90 Questions
According to the text, why did Unoka buy gourds of palm-wine?
To celebrate whenever he saw a dead man's mouth
What did Unoka do when the village musicians brought down their instruments?
He played with them and felt blessed and peaceful
Why did people laugh at Unoka and refuse to lend him money?
Because he was poor and never paid back his debts
According to the text, why was Okonkwo well known in the nine villages and beyond?
Because he was a great wrestler
What was the reason behind Okonkwo's fame growing like a bush-fire in the harmattan?
Because he threw Amalinze the Cat
What was the reason behind Okonkwo's severe look?
Because he had bushy eyebrows and a wide nose
Who was regarded as a great talker in the text?
Unoka
What did Unoka ask Okoye to do?
Return borrowed cowries
Why did Unoka burst out laughing?
He found something funny
What did Unoka do to show his debts?
All of the above
According to the text, why was Okonkwo well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond?
He was a skilled wrestler
What was the reason behind Okonkwo's severe look?
His bushy eyebrows and wide nose
Why did people laugh at Unoka and refuse to lend him money?
Because he was lazy and improvident
According to the text, why did Unoka always succeed in borrowing more money?
Because he was a persuasive talker
What was Unoka's attitude towards wars?
He was a coward and could not bear the sight of blood
Why did Okoye come to see Unoka?
To inform him about his plan to take the Idemili title
According to the text, why was Unoka heavily in debt when he died?
Because he had borrowed money from many people
What did Unoka do to show his debts?
He drew lines in chalk on his hut wall
Why was Okonkwo ashamed of his father, Unoka?
Because Unoka had taken no title and was heavily in debt
Why was Okonkwo considered one of the greatest men of his time?
Because he had won fame as the greatest wrestler and showed prowess in wars
According to the text, what was the reason behind Okonkwo's fame growing like a bush-fire in the harmattan?
He was a great wrestler
According to the text, why was Okonkwo ashamed of his father, Unoka?
Unoka was lazy and improvident
According to the text, why did Unoka always succeed in borrowing more money?
He had powerful friends
According to the text, why did Unoka buy gourds of palm-wine?
To celebrate whenever he received money
What was the reason behind Okonkwo's fame growing like a bush-fire in the harmattan?
His large barn full of yams
According to the text, why was Unoka heavily in debt when he died?
Because he spent all his money on palm-wine and feasting
According to the text, why did Unoka burst out laughing?
Because Unoka found Okoye's request ridiculous
Why was Okonkwo considered one of the greatest men of his time?
Because he won fame as the greatest wrestler
According to the text, why was Unoka heavily in debt when he died?
Because he borrowed money from many people
What did Unoka do to show his debts?
He drew lines in chalk on the wall
Why did Okonkwo wonder what was amiss when he heard the town crier's message?
He heard a clear overtone of tragedy in the crier's voice
Why were children warned not to whistle at night?
To prevent evil spirits from hearing them
What is the significance of a moonlight night for the people of Umuofia?
All of the above
What was Okonkwo's greatest fear?
The fear of himself resembling his father
What did Okonkwo do during the planting season?
He worked on his farms daily
What did Okonkwo's wives and young children suffer from?
Hunger
What did Okonkwo's daughter bring to his household?
A stranger
Why was Okonkwo not afraid of war?
He was a man of action and war
Why did Ogbuefi Ezeugo bellow "Umuofia kwenu" multiple times?
To emphasize the importance of the situation
Why did Umuofia send an ultimatum to Mbaino?
To demand compensation for the murder of a Umuofia woman
Why did the town crier call every man of Umuofia to gather at the market place?
To address a tragedy
What did the people of Umuofia fear about darkness?
Evil spirits
Why were children warned not to whistle at night?
To ward off evil spirits
What was Okonkwo's greatest fear?
The fear of himself resembling his father
What did Okonkwo's wives and young children suffer from?
Fatigue
Why did Okonkwo's first son, Nwoye, cause him great anxiety?
Nwoye was sad-faced and showed signs of laziness
What was Okonkwo's prosperity visible in?
His large compound enclosed by a thick wall of red earth
Why was Okonkwo not afraid of war?
He believed that war was necessary for the growth and strength of the clan
Why did Umuofia send an ultimatum to Mbaino?
To demand compensation for the murder of a daughter of Umuofia
Why were neighboring clans afraid of Umuofia?
Umuofia had a legendary war medicine that made them invincible
Which clan did Umuofia send an ultimatum to?
Mbaino
Who was chosen to speak on great occasions such as the funeral of a village celebrity?
Ogbuefi Ezeugo
What was the name of the powerful war medicine of Umuofia?
Agadi-nwayi
Which of the following best describes the atmosphere in Umuofia at night?
Quiet and eerie
Why were the people of Umuofia asked to gather at the market place?
To witness a tragedy
Why did the people of Umuofia fear darkness?
Because evil spirits are more active at night
What was Okonkwo's fear greater than?
The fear of the forest and forces of nature
What did Okonkwo hate everything that his father loved?
Gentleness and idleness
What did Okonkwo work on daily during the planting season?
His farms
Who did Okonkwo bring into his household when the daughter of Umuofia was killed in Mbaino?
lkemefuna
Why was the year that Okonkwo took eight hundred seed-yams from Nwakibie considered the worst year in living memory?
The drought killed all the yams that had been sown
What did Okonkwo do to protect his yams from the smoldering earth during the drought?
He covered them with thick sisal leaves
Why were some farmers considered wise for not planting their yams yet?
They had foresight and avoided the drought
What happened to the yam heaps during the continuous rain after the drought?
They were washed away
What did Okonkwo say about the year that he survived despite the sad harvest?
It surprised him that he did not sink under the load of despair
What did Unoka say to Okonkwo during the terrible harvest month?
All of the above
What did Unoka's love of talk do as he grew older and sicker?
It increased with age and sickness
What did Okonkwo put down to his ability to survive the terrible year?
His inflexible will
What did Unoka say about failure and pride during his last days?
Failure is more difficult and bitter when experienced alone
What did Okonkwo's first son, Nwoye, cause him?
Great anxiety
During the worst year in living memory, what happened to the first rains?
They fell too early
What happened to the earth during the worst year?
It burned like hot coals
What did Okonkwo do to protect his yams from the smoldering earth during the drought?
He made rings of thick sisal leaves around them
What happened to the yams that were planted before the drought?
They grew into healthy tubers
What was the condition of the yam harvest during the worst year?
Sad and rotting
How did Okonkwo feel when he thought about the tragic year later in his life?
Surprised and relieved
What did Unoka say to Okonkwo during the terrible harvest month?
Do not despair. You have a proud heart.
Why did some farmers consider themselves wise during the worst year?
They had not planted their yams yet
What did the rain do to the yam heaps during the worst year?
It washed them away
How did Okonkwo describe the year that he took eight hundred seed-yams from Nwakibie?
The year that broke his heart
What was the result of the drought on Okonkwo's yams during the worst year?
The yams were destroyed by the drought
What did Okonkwo do to try and protect his yams from the drought?
He made rings of thick sisal leaves around them
What happened to the yam heaps during the heavy rain that followed the drought?
The yam heaps were washed away
What was the condition of the yam harvest during the worst year?
The yam harvest was sad and rotting
What did Okonkwo remember with a cold shiver throughout the rest of his life?
The terrible year of the drought and heavy rain
Why did Unoka say that a proud heart can survive a general failure?
Because failure does not prick the pride of a proud heart
What did Unoka's love of talk do as he grew older and sicker?
It tried Okonkwo's patience
What did Okonkwo put down to his ability to survive the terrible year?
His inflexible will
What did Unoka say to Okonkwo during the terrible harvest month?
Do not despair. I know you will not despair.
What did Okonkwo's father, Unoka, say about a man failing alone?
It is more difficult and more bitter
Study Notes
Unoka's Characteristics
- Unoka bought gourds of palm-wine to share with others and show his debts.
- He was a great talker and loved to talk, which made people laugh.
- Unoka was heavily in debt when he died because he always succeeded in borrowing more money.
Okonkwo's Characteristics
- Okonkwo was well known in the nine villages and beyond because of his great wrestling skills.
- He was considered one of the greatest men of his time due to his bravery and strength.
- Okonkwo had a severe look, which was a result of his greatest fear, which was failure.
Unoka and Okonkwo's Relationship
- Okonkwo was ashamed of his father, Unoka, because of his laziness and debts.
- Unoka asked Okoye to lend him some money, which made him burst out laughing.
Umuofia Culture
- Children were warned not to whistle at night because of the fear of darkness.
- Moonlight nights were significant for the people of Umuofia.
- Ogbuefi Ezeugo would bellow "Umuofia kwenu" multiple times to gather the people of Umuofia.
Okonkwo's Life
- Okonkwo's wives and young children suffered from hunger during the planting season.
- He brought in his daughter, Ezinma, to his household when the daughter of Umuofia was killed in Mbaino.
- Okonkwo worked on his yams daily during the planting season.
- He was not afraid of war because of his bravery and strength.
The Worst Year
- The year that Okonkwo took eight hundred seed-yams from Nwakibie was considered the worst year in living memory.
- The drought during that year caused the yam heaps to smolder, and Okonkwo protected them by surrounding them with thick leaves.
- The yam harvest was terrible that year, and Okonkwo felt a cold shiver when he thought about it later in his life.
- The drought was followed by continuous rain, which destroyed the yam heaps.
Test your knowledge on the events in the first three chapters of the book 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe. Questions include Unoka's actions, Okonkwo's reputation, and more.
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