Things Fall Apart Chapter 8 & 9 Quiz

Questions and Answers

How does Okonkwo act for two days after Ikemefuna's death?

He doesn't eat and breaks out in shivers.

Why does Okonkwo worry about his son, Nwoye?

He has too much of his mother in him; he can't fend for himself already.

What is the strange event that takes place in the village of Ire?

The eldest couple in the village had died, one right after the other.

What is a man who holds the ozo title forbidden to do?

Cannot tap the tall trees for palm wine, only the small ones. Signup and view all the answers

How do Akueke's suitor and his relatives determine if she is ripe for marriage?

They watch her and decide, bargain on sticks, and then decide on how many cowries. Signup and view all the answers

What is the agreed-upon bride-price for Akueke?

20 bags of cowries. Signup and view all the answers

What is Ekwefi anxious to tell Okonkwo early in the morning?

Ezinma is dying. Signup and view all the answers

What do all children of the clan except Ezinma call their mothers?

Nne. Signup and view all the answers

What explanation does the diviner give for the deaths of Ekwefi's children?

The child was an ogbanje, a child who died and enters the mother's womb to be born again. Signup and view all the answers

What does Okagbue dig up from under the orange tree concerning Ezinma's fate?

Her iyi-uwa, a stone that an ogbanje hides in one of their past lives. Signup and view all the answers

What does Okonkwo bring back from the bush while Ezinma is sick?

A large bundle of leaves and grasses, roots and barks of medicinal trees and shrubs. Signup and view all the answers

How does Ekwefi make the medicine she hopes would cure Ezinma?

Brought a pot, picked the best of the bundle, added water, and heated it up. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Okonkwo's Grief and Concerns

After Ikemefuna's death, Okonkwo shows signs of deep distress by not eating and experiencing shivers.
Okonkwo is worried about his son Nwoye, perceiving that he has inherited too much of his mother’s traits, indicating a lack of toughness or resilience.

Village Events and Traditions

A strange occurrence in the village of Ire involves an elderly couple dying in quick succession, first the husband, then the wife.
Men holding the ozo title are restricted from tapping tall palm trees for wine, instead only allowed to tap smaller trees.

Marriage Customs

Akueke, Obierika's sixteen-year-old daughter, is of an appropriate age for marriage; her suitor and his family observe and negotiate her readiness, discussing the number of cowrie shells as bride-price.
The agreed-upon bride-price for Akueke is set at 20 bags of cowries.

Family and Mortality

Ekwefi hastily informs Okonkwo that their daughter Ezinma is dying, highlighting the family's stress over children's health.
In the clan, children refer to their mothers as “Nne,” establishing a cultural norm.

Supernatural Beliefs and Medicine

Ekwefi has experienced the loss of nine out of ten children in infancy; a diviner explains the reoccurrence is due to their child being an ogbanje, who dies and returns to the womb multiple times.
The medicine man, Okagbue, discovers Ezinma's iyi-uwa, a mystical stone believed to ensure her survival into adulthood.

Healing Efforts

Okonkwo forages in the bush, collecting a variety of medicinal plants while Ezinma is sick in her mother’s hut.
Ekwefi prepares medicine for Ezinma by selecting the best ingredients from Okonkwo's collection, mixing them with water, and heating the mixture to create a remedy.

Description

Test your knowledge on Chapters 8 and 9 of 'Things Fall Apart'. This quiz explores Okonkwo's emotional turmoil after Ikemefuna's death and his concerns about his son Nwoye. Dive into the key events and themes of these chapters to see how well you understand this classic novel.