Key Plot Points in Things Fall Apart (Chapters 11-20)

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Questions and Answers

What did Chielo want with Ezinma?

Chielo wanted to bring Ezinma to Agbala in a cave for a communal.

What did Okonkwo do when Chielo took Ezinma?

He grabbed his machete and followed Chielo with Ekwefi.

What happened during the frenzy at Ezeudu's funeral?

Okonkwo accidentally shot the son of Ezeudu.

What was the result of Okonkwo's action?

Okonkwo was banished from the village and stripped of his titles. Signup and view all the answers

What were the reasons for the clan's actions?

They were cleansing the land that Okonkwo's actions had polluted; they had no hatred for Okonkwo in their hearts. Signup and view all the answers

Where did Okonkwo take his family to live?

They took him to live adjacent to his mother's family in Mbanta, a neighboring village. Signup and view all the answers

What did Okonkwo think about his circumstances?

He thought that his own personal god or chi were destined for bad things; he felt despair. Signup and view all the answers

Who came to visit Okonkwo during the second year of exile, and why did they come?

Obierika came to Okonkwo to bring news of his yam crop and the status of Umuofia as a whole. Signup and view all the answers

What happened, in detail, to Abame?

A white man riding an 'iron horse' came into the village; the elders killed the man and tied the iron horse to the tree. A few months later, three white men came and saw the iron horse and left; then a few weeks later, the white men surrounded the market and massacred everyone there. Signup and view all the answers

What did Obierika describe on his next visit, two years later?

He told Okonkwo of the Christians who came, building a church, and winning over converts. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the missionaries build the church, why, and what happened afterwards?

The missionaries were told to build their church in the Evil Forest because the villagers of Umuofia didn't really want them, and afterwards surprisingly nothing negative happened to the church; in fact, they won over more converts. Signup and view all the answers

Why was Okonkwo afraid of Nwoye's actions?

He was concerned that the male children of the village would lose tradition and custom, picturing fathers shamefully looking onto them. Signup and view all the answers

What group wanted to convert to Christianity, and why did they do it?

The osu, or outcasts, wanted to convert to Christianity to lose their shameful titles. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the incident with the Sacred Python.

The Sacred Python was thought to be the chosen god of the water and revered among Umuofia's people. Then, one day, someone had killed it, allegedly a Christian convert. This caused much uproar within the village, and eventually, they killed the supposed convert that killed the python and resolved to not bother the Christians anymore. Signup and view all the answers

What did Okonkwo do before he left Mbanta, and what did his elder say about Umuofia?

Okonkwo held a great feast for all his mothers' kinsmen, and his elder told them that this new, strange religion could be the downfall of Umuofia's piety and strength. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Umuofia so different when Okonkwo returns?

The Christians had set up a new legal and judicial system, acted harsh and arrogant, not caring for the due process that Umuofians typically had. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Aneto?

Aneto was a citizen of Umuofia who was dissatisfied with one of the court's rulings in that it ignored religious customs within the village; he was later hanged by the government officials. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Plot Points from Chapters 11-20 of "Things Fall Apart"

Chielo, the priestess of the Oracle, intended to take Ezinma to Agbala for a communal purpose.
Okonkwo, feeling protective, grabbed his machete and followed Chielo after she took Ezinma, accompanied by Ekwefi.
During Ezeudu's funeral, Okonkwo accidentally shot Ezeudu's son, leading to tragic consequences.
As punishment for his actions, Okonkwo was banished from the village and stripped of his titles, marking a significant fall from grace.
The clan sought to cleanse the land polluted by Okonkwo's actions, expressing no hatred towards him despite the consequences.
Okonkwo relocated his family to live with his mother's relatives in Mbanta, a nearby village during his exile.
Stricken with despair, Okonkwo believed that his personal god or chi was destined for misfortune due to his circumstances.
Obierika visited Okonkwo in exile to share news about his profitable yam crop and the general state of Umuofia.
In Abame, a white man on an "iron horse" was killed by the elders; later, a massacre in the market occurred as a response to the white men's presence.
On a subsequent visit, Obierika reported that Christians were building a church and converting locals in Umuofia.
The missionaries chose to construct their church in the Evil Forest, as a test of their faith; surprising everyone, nothing negative occurred, and they gained more converts.
Okonkwo feared that Nwoye's interest in Christianity would lead to a loss of cultural traditions, envisioning fathers in shame over their sons' choices.
The osu, or outcasts, sought conversion to Christianity to escape their stigmatized identities; they embraced the faith and were strengthened in their beliefs.
An uproar followed the killing of the Sacred Python, a revered god by Umuofia's people; a supposed Christian convert was blamed, which escalated tensions.
Before leaving Mbanta, Okonkwo held a grand feast for his mother’s kin, during which an elder warned of the new religion's potential to undermine Umuofia's traditions.
Upon Okonkwo's return, he discovered major changes in Umuofia, including a new legal system imposed by Christians, which disregarded traditional customs.
Aneto, a local, opposed a court ruling that contradicted religious customs and was subsequently hanged by government officials, highlighting the new order.

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Explore the significant events and themes from Chapters 11 to 20 of 'Things Fall Apart'. This quiz delves into Okonkwo's tragic journey, including his exile and the community's responses to his actions. Test your knowledge on these pivotal plot points and their implications for the character and society.