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Questions and Answers
How does eighteen-year-old Okonkwo bring honor to his village?
When Okonkwo is angry and cannot speak because of his stutter, how does he get his point across?
Who is Okonkwo's father?
Unoka
Why doesn't Okonkwo have any patience with his father?
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When is the only time that Unoka is not haggard and mournful?
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Why does Unoka's neighbor, Okoye, visit him?
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Why does Unoka change the subject to music when he and Okoye are discussing the impending war with the village of Mbaino?
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While talking with Okoye about the war, Unoka changes the subject to which topic?
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Why does Okoye need to collect a past debt from Unoka?
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What form of conversation do the Ibo people regard the most highly?
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How does Unoka react when Okoye asks him to repay the two hundred cowries owed to him?
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Why is Okonkwo considered one of the greatest men of his time?
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What is used to inform all the men of Umuofia to meet in the marketplace the following morning?
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What do the people of Umuofia fear in the night?
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Okonkwo does not fear war. What souvenir did he bring home from the last war he fought?
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Who is the powerful orator that informs the ten thousand men of the emergency facing the nine villages of Umuofia?
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What is the emergency that the great orator announces at the meeting in the marketplace?
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What ultimatum is dispatched to Mbaino as a consequence of the murder of the woman from Umuofia?
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Why is Umuofia feared by all its neighbors?
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What does Mbaino give Okonkwo as an offering for the murder of the woman from Umuofia?
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What are the things that Okonkwo fears most?
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What is the one passion that rules Okonkwo's life?
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Why is Okonkwo's twelve-year-old son, Nwoye, causing him great anxiety?
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How does Ikemefuna react to living with Okonkwo?
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Under what circumstances will the people of Umuofia consult Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves?
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Where does the powerful Oracle of the Hills, Agbala, live?
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When Okonkwo was a boy, his father, Unoka, consults Agbala about why his crops always fail. What reply did the Oracle give?
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What is the shameful death Unoka endures?
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Who is the first man Okonkwo works for as a share-cropper?
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What does Okonkwo bring with him to share with Nwakibie and his family before asking for yam seeds and sharecropping privileges?
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Where are the titles worn on Anasi, Nwakibie's first wife?
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Why does Nwakibie trust Okonkwo to farm his yam seeds?
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What is the only way a young man can build a barn of his own if his father has no yams?
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How is the weather during the first growing season that Okonkwo starts share-cropping for Nwakibie?
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What are the crops that are considered women's crops by the people of Umuofia?
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How does Okonkwo react to the disastrous growing season that destroys all his yams and the yams of his people?
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Why does Okonkwo insult Osugo at a meeting by calling him a woman?
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How long is Ikemefuna in Okonkwo's care?
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How does Nwoye's mother treat Ikemefuna?
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How does Ikemefuna feel after three weeks of illness?
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Why does Okonkwo beat his second wife, Ojiugo, during the sacred Week of Peace?
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Why do the people of Umuofia observe the Week of Peace?
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What is Okonkwo's punishment for committing a 'nso-ani' during the Week of Peace?
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What happened to a man that broke the Week of Peace in the past?
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What is the custom in the village of Obodoani if a man dies during the Week of Peace?
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What does every man and his family do after the Week of Peace?
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What are the women's duties after the yams are planted?
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During the rainy season, how do the people of the village pass the time?
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Study Notes
Chapter 1 Notes
- Okonkwo, age eighteen, earns honor for his village through wrestling victories and his status as a fierce warrior.
- When angry and unable to speak due to his stutter, Okonkwo utilizes physical gestures to convey his emotions and points.
- Unoka, Okonkwo's father, is viewed as a failure in the eyes of his son, who values strength and success.
- Okonkwo's disdain for his father stems from Unoka's laziness and lack of provision for the family.
- Unoka’s only moments of happiness occur when he plays music, contrasting his usual melancholy state.
- Okoye visits Unoka to collect a debt of two hundred cowries.
- During a discussion about impending war with Mbaino, Unoka deliberately shifts the topic to music, showcasing his avoidance of serious subjects.
- Okoye's debt collection from Unoka is motivated by the need to settle his own financial commitments.
- The Ibo people hold conversations, particularly verbal storytelling and proverbs, in high regard.
- Upon being asked to repay his debt, Unoka becomes distressed and defensive, illustrating his financial instability.
- Okonkwo is renowned as one of the greatest men due to his wealth, strength, and personal achievements.
Chapter 2 Notes
- An announcement is made through the town crier to gather all men of Umuofia in the market for an emergency meeting.
- The people of Umuofia fear supernatural forces at night, reflecting their deep spiritual beliefs.
- In the last war, Okonkwo demonstrated his bravery by bringing home a severed head as a trophy, which he used to drink palm-wine.
- A powerful orator, likely an elder, calls the assembly of ten thousand men to address significant clan concerns.
- The emergency discussed is the murder of a woman from Umuofia, prompting a response from their leaders.
- Umuofia sends an ultimatum to Mbaino demanding the punishment of the responsible parties for the woman's death.
- Umuofia is feared by surrounding communities due to its military strength and reputation.
- As the emissary of peace, Okonkwo is sent to Mbaino, who offers a virgin girl and a boy, Ikemefuna, as compensation for the crime.
- Okonkwo fears weakness, failure, and being perceived as like his father.
- His life is driven by the ambition to achieve respect and success, fueled by a fear of inadequacy.
- Nwoye, his son, causes Okonkwo worry due to his perceived softness and lack of masculinity.
- Ikemefuna adjusts to life with Okonkwo, exhibiting both fear and curiosity about his new home.
Chapter 3 Notes
- The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves is consulted by the people of Umuofia in matters of significant importance or crisis.
- Agbala, the Oracle, resides in a cave on the hills, symbolizing mystery and authority.
- Unoka, Okonkwo’s father, once sought the Oracle’s guidance about his failing crops, demonstrating a reliance on spiritual beliefs.
- The Oracle's unkind response reveals that Unoka's poor farming practices were the root of his troubles.
- Unoka meets a shameful fate, dying in debt and being buried in an unceremonious way, which is considered dishonorable.
- Okonkwo first works for Nwakibie, a wealthy man, reflecting the class structure of Igbo society.
- To request yam seeds from Nwakibie, Okonkwo brings gifts, showing respect for wealth and tradition.
- Anasi, Nwakibie’s first wife, holds unique status as the chief wife and symbolizes women's hierarchical roles in Igbo society.
- Nwakibie trusts Okonkwo, seeing potential in his eagerness and determination to succeed as a farmer.
- A young man with no yams can only secure land to farm if he finds a benefactor like Nwakibie.
- Severe weather during Okonkwo's initial growing season results in crop failure, marking the beginning of hardship.
- Crops like cassava and maize are viewed as 'women's crops' by the Ibo people, reflecting gender roles in agriculture.
- Okonkwo's response to his crop failures is filled with anger and despair, affirming his fear of weakness and failure.
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Description
This study guide provides essential questions to help you comprehend key events in Chapter 1 of Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart'. Answering these questions will enhance your understanding of the text and the character of Okonkwo. Use this resource for better analysis and retention as you read the novel.
