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Observations
1. Religion and cultural beliefs are a constant theme throughout the book and many events revolve around this theme
2. At the end of the book, the commissioner is used to portray how writers show so little truth when writing about Africa and its people.
3. The community is very celebratory in the sense that they are always throwing parties, feats, and celebrtions
Concerns
1. What happened to Nwoye?
2. There was a lot of uncertainty about what happened to many of the Characters following Okonkwos death
3. The Christian Church and religion was introduced very late in the book even though it was a big part of the story
Questions
1. Did the Igbo people have any doubts about their beliefs after the "evil forest" did not do anything to the Christian church?
2.  Is Mr. Brown being used to display the bad or good things about Christianity?
3. What happens to the town and the people following Okonkwos death?

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Observations
1. The book coming full circle at the end to drive the point home about Westerners not appreciating African Culture.
2. Achebe established a background describing the Igbo culture and then showed how they changed due to the white missionaries.
3. The irony of Mr. Brown.
Concerns
1. When Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna
2. Okonkwo's relationship with Nwoye.
3. Blindly follow religion.
Questions
1. I was confused when Chielo took Enzima. Why did she take her?
2. What took place after the death of Okonkwo?
3.  Why didn't Okonkwo rebel?

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Concerns:
1. It seems as though the religion in Umofia becomes shadowed by Christianity completely
2. I am annoyed with the ending because it seems as though the whole novel was for 0 reward and that their story went untold.
3. Outcome of Umofia is unknown
Observations:
1. Obierka finally shows anger towards the missionary as they remove Okankwos hanging body and this shows that he does have a incredibly strong connection to Okanwo even though they are so different.
2. Okankwos inability to cope eventually kill him
3. Nwoye and Unoka are very similar
Questions:
1. Did the missionaries kill Okankwo
2. How does Okankwos pride drive him to take part in killing Ikemafuna
3. Why does Achebe insert concepts from other works into his own novel?

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. Observations:

1. Each generation is the result of the previous generation. How Okonkwo’s father was lazy, which caused Okonkwo to be prideful, and because Okonkwo was strict, Nwoye wanted the freedom just like Unoka.

2. While Okonkwo symbolized actions, war and traditions while Obierika symbolized change and thought

3. By killing Ikemefuna Achebe sets up the mindset of Okonkwo to mirror african traditionalism and the importance of status in the tribe that Okonkwo had, to foretell how Okonkwo would react to change.

Concerns:

1. At the end when the white missionary said that he was only going to write one paragraph about Okonkwo in his novel. It allows me to see that each novel about a culture is limited to one person point of view. Different perspectives change the story and the importance of it.

2. That women had a degrading place in the village rank like how Enzima could have been great ‘if only she was a man’

3. What happened when Chielo took Enzima to the cave?

Questions:

1. To what extent did the white missionaries cause Okonkwo’s death?

2. What happens to the town after Okonkwo dies? Why do they still hold on to the piece of religion to bury Okonkwo as a ‘dog’ rather than the christian way?

3. How does Achebe illustrate the language of the African tribe using English?

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Observations:
1)I found it interesting how at the beginning of the book, Okonkwo is determined to live a life unlike his fathers, but at the end, essentially gives up on his life and passion and ends up as a disappointment to his tribe, much like his father.
2)The Igbo were driven into fear because of the stories of what had happened to the other tribe that was taken over by missionaries, that the Igbo became submissive and easy-going with the white man's ways.
3)Okonkwo puts his pride over his actual emotions. This is evident when he kills Ikemefuna despite his love for the boy.
Concerns:
1)Okonkwo's death was surprising to me and caught me off guard because, throughout the book, he was reflected as a man of pride and power, yet exited the world in a cowardly manner.
2)The book focuses a lot on Enzima and how Okonkwo wishes she was a boy, but never elaborates on what happens to her following Okonkwo's death.
3)Achebe writes about a lot of characters, such as Nwoye, but never lets the reader know what happens to him after Okonkwo's death.
Questions:
1)Was it the original intention of the missionaries to tear apart the Igbo tribe?
2)What happened to the Igbo tribe following Okonkwo's death?
3)What were the Igbo peoples' native language?

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Observations:
1) I noticed that religion was a very important factor in the characters' every day lives, because all of their actions were based off of their beliefs.  They had many different rituals that took place daily, or during certain events.
2) I noticed that the men in the novel, especially Okonkwo, have a lot of pride and care very much about their how they stand in society.
3) I noticed that Okonkwo will mention that he loves members of his family, but he never shows it through his actions.  He is very cruel, and will often yell or beat the members of his family.

Concerns:
1) I was concerned with the ways in which women were portrayed and treated in the novel.  Most men had more than one wife, showing that women were seen as less significant in their society. They were expected to wait upon their husbands and were punished if their work was not satisfactory.
2) I was concerned with the fact that Okonkwo was willing to kill his adopted son, Ikemefuna, in order to maintain his pride and not come across as weak.
3) I was concerned with the fact that the white missionaries in the novel were trying to convert everyone to Christianity, and they did not respect the fact that people can believe in whatever they choose.

Questions:
1) What were the reasons and motifs behind the missionaries work? Why were they trying to convert everyone to their religion?
2) Why did Achebe focus on religion for the majority of the novel?
3) Why was pride and honor a matter of such importance?

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Observations:
1. Unoka and Nwoye seem similar in the fact that they both challenge the traditional views of the Igbo tribe, despite the difference of circumstance.
2. The two reverends seemed to represent a duality of the Christian church of passive acceptance and aggressive opposition.
3. Okonkwo kills both of the more promising young men in the village: Ikemefuna and Ogbuefi Ezeudu’s son

Concerns:
1. The section in which Chielo takes Ezinma feels superfluous and only serves to demonstrate Ekwefi’s bond with Ezinma, which in and of itself could have used more fleshing out.
2. I thought the idea of returning to the mother when in pain was briefly explained and could have used more significance throughout Okonkwo’s time in Mbanta.
3. I felt Achebe cast Okonkwo in a more negative light that made it harder to sympathize with his beliefs, such as going to war with the missionaries.

Questions:
1. Does Obierika believe in the cultural beliefs as much as any of the other clansmen?
2. Could Christianity and the Igbo culture/beliefs have existed peacefully had it not been for the actions of Enoch?
3. In what ways does Achebe utilize irony throughout the story to illustrate the effect of the missionaries on the Umuofia?

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Observations:
1)  Achebe uses stories from the Igbo culture to give the reader more of an insight to their beliefs.
2) Mr. Brown's character is rude in his responses to Akunna when they discussed religion.
3) Achebe references Western novels about Africa at the end of the book.
Concerns:
1) Okonkwo's cause of death was foreshadowed throughout the the text, but still surprised me.
2) I felt as though Okonkwo's time in the jail was rushed and less descriptive when compared to the rest of the book.
3) What happens to Nwoye?!
Questions:
1) Why are both Okonkwo's death and his father's death considered dishonorable?
2) How is the tone of the novel changed on the last pages compared to the rest of the book?
3) What is the purpose of Mr. Brown's character? (when compared to Mr. Smith)

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Observations:
1. The women have no say in the war with the missionaries which shows the gender roles of women and how they were not allowed to input anything to society.
2. In the Nigerian culture the python is a an important symbol of peace, and it was interesting that in the story a rainbow was described as a "python of the sky" as it showed further the python symbolizes luck and prosperity.
3. Though both Reverends were portrayed to have the goal of altering the society and eventually destroying the culture of the Africans, Reverend Brown was more understanding and accepting of their culture. Reverend Smith on the other hand was very strict with his teachings and could not see the value of the other culture at all.
Concerns:
1.Without the influence of the missionaries Okonkwo would've never committed suicide. It is a concern that the feel for the need for dominance in the white society has destroyed the lives and devastated the culture in Africa all because of monetary incentive.
2. Okonkwo fully denies his son from speaking to him. This concerned me but also was fairly sad as he did not give Nwoye the chance to explain himself.
3. How did the leaders not see that the meeting with the district commissioner was not a trap?
Questions:
1. To what extent have missionaries effected the lives of Africans at this point in time?
2. What happened to Ezima? Did she no longer have the evil spirit in her? Did she get married? What happened to the suitors?
3. What was the importance of the Enoch's dishonoring of the egwugwu?

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Observations:
1. I noticed that throughout the book, family was very important. It was wrong to kill a kinsman, and it was not okay to beat your wives unnecessarily. You can also see how the Christian missionaries values the connection with God even if it meant breaking ties with your family, proving to be one of the more difficult challenges to overcome for the majority of the Igbo people.
2. I observed that the governments and judicial systems of the two different cultures are almost opposites. The judges and leaders of he missionaries wree well known, and they had cruel (some might even say equal) punishments. For the Igbo people, their judges were masked people, you were not allowed to know who was who. They were almost kinder, they tried to help people learn their lesson, but unit in the end.
3. I noticed that position mens everything, even in two different worlds. Missionaries had their own hierarchy, had their leaders who help power over all, and they strove to conquer more and more. The Igbo people had ties around their ankles to represent titles, and being title-less menant you were nothing. Everyone wanted to get ahead because it meant gaining better treatment and respect.
Concerns:
1. I was bothered by the fact that gender was a factor in the consideration of the type of punishment given. Okonkwo was given a woman's punishment for accidentally killing Ezeudu's son, and I disliked that it was labeled a woman's punishment
2. I do not agree with the ending of the book, I do not believe it was the Christian missionaries who killed Okonkwo. I believe that it was his inability to adapt.
3. When Okonkwo went to find the cave four times, I tried to will him to just stay there. I think his just lack of understanding human compassion and unity, is what leads to his demise
Questions:
1. Did Mr. Brown care about the Igbo people?
2. Do we see examples pf female superiority (over men), if not equality, in the book?
3. Which is more important to the Igbo people: Peace or War?

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Observations:
1. The author creates Okonkwo as a character whose identity is defined by his masculinity, tradition, and Igbo. At the end of the novel, there is a drastic shift resulting in the rapid downfall of Okonkwo. Just as the Igbo tradition and culture were conquered and on the verge of extinction, Okonkwo's life lost its support and he died. Ultimately, Okonkwo is a parallel to the culture as a whole.

2.  Religion and Culture are very much intertwined and there was no clear difference between both. Society was not independent from religion at all. Even when the Missionaries arrived, the government was religiously affiliated with the Church. This made it easy for the missionaries to quickly overtake Umuofia and end Igbo culture as they only had to take down one thing essentially. Just like dominoes, when one fell, it all fell.

3. In attempt to keep the story realistic to Igbo culture, the author included the stereotypical gender roles. However, like some of the other novels we have read so far, (Chronicle, To Live, Woman@Point0) the female characters are strong characters. Ekwefi and her daughter Ezinma both are very strong as demonstrated through many anecdotes throughout the story. Ekwefi had the courage to leave her husband for another man, she spoke boldly in opposition (Okonkwo can't shoot scene), and she trudged after Chielo and Ezinma for miles and miles. For Ezinma, Okonkwo always mentions how he wishes she was a boy because of her strong characteristics, and how Nwoye, his son, is more like a daughter than a son ("effeminate"). Okonkwo takes pride in his daughter and uses her as a sense of strength.
Concerns:
1. I wish more of a dynamic between the wives was shown, or the concept of polygamy was further explored in the novel.
2.  The argument was unclear of whether the missionaries were good or bad as the author showed both sides. The inclusion of Mr. Brown to show the good side of the missionaries?
3. I found myself talking back to the text for two reasons. The first being, the children and wives of the family did not behave like a family at all. It seemed the wives and children were almost employees of Okonkwo and there was much disconnect and lack of compassion. In addition, I also talked back to the text when there were very disturbing demonstrations of gender roles (pg 74).
Questions:
1. Was the author a convert? and if so, why is he writing about the dark side of the missionaries' conquest?
2. Why do you think Okonkwo's relationship with his other wives was not included?
3. What was the overall significance of Ikemefuna and all the relationships surrounding him? (Purpose of relationship with Nwoye? Purpose of Relationship with Okonkwo?)
4. What was the author's method of characterization?

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Observations:
1. Family values and approval from elders is a main concern in the book, and Achebe focuses in on this in the Okonkwo/Nwoye and Okonkwo/Ezinma relationships.
2. Pride is Okonkwo's major fault and this is shown throughout the novel, including examples of the killing of Ikemefuna and the inability to openly show love or approval for his children. This may be why Nwoye shifted towards Christianity.
3. Achebe references other cultures and relates them to his novel which is very interesting in the sense that this is essentially a work of fiction that has examples from other works.

Concerns:
1. The relationship with Nwoye I feel like could have been better shown as Nwoye was mainly talked about in relation to Ezinma. It was hard to grasp how Nwoye fit into the big picture.
2. It is frustrating to me because I am on the side of Okonkwo and to see him kill himself angered me. I feel like he let the missionaries win.
3. I feel as if some o the villagers were convinced too easily that Christianity is the right way to go. For people who have only known one religion all of their life, I feel like they would put up more of a fight against the missionaries.

Questions:
1. How does the death of Ikemefuna relate to the white missionaries? I feel as if Achebe made that the main conflict in the story and I do not see how the death of Ikemefuna contributes to that even though it was a big part.
2. Did the white missionaries always want to harm the natives or was that just the second option after some did not convert?
3. Why did Okonkwo not try harder to get an army together? Why did he look to death as one of the first options?

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Observations:
1. The town seems to work in a full circle. Children relate back to their ancestors and the narrator gives various explanations of phenomenons that tend to repeat, such as the obanjes
2. What seemed to be a respectable and defiant notion at the time, by rejecting anything associated with his father, eventually ended up being Okonkwo's downfall. ex. inability to change, rampant violence.
3. As a christian convert in Africa, Achebe was able to demonstrate a first hand account of the "pacification" of the Igbo culture, allowing him to further convey his thoughts.

Concerns:
1. The whole section about Enzinma as an obanje. It makes sense thinking the "expert" faked it, but I feel like Achebe wanted it to be real.
2. How the rest of the town softened up on Okonkwo and he was left alone in "battle." I feel like, if anything they would've gotten more intense
3. How his sons turned out to be all failures. I understand why Achebe would write it like this but thinking logically, it doesn't make sense why they wouldn't follow in his foot steps.

Questions:
1. Did Mr. Brown have any ulterior motives to setting up the church? Did he want to takeover the town which Mr. Smith proved to do?
2. Did Okonkwo's harsh treatment of Nwyoe lead to Nwyoe's transition into a Christian convert?
3. Why does Achebe choose Okonkwo as the main character when he shows so many flaws of African society?

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Observations
1. When Okonkwo's gun goes off leading to his exile, it parallels to Ekwefi's comment about "guns that don't fire."
2. The locusts are foreshadowing for the missionaries that come to Okonkwo's village.
3. Mr. Brown, who is a more tolerant representative of imperialism, is followed by Reverend Smith, who denounces this tolerance and represents the harsh imperialism that converted many people in the village.
Concerns
1. The villagers, not just outcasts, gave up their beliefs and religion that they practiced their entire lives for an entirely new religion.
2. After being characterized as such a strong person, it seemed out of character for Okonkwo to hang himself.
3. Okonkwo was exiled even though the gun going off was an accident.
Questions
1. Would Nwoye have been so ready to accept Christianity if Ikemefuna had not been killed? Was his disillusionment with his culture a direct effect of Ikemefuna's death?
2. Why does Achebe include Igbo words in his novel that is written in English?
3. How do proverbs contribute to Achebe's goal of portraying actual African civilization, as opposed to the imperialist narrative?

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Observations
1. Okonkwo neglects to acknowledge the new leadership skills and power Nwoye takes on when he converts to Christianity even though it is something that Okonkwo always wanted his son to obtain.
2. Okonkwo is reverting to his fathers cowardness when he decides to take his own life instead of continuing to fight for the Igbo culture.
3. The names of both Reverends reflect on their personality and treatment towards the Igbo people. Mr. Brown, is much more lenient with the people of Igbo and is not as harsh and strict as Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith is a very basic name, and has the views of a typical white imperialist taking over a territory. He is harsh, persistent, and will stop at nothing. He does not care about the Igbo people or their culture and is only set on making sure that there is enough space for his own ideas.
Concerns
1. When the white imperialists enter Umoufia and began taking over, it appears to be effortless on their part and quite easy to overcome, even with the resistance of Okonkwo.
2. It seems as if Okonkwo is always looking for more, and can never be satisfied with what he has. For example, he adores Ezinma and the power she holds, along with her ability to always please her father. However, he always reverts back to the fact that she is a woman. He can never simply just be happy and content with the positive traits that he sees in his daughter and always has to look beyond.
3. Okonkwo states that the clan was like a lizard, and that if it lost its tail it would grow another. In other words, if a member from the clan left, somebody else would quickly rise and take their spot. This shows how easy it is for the clan to leave their past and old customs behind without question.
Questions
1. Why did Nwoye have such a strong disconnect with his father throughout the entire novel? What could have sparked this?
2. What was the significance of Obeirika's character and what effect did he have on Okonkwo's life?
3. Why did the Igbo people (most) willingly convert to Christianity if they took such pride in their culture?

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Observation
1. I've noticed that throughout the book Achebe convey's the missionaries disregard for the Igbo religion through sarcasm and contradicting character personalities(Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith)
2. I've noticed that Okonkwo represents the pure Igbo stength and culture as a contrast to his clansmen who are being converted to christianity or are mixing the culture of the Christians with their own.
3. Throught the book I've noticed that those who take the time to understand(Mr.Brown, Obierika) are successful in life, but those who chose the path of immediate action cause their own downfall(Okonkwo, Enuchu)

concern
1. The idea of cultural superiority over a people simply because there was a lack of undersatnding and respect for it concerned me.
2. The acceptance and normality of domestic violence among the Igbo  concerned me
3. The idea that women served the men and children, and were only capable of doing "womens work" bothered me, I feel like the notion of women as an accessory, and not an equal played a part in the taking of numerous wives.
Question
1. Do you think that Okonkwo would have let Ikemefuna live if the elders gave him the power to choose what was to be done to him?
2. Do you think that the missionaries were justified in their actions of converting the Igbo people?
3. Should the Igbo people have fought against the missionaries?

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Observations
1. I noticed that Ekwefi's passion for her daugther fuels her to push through the tough ordeals Okuonkwo's family endured.
2. The author's decision to incorporate tales in the novel enhances the reader's understanding of the Igbo culture.
3. With the prescence of the white man, the Igbo culture struggles to justify the validity of their religious practices.
Concerns
1. I have a concern with Okuonkwo's decision to end his own life. Yes, he did so in order to save the last of his reputation. However, many could view that as cowardly, in the sense that he is too stubborn to adapt.
2. I have a concern with Nwoye as a member of the clan. He refuses to complete any action to demonstrate his masculinity. He is well aware of his father's disappointment, as well as the clan's as a whole. Also, knowing that his father is more proud of his daughter than his son should be a sign that he needs to change his ways.
3.Finally, my lasting concern is with the relationship between Ekwefi and Okuonkwo. Naturally in the Igbo culture, it is expected that the husband is dominant, physically and with the feeling of his prescence. However, when Ezinma is taken, and Okuonkwo realizes Ekwefi followed, he decides to follow her, even though he previously says that her journey is nothing to fret about.
Questions
1. Why would Okuonkwo end his life without attempting to rebel?
2. Do you think, hypothetically, that Nwoye would publicly convert to Christianity following his father's death?
3. How responsible is the theme of superior religion for Okuonkwo's death?

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Observations:
1. I found in both this and Woman at Point Zero, the women are meant to be submissive
2. I found the contrast between the Igbo people and the Christians to be fascinating
3. I found it interesting how the prideful Okonkwo kills himself at the end of the book, especially seeing as in the beginning of the book Okonkwo is determined to live a proud life.
Concerns:
1. I found it strange how the Christian Church was introduced so late into the book.
2. I didn't like how they made Okonkwo's father seem bad for living life the way he wanted to.
3. I did not enjoy seeing the prideful Okonkwo kill himself because the White Church taking over.
Robust Questions:
1. Do you think that Achebe was preaching against Christianity? Why or why not?
2. In terms of the Igbo culture, do you think that Okonkwo was viewed as more of a failure than his father? Why or why not?
3. What is the significance of Okonkwo killing himself at the end of the novel?

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Observations:
1. Food/farming and religion are very significant in Igbo culture.
2. I thought the significance of the motherland in Igbo culture was very interesting, as well as how the most popular name in the area was Nneka which means "Mother is Supreme".
3. Foreshadowing in a quote by Uchendu- "I did not hang myself, and I am still alive" (135).

Concerns:
1. Why did Obierika, who was supposed to be Okonkwo's closest friend, not support him and fight back against the missionaries with him?
2. What happened to Okonkwo's family after his suicide? Are they ostracized from the tribe because his suicide is considered shameful? How are their lives after his death?
3. Why didn't Okonkwo leave instead of killing myself? Although it would still be considered a shameful thing to do in the tribe, at least he would have the chance of building a new life for himself and his family away from the Christian missionaries.

Questions:
1. Why did Chinua Achebe decide to name the book "Things Fall Apart"?
2. What does Okonkwo's suicide represent or symbolize, and why did Achebe decide for this to be the ending of his novel?
3. What is the significance of mothers and the motherland in the novel?