they attended.  These are jobs in the white man’s society, which is depleting the clan and benefiting the Christians.
3.  When the Commissioner sees Okonkwo's dead body dangling and the reaction of Obierika and his men, the narrator states, "The District Commissioner instantaneously changed. The resolute administrator in him gave way to the student of primitive customs" (Achebe 207).  This is an Ironic statement because throughout the last couple chapters the District Commissioner does not care about the Ibo traditions or customs, he only cares about what is best for him and the Christian people.
Concerns
1. I know the names are a part of the Ibo culture, but what troubled me throughout the novel was the pronunciation of the Ibo names.
2. I was irritated when the District Commissioner asked the 6 leaders of Umuofia to explain their side of the story peacefully, but then he lied to them about the 12 men from distant villages who were ignorant to the Ibo customs and wanted to listen in.  He took advantage of the 6 men and arrested them, as well as forced them to pay a fine.  This shows that the Commissioner thinks he is better than the Ibo people and that he does not care about the Ibo culture.
3. I was also annoyed when the District Commissioner states that they had to pay a fine of 200 bags of cowries, but the messenger told the Ibo in the town that they had to pay a fine of 250 bags of cowrie to benefit.  The messengers said this to benefit themselves.  This shows that their is already corruption in the white man's government.
Questions
1. What happened to Chielo and the Oracle? Did the Christians remove them from the society?
2. Why did Okonkwo give up on Nwoye?
3. Who did Ezinma get married too?

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Observations:
1. I observed how Achebe showed how the clan was more open to accepting the foreign way of life, through Nwoye becoming Isaac and Mr. Brown being respected.
2. Achebe shows society thrives on religion, since many actions taken by the characters revolve around their spiritual beliefs and laws.
3. Through the missionaries Achebe shows more of a harsh and controlling nature by the way they try to force their lifestyle upon the Igbo people. Which is kind of the same today where we have our ways and try to influence others.
Concerns:
1. There are two sides to every story and although the perspective was based on African culture, I feel the missionaries could be explained more for example Mr. Brown's approach.
2. Okonkwo's idea of what makes you a man and woman I found troubling since I disagreed with him.
3. It could be argued that Okonkwo was also not a good part of the clans society.
Questions:
1. How were  aspects about the Igbo people and the white missionaries displayed accurately, or how could they have been better?
2. What do we think about different religions and cultures today? Is it approached the same way as shown in the book?
3. Achebe writes about problems in societies, what were the issues around the Igbo society before and after the missionaries came?

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I noticed how Achebe limited himself to 5 chapters (out of 25) to talk about the missionaries impact on the village rather than making it the entire plot of the novel.
I observed the vulnerability of the village through their easily adapted change when the missionaries arrived.
I thought it interesting how they had two very different cultures, customs, and traditions, yet the missionaries were reluctant to understand Umuofia's.

I was concerned with the sudden change in the village's lifestyle. After hundreds of years of living one way, it took less than 7 to become accustomed to the white man's living standards.
It bothered me when even after they resist, the missionaries refuse to give up their position in the village. Umuofia shows them that they can make do on their own, but they insist on making thing"better".
I felt troubled when Okonkwo went back to the village and found that it had drastically changed. There's that feeling of regret and his wondering that if he was there he could have done something to drive the Christians out.

Why do religions believe that they are more powerful than one another?
Did Achebe write this novel to inform about African culture or for the purpose of showing the impact that Christians have when they try to change it?
Is the village of Umuofia weak because they let the Christians take over or are the white men just stronger and more resilient?

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Observations:
- I observed how easily people in a society can be influenced and adapt, especially in such a traditional culture where everyone seemed close and grounded to their beliefs.

- I observed that Okonkwo refused to change under any circumstances and that he remained himself, as his masculinity and pride was the most important thing to him.

- I observed the importance of hearing and understanding multiple viewpoints on a matter and how just one viewpoint can miss the entire story, as with the novel where we get an authentic standpoint on African culture and society.

3 Concerns:
- I found it concerning that Okonkwo was not understanding of anyone in the novel, not even his family members because it seems as if he has no attachments to anything, but his ego and the way he is perceived by everyone else.

- I found it concerning how easily and quickly the missionary spread their Catholic influence in such a custom based society, and they seemed accepting of the fact that their old ways were being altered.

- The ending of the novel concerned me because I thought that Okonkwo was going to be seen as a hero, a person who stood up for their beliefs and carried it to the death bu

3 Questions
- Did Okonwko truly lack compassion?

- Why did the people not

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Observations:
1. The text was very focused on showing and maintaining the traditions when they were used
2. Achebe focuses on fables and proverbs of Umuofia
3. The speech of the villagers remains constant, keeping the similar styles and tones throughout the book
Concerns:
1. I found Okonkwo's violent nature to be troubling. It seemed like it was counter intuitive to try to change a perspective using such a character.
2. It felt like most of Okonkwo's misfortune was a fair treatment of him, making it hard to sympathize with him and those around him.
3. I was concerned by the rapid shift at the end of the book. It felt like it was too fast compared to the beginning, which spared no details.
Questions:
1. Is Christianity more similar or more different to the Igbo religion?
2. Was it just for Okonkwo to be jailed?
3. Who was more effective in his task, Mr. Brown or Mr. Smith?

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Observations:
- Achebe wrote often about the flowery speech habits of the people in the villages
- I noticed a strong differentiation between the responsibilities of people in the clans, both gender-based and title-based
- Achebe uses Okonkwo's masculinity as an idea that must change in order to fit in with Christian society

Concerns:
- I found the way Okonkwo treated his family very troubling, especially when he beat one wife for no other reason besides he was angry
- Negotiations did not occur to promote coexistence between the villagers and the Christians
- You cannot blame others for the choices of one man

Questions:
- Why attack the church when it is known that Enoch committed the crime? What is Achebe saying here?
- What is the significance of the yam being 'a man's crop'?
- How do the stories told in the novel illustrate comparisons between Christianity and Igbo life?

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OBS:
1 - I noticed that Achebe included many comparisons and contrasts between the society of the whites and the Ibo people.
2 - Achebe leaves the definition of right and wrong very open ended throughout the story.
3 - Achebe displays the culture and traditions of the Ibo people in a way that makes it easy to compare to our own.
CON:
1 - Both parties, the whites and the Ibo, demonstrate unnecessary amounts of violence.
2 - Achebe presents religion in a way that forces the reader to choose a side. This is troubling for the target audience because one of those sides is what they believe in while the other is what Achebe spends most of his time talking about.
3 - The religion of the Ibo seems strange and alien to the reader at first, but then its seems just as strange as Christianity.
QUES:
1 - Who was morally right in the end? Why did Achebe want this to be the case?
2 - What is the significance of the proverbs when looking at the end of the story?
3 - What does Achebe look to achieve by comparing the two religions the way he does in the novel?

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Observations:
1. I noticed that the Ibo tended to make good decisions when they had religious and cultural justification and popular support. Unity was key to their survival.
2. I observed the weather played an integral role in what Okonkwo was allowed to do and when he was allowed to use the land in distinct ways... could only build in wet season.
3. I noticed that when the drum stopped beating, and was no longer mentioned, the village lost its enthusiasm and became obsessed with the facet of religion rather then their own traditions.

Concerns:
1. The role of the narrator is not discussed in the novel, however he is seemingly so, omniscient and omnipresent. That being said, the narrator does not reveal himself during the novel but still knows everything about the lives of the clansmen.
2. Okonkwo repeatedly describes the importance of having a son, regretting that Enzinma is a girl. However, when Nwoye becomes entranced with religion Okonkwo puts aside his biggest concern in life (having successful and title-bearing kin) to beat Nwoye rather than engage in conversation and persuade with words.
3. The narrator stresses that the missionaries are concerned only with the number of clansmen they convert, and through the example of Adame reaffirms that they will do so by any means necessary. However, when the missionaries arrive in Umuofia they are peaceful and in the case of Mr. Brown engage in religious discussion rather than forceful conversion.

Questions:
1. Is the narrator god?
2. Is Okonkwo at fault for the conversion of Nwoye?
3. Why were the people of Umuofia treated passively in their conversion as opposed to forceful methods used in instances such as Adame.

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Observations:
1) On page 176, Achebe captures the tactics employed by the missionaries and also shows that the Ibo understand why and how the missionaries were successful.
2) The use of words or phrases mistranslated is an inherent juxtaposition to the Ibo's enthusiasm and importance on their language.
3) Achebe lays the groundwork for his dichotomy of modernity vs tradition in Umuofia in the seven year exile, and this transition period is extremely important when considering the outcomes and "weakness" of the clan.
Concerns:
1) While Akunna and Mr. Brown are discussing their respective religions and beliefs, Achebe creates a feeling of understanding, where Akunna is attempting to educate or breach the gap between, while Mr. Brown is solely attempting to dismantle the people of Umuofia, which I personally find a bit unreasonable.
2) Religious zeal is questioned for and by both the Christians and the Ibo, with the disparities between faithful and unfaithful being very severe. Yet the focus on religious practices such as killing or mutilating babies and other violent punishments works to the opposite intent, making Christian excommunication and return to a "normal" life far more normal and humane a punishment.
3) During the meeting where Okonkwo and five others are detained, the D.C is outlining the imposition of White beliefs onto the Ibo, and then immediately going back upon his word. While this an obvious jab at white imperialism, it simply feels more narrative and misplaced in context with the rest of the novel.
Questions:
1)  What purpose does the male - female disparity have in reference to the overall novel, or is it merely a function to connect societies or highlight Okonkwo's own fears?
2) While we find the Okonkwo is set against those who converted to Christianity, the true appeal is never revealed, merely the displeasure. While it is partially explained as a way into an organization for the outcasts of the tribes, this alone does not explain the large following gained by the missionaries.
3)  The novel has a dual story line, with the division occurring as Okonkwo is exiled from his own religion, yet what is the true purpose, would Okonkwo being in Umuofia for the entirety of the missionary's transition to power be more impactful than his return?

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Observations:
1) I noticed how Achebe incorporates specific Ibo words and phrases, as well as ceremonies and stories, to show the traditional values in the village and the cultural aspects in Umuofia.
2) I noticed how Achebe uses irony when he contrasts Okonkwo with his father, Unoka, in the beginning of the novel, describing him as weak and not masculine, when in the end, the village portrays Okonowo in the same way.
3) I found it interesting how Achebe compares and contrasts the two religions and society throughout the novel, when in the end they both have similar ideals, tradition, and government. In the end, Achebe portrays the missionaries as the antagonists who could not accept the religious beliefs in Umuofia, and Okonkwo is the fallen hero who was a victim of the missionaries and their new church.
Concerns:
1) When Okonkwo is constantly mentioning how he wishes his daughter was a girl because she understand him so well. I understand the idea, as women were inferior to men and fathers mainly wished for sons, but I found it strange how Okonkwo wouldn't accept her for who she is and kept wishing she was born a boy, but the completely disregarding Nwoye.
2) How Okonkwo treats Nwoye and how he refuses to change his perspective of masculinity for his eldest son. This contributes to the idea that Okonkwo cannot adapt to change, and how the ideals of the village are already set in stone that it is hard for Okonkwo to follow in the path of the new religion. It was also interesting how Okonkwo always seems to be talking about the importance of family and sticking together as a village, when he then turns his back on his own son and refuses to associate himself with him.
3) The religion in the town and specific cultures such as throwing baby twins into the forest were strange (and at times disturbing) to read about since it is so different from our culture and some cultural norms in Umuofia were very brutal.
Questions:
1) To what extent is Okonkwo 'masculine'? Nwoye?
2) In what ways is Okonkwo similar to his father?
3)

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Observations
1. I noticed  in the final part of the book how similar Okonkwo is to King Leonidas in 300. Given that both are known as tragic heroes, Achebe portrays the similarities between Western and African culture by making his characters similar and relatable to those seen in Western novels and stories.
2. I noticed how during the discussion on religion, Achebe focused on how the two religions were similar even though they worshiped different gods.
3. I observed that when Okonkwo kills himself, he both affirms and rejects his customs and traditions, as it is an abomination for one take their own life in Ibo culture. Yet, Okonkwo does it anyway because he has no desire to live in a world where the white Christians have taken over his nation and oppressed the rituals of his forefathers. Thus, showing how the white man has destroyed and maimed the African culture as a whole.

Concerns:

1. Okonkwo drawing first blood and killing the message could be used against the African culture and could be proof of the Africans' savagery in the eyes of a white society.
2. The continued inferiority of women to men in the novel would not be approved of by many Westerners, where generally women and men are considered to be equals. However, at the time of the writing, women did not have the same rights and freedoms as they do now, and it could be another parallel between the two cultures that both do not treat women fairly. Furthermore, women and men are still not truly equal in the same sense, therefore Achebe could be pointing out the hypocrisy of the Westerners who try to change the "savage" culture of Africans, yet do not look at their same behavior in the same light.
3. Okonkwo's willingness to discard his son Nwoye who joins the church could be seen as hypocritical as he states that family and blood ties are an important facet to life, yet he throws that away because of his belief of his son's apparent weakness.

Robust Questions

1. Did Okonkwo do the right thing by killing the messenger and then himself? Was he defending his culture, or just irritated that he was no longer in a higher seat of power within Umuofia because of the changing times?
2. Why according to Achebe did the white people choose to attack and destroy the religion of the Ibo people, rather than compromise and allow the Ibo people to continue to practice their cultural customs?
3. Was the District Commissioner to be fully blamed for Okonkwo's death?

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Three Observations:
-  I observed that violence and rage had a connection with music and sounds... for example the drums were mentioned prior to the wrestling match also when the egwugwu was killed the author mentions "discordant bells clanged and machetes clashed, "air full of dust and sounds"
- "' There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again"' I observed the author constantly further describes certain things instead of just leaving the descriptions rather bland
- Throughout the novel, at least three times, Achebe includes an italicized poem or proverb or song  at the end of a chapter.

Three Concerns:
- I remember Achebe criticizing the works of another author when writing about African culture in a bad light and how inaccurate it was pertaining to African culture and then Achebe writes this novel and in the majority of the final chapters the white man is held in a very bad light in a sense of that the change they are bringing is bad and I think that it's just ironic
-  I found it hard to follow when in a couple of chapters, around the end of his terms in the motherland and even during his time within the motherland, it covered like 15 years in like 20 pages and I found it hard to follow, maybe if he added another important event like Enzinma dying while harvesting the tubers and something he would of had to overcome and persevere through, it would have added more depth/ clarity.
- The fact that Nwoye was disowned and mad a bad representation for the younger kids, like what "not to be" for accepting change and being so self confident to have the strength to change with a powerful father like Okonkwo and then have him in a bad light was rather troubling for me.

Three Questions:
- In the beginning it mentions Okonkwo drinking out of the head of one of the victims which he decapitated, doesn't this just prove his savagery or was this a norm within their society?
- Polygamy was a very unchanging theme within the novel, was this to exemplify the presence of it? Was it common among all the villages?
- In what ways, If at all, does Nwoye exhibit more manly qualities than Okonkwo, relating to change in society and change in self?

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Observations
1. During every large feast or gathering, Achebe spends a great time describing the vast amount of people and food, giving the reader a better sense of how significant those gatherings were. He also goes into great detail when trying to explain the chaos at events such as the wrestling matches, using the drums and the heartbeat of the crowd is one of the ways in which he achieved this.
2. Achebe focuses heavily on the violence and brutality that are regular occurrences in Umofia, whether it be beating within a family or the killing of a fellow clansman
3. Throughout the story, Achebe compares and contrasts the villages nearby Umofia and explains the ways they are alike and different. The tribes often have different customs or slight differences in their language, showing how each tribe has its own unique aspects.

Concerns
1. This story is meant to show how European writers don't fully show the lives of the African people and make them and their lives seem less significant than in reality, but there is a slight hypocrisy in the sense that Achebe does almost the same thing with the missionaries. Achebe does not go into great detail about their lives prior to arriving in Africa, making the white people's lives seem very one-dimensional and centered around one occurrence.
2. Okonkwo and his terrible habit of beating his children and wives becomes increasingly present as the story progresses and even if this kind of behavior is part of the culture of the village, it becomes seemingly excessive and it raises questions as to why it continues to be tolerated
3.

Questions
1. Where there any points in Okonkwo's life that he displayed the ability to adapt to the changing environment around him?
2. Was Nwoye justified in disobeying his father and tribe by turning to the Christian faith?
3. If Okonkwo had not been exiled from the village, would the outcome of the story have changed or remained unaltered?

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Observations -
1) Achebe focused on portraying a functioning society which follows ideals and traditions different from our own to show a humanization of the African people
2) There is an understanding of similarities and differences of different religions in the novel and how both are subject to being perceived as "right" or "wrong".
3) Achebe also focuses on the crucial importance of strong community "I fear for you young people because you do not understand how strong is the bond of kinship. You do not know what it is to speak with one voice." (167)

Concerns -
1) The way the six Umuofia men who had went to talk peacefully and respectfully with the missionaries were thrown in jail like they did not deserve to be treated civilly or with respect. As this to me just shows how corrupt our perception of other, in novels and movies we are constantly showing African people as terrible cultured savages, when it reality it is our own people that are the truly evil.
2) That Achebe's point of trying to humanize the African people may to be received by many people as in most cultures one type of people is praised while the other frowned upon, but in Achebe's novel he did not praise the Ibo people but portrayed them truthfully, and he did the same with the missionaires.
3) How easily one might see Okonkwo as ignorant and hot headed and because of this completely disregard his hardships and the point Achebe keeps trying to portray. While all our problems are not the exact same with all face similar struggles in life, many people can relate to being scared of loosing your culture/tradition or the feeling that you've become a stranger in your own home.

Questions -
1) Do you believe Okonkwo was being too stubborn in the fact that he refused to change and adapt to a new society?
2) When it mentioned the titled was were your impressions?

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Observations:
1.I noticed how Achebe portrays the Ibo religion as similar to all other faiths. They both involve people believing in things that are unverified.
2.Achebe shows the Ibo culture as truly advanced and complex, thus offering a true portrayal of Africa that was not seen in European novels.
3.I noticed how Okonkwo's inner fear of femininity and relation to his father's mannerisms dictate his actions and prevent him from truly showing his emotions.
Concerns:
1. The ignorance of external societies in regards to the Igbo culture. This is seen on the first page, as Achebe must describe the famous Okonkwo (the true African Culture) to the readers who have never heard of him .
2. The disproving of some of the Igbo religious beliefs could be viewed as a disproving of Igbo religion itself, and the verification of Catholicism in the eyes of European readers.
3.The fact that Nwoye and numerous others joined the missionaries who were changing the sacred Igbo culture. This is a direct division from Okonkwo and his fight for the upholding of the unique and advanced Igbo culture .
Questions:
1.How was Okonkwo's fate inevitable?
2.Would Umuofia have changed so drastically if Okonkwo had been able to stay in the town?
3.What is the significance of Nwoye's Christian name? What does it symbolize?

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3 observations:
1. I noticed how in the dialogue whenever something happened the character would be focused on how they were affected, and never about how it would affect the others involved
2. I noticed how Achebe showed the better way to deal with religious differences with Mr. Brown, versus an ignorant way with Mr. Smith
3.I noticed how if something was not favorable, or adhering to the religion and tradition of the clan it was described as "womanly"
Concerns:
1.It bothered me in the last chapter when the district commissioner was talking about the book he would write, not only did he reduce Okonkwo and what Okonkwo stood for down to a paragraph, but in his ideas about writing he does not mention the horrible things that he did to Okonkwo and the clan, like chaining them up and shaving their heads, only about what Okonkwo did to the messenger, it will be a very one sided narrative
2. One place where i found myself talking back to the text was when the reader was introduced to the character of Mr. Smith. "He saw thing as black and white. And black was evil" (184) I was shocked and upset by the stark differences between Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith, and the extent of racism, and ignorance that Mr. Smith was presenting. Then furthermore he had the audacity to call the people ignorant just because they didn't know the specifics of the religion, but really he is the ignorant one, who should try to learn about the Ibo culture and religion
3. Another thing that bothered me about the book was the theme of femininity as weak and bad, and the way that women are treated. They are beaten, and their worth is based mainly on their ability to bear children. In the Ibo culture they are so far below men in power, and social status, and it doesn't seem to be any different with the missionaries. There is no mention of a woman in power, or of authority.
Questions:
1. Is there one culture that has greater respect for women than the other? Which one?
2. What do drums symbolize? And how does the context of the drums change throughout the book?
3.

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1. Achebe continues to reference fire throughout the novel. At the end of one chapter he relate fire back to Okonkwo and his life. Though Okonkwo is as strong as a burning flame, his ashes or children are essentially worthless.

2. Achebe introduces new characters and their names, but never goes on to discuss their purpose within the novel. His purpose behind this is to illustrate an image of what is happening around the village, while still focussing on the stories plot. This is necessary so that, people that are unfamiliar with African culture are able to better picture the happenings and settings of the clan.

3. Achebe had Okonkwo continue to say the same statements and phrases to show how he was unable to change, while other characters were saying new things, with new perspectives. Throughout the novel, Achebe continuously writes that Okonkwo is masculine, and expresses that masculinity is his purpose in life. As he continues to make these statements, the rest of the clansmen are changing and adapting to the new ideas that are around them.

1. Achebe’s writing at some points was hard to understand becuase of my lack of background knowledge about African culture. Though it was at some points hard to understand, Achebe's use of African words and their meaning helped to better explain each scene.

2. The christians are not always portrayed as awful characters. I feel as though to better get Achebe’s point across, he should have written the Christian characters as being more evil. By doing this, their would never be a point where the reader thinks that the Christians were doing the right thing.

3. Some of the characters served a large purpose in the beginning of the novel, but at the end they were never mentioned. I feel that Characters such as Ezinma and Nwoye should have been mentioned at the end of the novel, because they were focused heavily on at the beginning.

1. To what extent was Okonkwo truly “masculine” ?

2. What is the overall theme of the story, and how did Achebe portray this theme?

3. Chi is continuously brought up throughout the novel, after finishing the novel how would you describe Okonkwo’s?

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Three Observations:
-I noticed that Achebe  made lots of parallels to the Igbo culture and Western culture throughout the story (religion, as seen in Mr. Brown and Akunna's debate, family life, customs/traditions, government and court system)

-I noticed that Achebe characterized the two missionaries, Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith, very differently. Mr. Brown, described on pages 178-179, "came to be respected by even the clan, because he trod softly on it's faith" (178) whereas Mr. Smith, "a different kind of man" (184) had a lack of respect for Igbo culture, and saw things as only right and wrong.

-I noticed that Achebe wrote deaths and sad events in a sudden and somewhat blunt way. Okonkwo's death was described in a matter of words, and so was his killing of the messenger: "They then came to the tree from which Okonkwo's body was dangling" (207) and "Okonkwo's machete descended twice and the man's head lay beside is uniformed body"

Three Concerns:
-It bothered me how the European missionaries were so insensitive to the Igbo culture and way of life throughout their presence in the novel, especially seen in Mr. Smith throughout his time as a missionary and the Comissioner when dealing with Okonkwo's death.

-It bothered me that Okonkwo felt he had to kill himself because of the fact that his culture, values and society was completely changed by Westerners; and he felt as though he did not have a real place in society

-It bothered me that Okonkwo and the Igbo people's vast story and ways of life were simply reduced to a "lengthy paragraph" in the commisoner's book, which actually became a story about the messenger; showing Western perception of Africa and their lack of concern for showing what it really is.

Three Robust Questions:
-In what ways did Okonkwo strive to maintain hold of his traditions, and how did he fail to do this?
-How does Achebe portray the Igbo people in the story, compared to Western perception of them?
-What is the importance of unity in the story? How does it, or the lack of it, connect to the title of the book?

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Observations:
- I noticed that the author focused on the feast before Okonkwo returned. In the feast given it talks about how a feast is important to meet and remind all that they are together.
- Achebe focused on weather and nature, something that could not be controlled
- Achebe focused on the talk of older generations as a way to show how culture has changed in the villages with missionaries and that what used to be the normal, has changed
Concerns:
- What concerned me was the fact that one of the egwugwu mask was torn off and although they did not seek revenge, they later were trapped and beaten by the missionaries as if it was their fault
- When Ikemefuna is treated as part of the family and then killed by Okonkwo
- It concerned me that Okonkow was banned for 7 years even though it was an accident
Questions:
- The quote- "The clan was like a lizard; if it lost its tail it soon grew another" (171). Explain how this would fit with the old culture of Umofia and the new culture that Okonkwo returned to.
- Why was it so important to Okonkwo for his daughters to be married in his fathers land, rather than his mothers land?
- Why would Achebe foreshadow the death of Okonkwo when Okonkwo is talking about repaying his debt to Oberika? "'That will not be enough,'" siad Okonkwo... 'Then kill yourself' said Oberika" (142).

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Three Observations:

I thought it was interesting how Achebe uses language from the white man and his translator to represent a divide in culture. Rather than saying I, he said buttocks. It was also interesting how the people of the village described the men with "ashy buttocks" to be fit for slaves. (p.174-175)

Use of "Mr." - established dominance and sense of entitlement through the use of a title

Smith - Common name to symbolize stereotypes about all the white men

Before going to the village meeting, Okonkwo assumes that Egonwanne will not talk about war and how that correlates to his cowardliness. He believes because he will not propose war, he should be and is seen as a coward. (p.201-202)(ch.24)

The description of a war that had taken place a few years ago (p.200) and the final wording is "those were the days when men were men". Symbolizes Okonkwo's opinion on manly activity and how masculinity parallels with physical fighting.

Commentary on Okonkwo's upset about lost tradition and also their ability to have courage as a whole

Where did the heartbeat go? Lost enthusiasm as the white men came and settled in the village.

Three Concerns:

Achebe uses the last paragraph to represent the inhumane ways of the white men and how they can belittle an entire life in the use of writing. Rather than telling a true story, the white settlers use their experience for their own ego-centric means. The last paragraph discussing the potential "paragraph" to be written about Okonkwo's life was unsettling. (p.208-209)

Okonkwo's immediate disowning attitude towards Nwoye's decision to join the missionaries and pursue an education on Christian faith. This symbolizes Okonkwo's harsh fathering style, representing how there has always been a bit of resentment towards Nwoye since he has been born. He is less masculine than the other men and Okonkwo has little respect towards him because of that. (p.172 &182)

The importance of having & being a son

I also find the constant desire for his daughters to have been born male. They possess great qualities but it can be inferred that Okonkwo believes that they are a waste due to their gender. This shows Okonkwo and society's view on women and men and how women with manly qualities such as strength and intelligence, are considered a waste. (p.172)

Three Robust Questions:

How will Okonkwo taking his own life effect his family's reputation? Will his family change at all?

In what ways does Achebe show the "white superiority complex" in the novel through language.

How does Achebe use the weather as a prominent symbol throughout the novel? In what ways can it be seen as a tool of figurative language?