Things Fall Apart Chapter 19

Questions and Answers

What does Okonkwo do as his 7 years in exile is near the end?

He builds a new home

He sacrifices a goat

He provides a large feast for his mother's kinsmen (correct)

He returns to Umuofia

What does Okonkwo regret?

The missed opportunity to have further increased his status and influence among his clan.

What do the villagers express to Okonkwo at the feast?

He has been generous with his food.

What are Okonkwo's continued concerns?

His concern for the younger generation as Christianity is winning people away from their families and traditions. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Nwoye interested in Christianity?

He feels himself exiled from society due to his disbelief in its laws. Signup and view all the answers

What two groups are happy to become converts to Christianity?

Men without titles and the osu Signup and view all the answers

What good reasons does Okonkwo have to reject Christianity?

His killing of Ikemefuna would lose religious justification, and the church undermines the cultural value of their accomplishments. Signup and view all the answers

Did Okonkwo give up on Nwoye?

False Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase, 'Living fire begets cold impotent ash' mean?

It reflects the realization that his behavior leaves behind coldness and powerlessness. Signup and view all the answers

What does the arrival of the white colonists weaken?

The kinship bonds central to Igbo culture. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Christian church recognize as an obstacle?

Igbo kinship bonds. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Okonkwo send money to Obierika?

To rebuild two huts on the site of his burned-out compound. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Uchendu honored at the feast?

As the oldest man, he breaks the kola nut and prays for health and children. Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase, 'I cannot live on the bank of a river and wash my hands with spittle' mean?

One must act according to one's fortune and circumstances. Signup and view all the answers

When does Okonkwo throw his huge feast?

As the final rainy months of his exile draw to a close. Signup and view all the answers

What does Ekwefi provide for the feast?

She harvests her cassava. Signup and view all the answers

What task is given to Ekwefi and Obiageli?

To gather cassava tubers a few days before the feast. Signup and view all the answers

What is Okonkwo's reasoning for the feast?

'It is good for kinsmen to meet.' Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the names Okonkwo gives the children born during his exile?

He names his daughter Nneka and his son Nwofia, reflecting his regard for femininity and his relationship with his mother's home. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't Obierika build Okonkwo's obi?

Because a man has to build them for himself or inherit them from his father. Signup and view all the answers

Why can't Okonkwo return to Umuofia before the rains stop?

He has to pay the full penalty of seven years in exile. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Uchendu throw one of the kola nuts on the ground?

To honor the ancestors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Exile and Cultural Connections

Okonkwo prepares a feast for his mother's kinsmen in Mbanta to show gratitude after his seven years of exile, inviting all living descendants of an ancestor from two centuries ago.
He regrets not enhancing his status among the Umuofian community due to forced exile and spending time with those he considers less masculine.

Feast and Community Response

At the feast, villagers are surprised by Okonkwo's generosity and praise his commitment to kinship.
Okonkwo worries about the impact of Christianity on younger generations, fearing it diverts them from traditional values and family ties.

Nwoye’s Alienation and Transformation

Nwoye, feeling disconnected from society due to disbelief in its customs, finds refuge in Christianity, which appeals to outcasts.
Osu (outcasts) and men without titles convert to Christianity for affirmation and equality, challenging their marginalized status.

Okonkwo’s Rejection of Christianity

Okonkwo sees Christianity as a threat, as it undermines cultural achievements and reduces the significance of clan leaders and religious authorities.
He fears that failure to expel missionaries would make his past actions, like the killing of Ikemefuna, feel unjustifiable and personally regrettable.

Hope and Realization

Despite his disapproval, Okonkwo believes in Nwoye's potential to ascend as a great clansman, reflecting his enduring parental hopes.
The phrase "Living fire begets cold impotent ash" conveys Okonkwo’s realization that his fierce nature may lead to feelings of coldness and powerlessness in others, including Nwoye.

Kinship and Religion

The arrival of white colonists and their religion threatens the Igbo kinship system, as Christianity promotes a metaphorical kinship that undermines ancestral ties.
The Igbo kinship bonds are viewed as a significant barrier to the success of Christian missionaries.

Economic Preparations and Rituals

Okonkwo sends money to Obierika to rebuild huts of his burned compound in Umuofia, showing concern for his property during exile.
Uchendu, as the eldest at the feast, leads a prayer after breaking the kola nut, symbolizing respect for health and progeny.

Customs and Symbolism

Okonkwo's timing for the feast corresponds with the conclusion of the rainy season, emphasizing his eagerness to regain his status.
Ekwefi and Obiageli are tasked with gathering cassava, a traditional crop essential for the feast preparation.

Naming and Identity

Okonkwo names his children born during exile with significant names: Nneka ("Mother is Supreme") and Nwofia ("Begotten in the Wilderness"), reflecting complex family ties and feelings about his mother’s home.
Uchendu honors the ancestors symbolically by throwing a kola nut on the ground during the feast.

Limitations of Existence

Okonkwo must remain in Mbanta until the rains cease to fulfill the full term of his exile, showcasing the rigid social structures of the time.
Obierika does not construct Okonkwo's obi as it is customary for men to build or inherit their own living spaces, underlining societal expectations.

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Explore the key themes and events from Chapter 19 of 'Things Fall Apart'. This quiz focuses on Okonkwo's actions as he nears the end of his exile and the significance of the feast he organizes. Test your understanding of this pivotal moment in the story.