Questions and Answers
What is Okonkwo's mood in Chapter 23?
He is pleased about the destruction of the church and feels that daily life is beginning to seem normal again.
What do the villagers do after the burning of the church?
They arm themselves with guns and machetes.
Who is the District Commissioner?
He is a white European who takes over the justice system for Umuofia.
What does the District Commissioner do when he returns?
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What happens during the palaver with the District Commissioner?
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The leaders have a chance to get out of jail after their arrest.
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What is decided in an emergency village meeting regarding bail?
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How are Enoch and Okonkwo considered doubles?
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How does the language barrier create misunderstandings between the colonists and the villagers?
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What does the misinterpretation between Smith and the villagers remind us of?
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What does the District Commissioner remind the leaders?
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What happens to the leaders' hair in jail?
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What does Okonkwo tell the leaders they should have done?
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What is the meaning of 'kotma'?
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How do the missionaries justify how they treat the villagers?
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How do the British divide the villagers?
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What does 'palaver' mean?
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What does Enzima do when she finds out Okonkwo has been put in jail?
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How many men did Reverend Smith bring with him to his talk with the leaders?
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What will happen if the villagers don't come up with the bail?
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What is decided when the entire village gathers at the center?
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Study Notes
Mood of Okonkwo
- Okonkwo feels pleased about the church's destruction and the return to a semblance of normalcy.
- He appreciated the clan's unity in arming themselves, even though they didn't act as he wished.
Reactions to Church Burning
- After the church is burned, villagers and Okonkwo arm themselves with guns and machetes for protection over the next two days.
District Commissioner
- Represents European colonialism and the decline of African society.
- Takes control of the justice system in Umuofia.
Encounter with District Commissioner
- The Commissioner summons village leaders, including Okonkwo, to discuss the church burning.
- Leaders attend with machetes but not firearms, seeking to avoid conflict.
Palaver Meeting Consequences
- In a condescending manner, the Commissioner addresses the leaders, immediately setting up a trap for them.
- After placing their weapons down, soldiers arrest and imprison the leaders, subjecting them to abuse.
- They are informed they must pay a fine of two hundred bags of cowries.
Bail for Leaders
- A bail of two hundred bags of cowries is established for the leaders' release.
- Court messengers demand an increased bail of two hundred and fifty bags, profiting from this extortion.
Emergency Village Meeting
- Villagers agree to collect cowries to pay the imposed fine to secure their leaders' release.
Enoch and Okonkwo’s Parallels
- Both characters share a defiance against familial traditions and display a sense of superiority.
- Enoch's adherence to Christianity parallels Okonkwo's tendencies toward violence.
Language Barrier Misunderstandings
- The language gap creates crucial misinterpretations between colonists and villagers.
- Smith misjudges the villagers’ actions, seeing the church burning as a direct challenge to authority.
Cultural Significance of Miscommunication
- The misunderstanding reflects themes of deception similar to the story of Tortoise told by Ekwefi.
Commissioner’s Justifications
- The Commissioner promotes peace, coercively reminding leaders of their legal obligations under British authority.
Treatment of Leaders in Jail
- Guards shave the men's heads, violating Igbo customs, leading to their suffering in silence due to neglect.
Okonkwo’s Advice
- Okonkwo chastises the leaders for not killing the white man when they had the opportunity, angering the guards.
Kotma Definition
- "Kotma" is the term used for court messengers serving colonial interests.
Missionaries’ Justification
- Missionaries rationalize their oppressive actions in the name of Queen Victoria, portraying her as an imperial authority.
Division of Villagers by British
- The British utilize other Africans to enforce colonial control, revealing the exploitative dynamics in their governance.
Additional Vocabulary
- "Palaver" refers to a discussion or conversation.
Enzima’s Reaction
- Enzima disrupts her visit to her husband's family upon hearing of Okonkwo's imprisonment.
Reverend Smith’s Accompaniment
- Reverend Smith arrives with a total of twelve men for the discussion with Umuofia’s leaders.
Consequences of Unpaid Bail
- Failure to gather the bail money risks the hanging of six village leaders by white authorities.
Village Assembly Decision
- The entire village ultimately resolves to abstain from any actions regarding the missionaries and their church.
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Description
Explore the key themes and events from Chapter 23 of 'Things Fall Apart'. This quiz will test your understanding of Okonkwo's mood and the villagers' reactions following the church's destruction. Dive deep into the nuances of the characters' motivations and actions.
