Why would Chinua Achebe use lines from The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats as an introduction and even the title of his novel?
Achebe uses this opening stanza of William Butler Yeats’s poem “The Second Coming,” from which the title of the novel is taken, as an epigraph to the novel. In invoking these lines, Achebe hints at the chaos that arises when a system collapses. Yeats’s poem is about the Second Coming, a return and revelation of sorts.
Why should a man suffer so grievously for an offense he had committed inadvertently?
Why should a man suffer so grievously for an offense he had committed inadvertently? But although [Okonkwo] thought for a long time he found no answer. He was merely led into greater complexities.
What is the center of things fall apart?
Things Fall Apart tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first story traces Okonkwo’s fall from grace with the tribal world in which he lives.
Who found Okonkwo dead?
Obierika leads the way with five or six others, and the Commissioner follows along with his men. They’re led to a tree behind Okonkwo’s compound where they find Okonkwo’s body dangling.
What is the most important theme in the second part of the novel Things Fall Apart?
Theme #2. The novel, Things Fall Apart, also deals with the battle between progressive social transformation and traditions. Most people including Okonkwo do not accept the new religious and social order brought by the British missionaries.
What is the significance of Okonkwo committing a female crime?
Okonkwo’s accidental murder is considered a crime against the earth goddess and he is forced to flee Umuofia immediately. Ironically, Okonkwo commits a female crime because the murder had been inadvertent. As punishment for his female crime, Okonkwo is banished from Umuofia for seven years.
Why does Okonkwo think Egonwanne is an obstacle?
As he considers the meeting the next day, he decides the greatest obstacle in Umuofia is a speaker named Egonwanne. Okonkwo blames him for persuading the clan to be less aggressive and decides that if the clan listens to Egonwanne tomorrow, he will plan his own revenge.
What does the falcon represent in Things Fall Apart?
The falcon represents the young generation of the clan; the falconer represents the elders. This is a story of how things really do fall apart. The story is centered around Okonkwo, a great wrestler and elder of the clan. He is the son of an indolent man, who was constantly in debt.
What is the meaning of Things Fall Apart?
The Struggle Between Change and Tradition As a story about a culture on the verge of change, Things Fall Apart deals with how the prospect and reality of change affect various characters. The tension about whether change should be privileged over tradition often involves questions of personal status.