Things Fall Apart Ch. 1-9

Read the traditional proverb from Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart:

"A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing."

• It is a bad idea to exert oneself too much.

• There is a purpose behind every action.

• Danger can easily be avoided.

• The natural world is hard to explain.

Which choice best explains how Achebe uses proverbs and folktales in his novel Things Fall Apart?

• to reinforce popular African stereotypes

• to criticize the Ibo people's superstitions

• to show the wisdom of traditional beliefs

• to praise the richness of African culture

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Read the excerpt from Chapter 2 of Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart.

"Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children. Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and of weakness. . . . It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father. Even as a little boy he had resented his father's failure and weakness. . . . And so Okonkwo was ruled by one passion to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness.

During the planting season Okonkwo worked daily on his farms from cock-crow until the chickens went to roost. He was a very strong man and rarely felt fatigue."

Which three choices best describe how Unoka serves as a foil to Okonkwo in this excerpt?

• Unoka's laziness is a contrast to Okonkwo's hard work.

• Unoka's bravery is a contrast to Okonkwo's deep fear.

• Unoka's friendliness is a contrast to Okonkwo's cruelty.

• Unoka's gentleness is a contrast to Okonkwo's brutality.

• Unoka's weakness is a contrast to Okonkwo's strength.

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Read this excerpt from Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart.

"That was many years ago, twenty years or more, and during this time Okonkwo's fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan. He was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look. He breathed heavily, and it was said that, when he slept, his wives and children in their houses could hear him breathe. When he walked, his heels hardly touched the ground and he seemed to walk on springs, as if he was going to pounce on somebody. And he did pounce on people quite often. He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists. He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had had no patience with his father."

How does the author's description develop the character of Okonkwo?

• It shows that he is an old man.

• It shows that he is failing at his career.

• It shows that he is attempting to change his behavior

•  It shows that he is easily agitated.

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Read this excerpt from Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart.

"[Ikemefuna] was by nature a very lively boy and he gradually became popular in Okonkwo's household, especially with the children. Okonkwo's son, Nwoye, who was two years younger, became quite inseparable from him because he seemed to know everything. He could fashion out flutes from bamboo stems and even from the elephant grass. He knew the names of all the birds and could set clever traps for the little bush rodents. And he knew which trees made the strongest bows."

Which choice best shows why Ikemefuna is accepted into Okonkwo's household?

• Ikemefuna is energetic and wise for his age.

• Ikemefuna is respectful to his elders.

• Ikemefuna is a talented musician.

• Ikemefuna is affectionate to the younger children.

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Read this excerpt from Chapter 4 of Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart.

"At first Ikemefuna was very much afraid. Once or twice he tried to run away, but he did not know where to begin. He thought of his mother and his three-year-old sister and wept bitterly. Nwoye's mother was very kind to him and treated him as one of her own children. But all he said was: "When shall I go home?" When Okonkwo heard that he would not eat any food he came into the hut with a big stick in his hand and stood over him while he swallowed his yams, trembling. A few moments later he went behind the hut and began to vomit painfully."

How does the author's use of language in this excerpt help the reader understand the characters?

• The author's language helps the reader understand that Okonkwo is unconcerned about Ikemefuna.

• The author's language helps the reader picture how hard Ikemefuna is struggling to accept his new situation.

• The author's language helps the reader picture how much Nwoye's mother resents having to take care of Ikemefuna.

• The author's language helps the reader understand that Ikemefuna is sick and not receiving proper care.

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Read the excerpt from Chapter 4 of Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart.

"Okonkwo did as the priest said. He also took with him a pot of palm-wine. Inwardly, he was repentant. But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbours that he was in error. And so people said he had no respect for the gods of the clan. His enemies said his good fortune had gone to his head. . . .     No work was done during the Week of Peace. People called on their neighbours and drank palm-wine. This year they talked of nothing else but the nso-ani which Okonkwo had committed."

Which choice best describes how the author develops Okonkwo's character in this excerpt?

• by showing that he has a hard time admitting he made a mistake

• by showing that he thinks too highly of himself now that he is successful

• by showing that he disregards the religious beliefs important to his clan

• by showing that he resents being talked about by his neighbors

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Read this excerpt from Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart.

"Okonkwo was sitting on a goatskin already eating his first wife's meal. Obiageli, who had brought it from her mother's hut, sat on the floor waiting for him to finish. Ezinma placed her mother's dish before him and sat with Obiageli.   

'Sit like a woman!' Okonkwo shouted at her. Ezinma brought her two legs together and stretched them in front of her.     

'Father, will you go to see the wrestling?' Ezinma asked after a suitable interval.     

'Yes,' he answered. 'Will you go?'     

'Yes.' And after a pause she said: 'Can I bring your chair for you?'     

'No, that is a boy's job.' Okonkwo was specially fond of Ezinma. She looked very much like her mother, who was once the village beauty. But his fondness only showed on very rare occasions."

How does the characterization of Okonkwo in this excerpt develop a theme central to the first six chapters of the novel?

• It shows that Okonkwo believes parents and children often have difficult relationships.

• It shows that Okonkwo believes there should be clearly defined gender roles.

• It shows that Okonkwo believes superficial appearances are not important.

• It shows that Okonkwo believes it is important for a man to be respected.

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Read the sample student writing.

"(1) Ezinma is a better character than her sister Obigaeli. (2) Ezinma is described as being "wiser than her years" by her mother. (3) When Nwoye's mother requests that Ezinma bring her live coals, Ezinma offers to stay and build the fire for her as well. (4) Nwoye's mother calls her "Ezigbo," which means "the good one." (5) In contrast, Obiageli could be considered the "bad one." (6) Instead of being wise beyond her years, she pretends to be a grown up by balancing her water pot on her head and swinging her hips. (7) When the pot falls and breaks, she laughs. (8) She only pretends to be sad in front of her mother so she will not get in trouble. (9) She also lies to her mother to keep from getting in trouble."

Which choice is the best replacement for sentence 1 to create a strong thesis?

• NO CHANGE

• Female characters, like Enzima and Obiageli, are shown in traditional roles in the novel.

• Okonkwo has many children, including two daughters named Ezinma and Obiageli.

• Ezinma and Obiageli are sisters, but Ezinma is more mature and responsible than Obliageli.

Which choice best describes how authors use foreshadowing?

• to build suspense and engage the reader

• to introduce the conflict of the story

• to create complex and believable characters

• to describe events that take place before the action of the story

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