Things Fall Apart — Pre-Reading Guide
Read this before you start the book
📖 What Is This Book?
Things Fall Apart, published in 1958, is the most widely read book in modern African literature. It tells the story of Okonkwo, a strong and respected leader in an Igbo village in Nigeria, during the late 19th century. The novel is divided into two halves: the first shows the richness and complexity of traditional Igbo life, and the second show the devastating impact of British colonialism and Christian missionaries on that same society.
Basic Facts:
- Author: Chinua Achebe (1930-2013)
- Published: 1958
- Length: ~200 pages
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Post-Colonial Literature, Tragedy
- Setting: Lower Niger (Nigeria), specifically the village of Umuofia, late 1800s.
- Status: A foundational text that reclaimed the African narrative from colonial writers.
🏆 Why Is This Book Important?
Literary Significance
- Reclaiming the Perspective
- Before this book, most stories about Africa were written by Europeans (like Joseph Conrad or Joyce Cary) who portrayed Africans as “savages.” Achebe wrote this book to show that African societies were complex, legalistic, and deeply cultured before any European arrived.
- The Tragedy of the Individual and the Society
- The title comes from W.B. Yeats’s poem “The Second Coming.” It refers both to Okonkwo’s personal life “falling apart” and his entire culture collapsing.
- Language as a Tool
- Achebe wrote in English but infused it with Igbo rhythms, proverbs, and structures. He “colonized” the English language to tell an African story.
Historical and Cultural Impact
- Post-Colonial Classic: It is the definitive account of how the “civilizing mission” of Europe actually destroyed functioning social structures.
- Cultural Preservation: For many readers, the book acts as an ethnographic record of Igbo traditions, legal systems, and religious beliefs.
🎯 What to Think About As You Read
Key Questions to Keep in Mind
- Is Okonkwo a “good” man?
- He is hardworking and successful, but he is also violent and terrified of appearing “weak.” Is his tragedy caused by his own personality or by the changing world?
- What held the society together?
- Pay attention to the rituals involving yams, the egwugwu (ancestral spirits), and the sharing of kola nuts. How do these rituals create a sense of order?
- The “Knife” on the Strings
- A famous quote in the book says the white man “put a knife on the things that held us together.” Identify what those “things” are. Is it just religion, or something deeper?
- Fate vs. Free Will (The Chi)
- In Igbo culture, a person has a chi (personal god). Consider whether Okonkwo is a victim of his chi or if his choices are entirely his own.
Literary Elements to Notice
- Proverbs: “Proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.” Notice how characters use proverbs to show wisdom and social standing.
- Yams as Masculinity: Yams are “the king of crops.” Success is measured in yams.
- The Tragic Flaw: Okonkwo’s fear of being like his father (Unoka) is his hamartia (tragic flaw). It drives everything he does.
📚 A Note on Structure
The novel is split into three parts:
- Part I: Detailed description of Igbo life and Okonkwo’s rise to power.
- Part II: Okonkwo’s seven-year exile in his mother’s village (Mbanta).
- Part III: Okonkwo’s return to a Umuofia that has been transformed by the British.
🎓 About Achebe’s Style
Objective Realism
Achebe writes in a very straightforward, almost clinical style. He doesn’t tell you how to feel; he simply reports the events. This makes the tragedy feel inevitable rather than sentimental.
Watch for the “repetition” of stories and myths. This mimics the way history was passed down in the village.
💡 Reading Tips
- Don’t Skip the Descriptions: The long sections about farming and festivals are not “filler.” They are the “things” that will eventually “fall apart.”
- Pronunciation: Igbo is a tonal language. Don’t worry about getting it perfect, but try to find a rhythm for names like Okonkwo (o-KON-kwo) and Umuofia (oo-moo-O-fee-ah).
- Watch the Pace: Part I is slow because the culture is stable. Parts II and III move much faster as the “falling apart” accelerates.
🎯 Your Reading Goals
- Trace Okonkwo’s relationship with his son, Nwoye. How does this father-son conflict mirror the larger cultural conflict?
- Analyze the character of Obierika. He is Okonkwo’s best friend but has a very different way of thinking.
- Compare the two missionaries: Mr. Brown and Reverend Smith. Why does the second one cause more damage?
📝 Before You Start
Take a moment to consider:
- What happens to a person when their entire worldview—their religion, their laws, their family structure—is suddenly declared “wrong” by a powerful outsider?
- Is it possible for two completely different cultures to live together without one destroying the other?
Ready to read?
Turn to Chapter 1: “Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond.”
Pre-Reading Guide created: 2025-12-25
For Great Literature 101 - Book 8 of 10