Things Fall Apart Chapters 1-2 (35 points)

Standard: ELA.10.R.1.1: Analyze how key elements (plot, characterization, conflict, theme) enhance or add
layers of meaning and/or style in a literary text.
Objective: I can analyze how complex characters (Okonkwo, Unoka, Nwoye) develop over the course of a text
(Things Fall Apart Chapters 1-2), interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
As you read chapters 1 and 2, track how the three characters Okonkwo, Unoka, and Nwoye are characterized.
(5 points)
Okonkwo Unoka Nwoye
♦ He was well known ♦ He is unsuccessful ♦ He is 12 years old
♦ His fame rested in his ♦ He is lazy ♦ He caused his father
personal achievements ♦ He only thought about great anxiety for his
♦ He is a great wrestler today not tomorrow laziness
♦ He is fierce ♦ He is in debt ♦ He was developing into a
♦ He had multiple wives ♦ Tall and thin sad youth
♦ Has a short temper ♦ Can play flute
♦ He isn’t patient ♦ He is poor
♦ He could not bear the sight
of blood

1. How is Okonkwo characterized in chapter 1? ACEECEE (10 points)

In chapter 1, Okonkwo is characterized as a fierce and great wrestler and a guy with a short temper. On page
three, the author says that Okonkwo was “one of the fiercest” since their founder engaged a spirit world for
seven days and nights and that he “brought honor to his village” when he fought and defeated Amalinze the Cat.
Okonkwo was known through the nine villages and beyond as one of the fiercest and a great wrestler who
brought honor to his village. The author also says that Okonkwo “did pounce on people quite often” and when
he couldn’t get his words out quickly enough, “he would use his fists.” Okonkwo would have little patience and
would get angry quickly if things would not go the way he wanted them to.

2. Describe the relationship between Unoka and Okonkwo. How does this relationship motivate
Okonkwo? ACEE (5 points)
Unoka and Okonkwo’s relationship could be explained as opposites and this relationship motivates
Okonkwo not to be like his father. On page 13, the author says that Okonkwo resented his father’s
failure and weakness, even as a little child. Okonkwo was ruled by one passion, “to hate everything
 that his father Unoka had loved.” Okonkwo wants to do the opposite of his father, so he doesn’t end
up in the same place that he’s in.

3. What theme is beginning to emerge based on the relationship between Okonkwo and Unoka? ACEE
(5 points)
Based on the relationship between Okonkwo and Unoka a theme that begins to emerge is that children would
not want to be like their parents. The author says that Okonkwo resents his father’s failure and weakness and
grew up to “hate everything his father Unoka had loved.” Ever since he was a little boy, Okonkwo wanted to
like what his father did not which means he would hate gentleness and even idleness.

4. Essential Question: Describe the relationship between Okonkwo and his oldest son, Nwoye. What
theme might be developing based on their relationship? What is Achebe’s purpose in juxtaposing
Unoka’s relationship with Okonkwo and Okonkwo’s relationship with Nwoye? ACEECEE (10
points)
The relationship between Okonkwo and Nwoye is based on Okonkwo seeing Nwoye as a lazy child. Okonkwo
sought to fix Nwoye by nagging and beating Nwoye. The author says that to Okonkwo, Nwoye was causing
him great anxiety for his incipient laziness and “sought to correct him by nagging and beating.” Okonkwo sees
his son from a different perspective than how he is, making Nwoye develop into a sad youth. A theme that
might be developing based on their relationship is that parents who don’t want to be like their parents, also
don’t want their children to be like them. Achebe’s purpose in juxtaposing Unoka’s and Okonkwo’s relationship
with Okonkwo’s and Nwoye’s relationship is to show that Unoka’s and Okonkwo’s relationship was based on
the fact that Okonkwo wanted to be nothing like his father making Okonkwo seeing Nwoye in a different way
to where he will change him.