https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic By: Chinua Achebe en-us 2019-05-21 12:50:21 UTC 2025-12-04 21:19:17 UTC hello@padlet.com jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363554462 This section of the story shows how Okonkwo may seem strong on the outside but when someone whom he cares for falls he begins to fall with them. This is important to the story because a major theme of the story is overcoming change. As Okonkwo goes through a major change in his life he does not bounce back immediately instead he struggles. Although, he eventually recovers it takes him a while to do so. Overall this quote reveals a major theme of the story, and Okonkwo's struggle to deal with loss.]]> 2019-05-26 15:17:24 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363554462 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363554502 In real life many people like to go see a fortune teller or an Oracle just like the people in this story. They go to find out what is going to happen to them in the future if they continue on the path they are going and ways to change their fate. This is important in this story because a major theme in Things Fall Apart is overcoming fate and the Oracle coming into the story this early on foreshadows that Okonkwo must overcome his fate and make a new life for himself.]]> 2019-05-26 15:17:46 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363554502 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363554534 This shows the external conflict between Okonkwo and nature when he is trying to prove himself and nature is making it extremely difficult. This part in the story shows some of the struggles Okonkwo must go through in order to get away from his fate of being like his father. His father was an unwealthy man who had no power. Fate is an important theme in the story and Okonkwo is fighting faith with his own free will. It also represents Okonkwo's strength in overcoming horrible odds and still being able to come out on top. Overall this shows Okonkwo's fighting spirit, and reveals a main theme in the story.]]> 2019-05-26 15:18:04 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363554534 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363554558 This part in the story shows the conflict between Okonkwo's beliefs and his tribes beliefs. It also shows how Okonkwo is starting to question his tribe rather than just following exactly what they say. So he is developing his own beliefs and chi, Okonkwo's self god, rather than having faith that his tribes beliefs are the same as his own faiths. This is important to the story because a major theme is fate versus free will. Okonkwo is finally starting to become his own person and realizing he has his own beliefs. He is no longer following the fate he was given, but has found his own free will. Another major theme in Things Fall Apart is Culture change and Okonkwo has finally started fighting against his culture.]]> 2019-05-26 15:18:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363554558 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363802741 By: Chinua Achebe]]> 2019-05-27 18:00:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363802741 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363808972 The preparing of yams symbolizes masculinity and maturity. Although, Okonkwo knows the boys cannot prepare seedyams yet he knows their failures will only make them stronger men in the future. This is important to the story because it represents life's struggles and how the boys must eventually try to overcome the odds and there own fate.]]> 2019-05-27 18:42:59 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363808972 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363841126 The locusts symbolize the white men and missionaries coming to the village. The grasshoppers provide food for the people but they also flood the lands and block the sunlight. Just like the locusts the white men provide medicines and education for the people but they also bring about destruction with their colonization which destroys the tribes traditions and culture. This is important to the story because the whole tribe must overlook the good that the white people are bringing to see the destruction they might have ahead. This foreshadows that the tribe may have to fight back against the white men to protect there heritage and therefore overcome the odds.]]> 2019-05-27 23:04:28 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363841126 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363848389 Although it is against the law in today's world, in the past many men would beat their wives if they were not doing what they were told to do and it was legal for men to do so. Here Okonkwo displays this by beating his wife just because she did not make his dinner when he wanted it. This is important in the story because later on Okonkwo realizes that he is an angry man and he needs to change. This passage shows Okonkwo before he decides to change and as the story goes on Okonkwo no longer makes any threatening moves like he does earlier on in the story. So, overall this passage helps to show Okonkwo's character change.]]> 2019-05-28 00:02:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363848389 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363856205 After being exiled Okonkwo begins to learn how to accept his fate and make the best of his situation. He uses his seven years of exile to build a way to re-enter his fathers homeland and to build his seedyams. He not only mentaly learns to deal with the change that has happened in his life but he also deals with it spiritually. Ever since Okonkwo learned to accept his fate his crops began growing better.]]> 2019-05-28 00:58:23 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363856205 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363856316 After having discovered the church and its ministers Nwoye decides that he is going to start going to school with them. When this happens he not only betrays his family who does not believe in the church but he also betrays his tribe who is trying to fight back against the white people.]]> 2019-05-28 00:59:03 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363856316 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363856430 Uchendu, Okonkwo's uncle, begins questioning Okonkwo and some of the other men about why certain things are done a specific way in their tribes. He finds that none of the men have an answer for him. He then establishes that there is no real reason other than that is what they are told to do. People are told that they are their father's property and everything belongs to their father not their mother. However, whenever they are in trouble or seek refuge they want to go to their mothers for help. In this Uchendu along with the other men are having an external conflict with the accepted society and are beginning to question the accepted ways of their people. This is important to Things Fall Apart because a major theme is questioning society's norms. So, when Chinua Achebe puts this section in the story he displays how the people are beginning to establish their own free will and they are going against society's norms.]]> 2019-05-28 00:59:45 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363856430 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363866027 In this passage after Nwoye, Okonkwo's son, tells Okonkwo that he is going to start going to school with the missionaries which makes Okonkwo extremely angry. Then Okonkwo remembers that everyone calls him the "Roaring Flame" and he finally sees why. Okonkwo finally realizes why everyone sees him as an angry man. This contributes to the theme of free will versus fate because Okonkwo is fighting his anger and is trying to avoid getting angry all of the time. In general this passage shows Okonkwo's realization of one of his many flaws and reveals a major theme of Things Fall Apart.]]> 2019-05-28 02:00:27 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363866027 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363872833 Whenever Okonkwo gets angry Chinua Achebe explains it as a fiery rage. So, the fire represents the anger that Okonkwo expresses. In this passage specifically Okonkwo is questioning why he could have a son who would give up on his people when he makes the reference to when fire turns to ash. So, even though Okonkwo is made of fire and he believes he should have a son who is the same way he does not get that because fire produces ash. This is important to Things Fall Apart because it reveals what Okonkwo thinks of his own son and displays what he may think of other people whom he is not related to.]]> 2019-05-28 02:33:53 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363872833 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363876899 Mr. Kiaga questions the tribe about why they are not allowed to have certain things when he is doing the exact opposite of what they are told to do and there have been no consequences. This causes the whole tribe to question their current thoughts about their religion and society.]]> 2019-05-28 02:53:49 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363876899 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363995531 Often times many older people say that they are scared for our current generation because we cannot get our faces out of our phones and we have no common sense. This is similar to the fear one of the older members of Okonkwo's mother's tribe has about their younger generation. Although his fear does not have to do with phones, he is afraid that the next generation will have no common courtesy to thank their family or to understand the bond of kinship.]]> 2019-05-28 12:43:33 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/363995531 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364033759 Women are often suppressed in Things Fall Apart and they often have no say in anything. In this passage the women have just accepted their place in society and they no longer ask any questions unless they are told about something specifically. Although this example is a bit extreme compared to todays world women's rights are still a big problem today.]]> 2019-05-28 14:23:32 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364033759 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364082307 In this scene Okonkwo displays his sexist comments about women, and men who he deems are unworthy of being men. This also shows how Okonkwo's culture separates women, and men with no titles to men who are higher up in the social status. Although, this does not change by the end of the story Okonkwo gains a little bit more respect for most men and some women. However, they still are not his equals. This is important to the story because it shows how society should change to make more people equals to battle a greater evil.]]> 2019-05-28 16:33:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364082307 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364156542 As the story continues Obeierika is preparing to marry off his daughter to a suitable man for money. Like the story, in todays world many religions have arranged marriages to achieve what is best for the families not for the bride or groom. This is important to the story because it displays part of the tribes beliefs. ]]> 2019-05-28 20:33:29 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364156542 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364173878 Obierika turns his back on the District Commissioner and blames all of the white people for Okonkwo's death. He tells the Commissioner that Okonkwo was one of the greatest men from Umuofia. This is important because it shows that although it lead to his death Okonkwo finally achieved what he wanted. He played a great role in society and he did not follow in his father's footsteps as an unworthy man but he made his own footsteps as an honorable and dependable man.]]> 2019-05-28 22:26:37 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364173878 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364177491 Okonkwo displays his pride for his people and himself when he states that no matter what the rest of his people do he will fight back against the white people. Okonkwo will not give up on his land or his people even if everyone else turns their back on him and he will fight to his death to protect his pride and honor. This is important because Okonkwo has finally found himself as an honorable man who will do whatever his morals tell him to do and he will not just simply give up on something he believes in.]]> 2019-05-28 22:52:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364177491 jlevermann https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364179784 Okonkwo explains one of the many traits of an Umuofia man and explains that they will respect someone and will listen but that does not always mean they are going to follow those orders. This is important because Okonkwo has finally come to a conclusion on who he is and what his tribe values.]]> 2019-05-28 23:10:51 UTC https://padlet.com/jlevermann/57gobamdzvic/wish/364179784