TFA

• perhaps in his heart

  perhaps in his heart okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness.
• yam, the

  yam, the king of crops, was a mans crop
• he was not afraid


  he was not afraid of war. He was a man of action, a man of war. Unlike his father he could stand the look of blood. In Umuofias latest war he was the first to bring home a human head.
• okonkwo was

  okonkwo was not the man to stop beating someone half way.
• "she should have been...


  "She should have been a boy," Okonkwo said to himself again. His mind went back to Ikemefuna and he shivered."
• He heard Ikemufuna cry...

  "He heard Ikemefuna cry, "My father, they have killed me!" as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak."
• it is true a child belongs to his father...

  It's true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother's hut. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland."
• although he had prospered in his motherland

  Although he had prospered in his motherland Okonkwo knew that he would have prospered even more in Umuofia, in the land of his fathers where men were bold and warlike."
• okonkwo was deeply grieved

  Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women."
• the crime was of two kinds

  The crime [of murder] was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years."
• they were locusts

  they were locusts , it said, and that first man was their harbinger sent to explore the terrain. And so they killed him."
• for the first time in

  For the first time in many years Okonkwo had a feeling that was akin to happiness
• okonkwo was choked

  okonkwo was choked with hate
• that man was one of the

  That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself: and now he will be buried like a dog.'

  • Final degradation for the tragic hero: cannot be given the burial he deserved as had taken his own life

  • Total respect for Okonkwo and reminding the reader of how far Okonkwo has fallen

  • Context: Tragic hero - we have witnessed Okonkwo's rise and fall. He now has to be buried like an animal
• he was tall

  he was tall but very thin with a slight stoop
• unoka was never

  unoka was never happy when it came to wars. He was in fact a coward that could not stand the sight of blood.
• unoka would play with them

  Unoka would play with them, his face beaming with blessedness and peace"

  • Chapter 1 (Page 4)

  • Playing - playing the flute in neighbouring villages
• when unoka had died

  whejn unoka had died he had taken no title
• his father was

  his father was an agbala
• he resented

  he resented his fathers failure and weakness
• if i were you i would have stayed at home


  If I were you I would have stayed at home. What you have done will not please the Earth. It is the kind of action for which the goddess wipes out whole families.'

  • Obierika said this to Okonkwo. He is referring to Okonkwo killing Ikemefuna and ignoring Ogbuefi Ezeudu's warning. Obierika is giving his words of wisdom to Okonkwo, as he is seen doing throughout the novel.

  • Context: Ibo culture -clear belief in superstitions govern their day to day lives

  • Chapter eight
• if the oracle said that

  If the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it.'

  • Acting as a foil to Okonkwo. Obierika is far more flexible in his thinking than Okonkwo.

  • Chapter 8
• When mother-cow


  When mother-cow is chewing grass its young ones watch its mouth.'

  • Obierika's eldest brother says this about Maduka. Okonkwo wishes Nwoye would be like Maduka whilst Obierika finds Maduka too sharp, so they have conflicting views.

  • This proverb uses words that the Ibos would use (e.g. "grass") to pass down advice from generation to generation.

  • Context: Achebe shows how sophisticated the Ibo culture is in passing knowledge down through the generations.
• obierika was a man

  Obierika was a man who thought about things."

  • This shows that, although he follows the words of the goddesses, he still questions the Ibo culture and notices its flaws. Again, a foil to Okonkwo.

  • Context: Achebe presents both sides in a non-judgmental way to allow the reader to make their own decision.
• i dont know

  ) 'I don't know how we got that law.'

  • Obierika questions Ibo traditions and laws.

  • Context: Achebe is showing the Western readers that the Ibo culture is sophisticated and have their own laws as part of their judicial system.
• the white man is very clever

  The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.'

  • Context: Achebe's parents converted to Christianity - Achebe was still able to embrace the Ibo culture, showing that the presence of other cultures hasn't ended or prevented the Ibo culture

  • Chapter 20
• nothing please nwoye more

  Nothing pleased Nwoye more than to be sent for by his mother...to do one of those difficult and masculine tasks"

  • Masculinity in igbo culture and Nwoye turning into a 'Man'.
• burst

  Burst into tears"

  • Not exhibiting 'manly traits'

  • Upon finding out Ikemufuna is leaving.
• he still prefered

  He still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell"

  • Nwoye still prefers stories for 'foolish woman and children', not traditionally manly by igbo standards.
• but there was a young lad

  But there was a young lad who had been captivated"

  • Nwoye was captivated by Christian beliefs

  • Chapter 16
• isaac

  "Isaac"

  • Nwoye's new name. In Old Testament, Isaac was the son of Abraham whose faith in God was tested when he was asked to sacrifice Isaac.

  • Achebe likening Okonkwo to Abraham as Okonkwo was asked by the Elders to kill Ikemefuna which he did because of his faith in the Igbo traditions.
• his wives lived

  his wives(...) lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper"

  • conveys the dominating relationship Okonkwo has with his wives

  • Chapter 2 Page 12
• she wore the anklet

  she (Anasi) wore the anklet of her husband's titles, which the first wife alone could wear"

  • Context - Ibo traditions, the first wife holds a higher status than the rest

  • Chapter 3 page 20
• i have done my best

  "I have done my best to make Nwoye grow into a man, but there is too much of his mother in him."

  • Okonkwo dislikes that his wife has influenced Nwoye's character. Gender issues

  • Page 62 Chapter 8
• at last ezinma was born

  At last Ezinma was born, and although ailing she seemed determined to live."

  • chapter 9, page 75

  • Lack of medicines other than herbal medicines. When Missionaries arrive and build hospitals this shows the positive effects of colonisation
• she had it was true

  She had, it was true, her moments of depression when she would snap at everybody like an angry dog."

  • chapter 20, page 162

  • Shows the similarities between Ezinma and Okonkwo's personality.
• and so he built

  And so he built a school and a little hospital in Umuofia

  • Chapter 21 Page 132

  • Mr Brown tries very hard to understand the beliefs of the people of Umuofia, although we are made aware that even though Mr Brown approaches the conversion of the locals with peace, he has violence and 'attacks' at the back of his mind.

  • CONTEXT - Achebe shows that the Missionaries could have a positive effect on the Ibo society as they benefited from schools, hospitals and the economy
• mr brown came to be

  Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith

  o Chapter 21 Page 130

  o When Achebe introduces Mr Brown into the novel, he doesn't seem like a bad person. Even though Okonkwo isn't his biggest fan, Achebe still shows how Mr Brown tries his best to maintain peace within the clan, which is comforting to the people of Umuofia who thought that he would probably kill him, similar to what had happened in other towns nearby.

  o CONTEXT -Colonialism in Africa and Christian Missionaries. Two religions trying to co-exist. Achebe is non-judgemental showing that Mr Brown is a reasonable man
• he was a


  he was a different kind of man
• he saw things as black and white


  'He saw things as black and white. And black was evil. He saw the world as a battlefield in which the children of light were locked in a mortal conflict with the sons of darkness