Homework due 3/29/17

1. Review the questions for your theme topic (can all be found below)
2. Come prepared tomorrow with 3-5 Chapters, quotes or sections from the novel that you want to discuss with your group (Must be from Chapters 1-8 ONLY)

Theme Questions by Topic

Respect & Reputation

1. Does a man's reputation in TFA accurately show his true value?
2. On what factors are a man's reputation based in TFA? Is it based on merit, or some other qualities?
3. What factors influence a woman's reputation?
4. Is Okonkwo's desire for a strong reputation a good thing? Does it ever get in the way of his obligations, his family, his religion, etc?
5. Does Okonkwo's reputation remain the same, or does it change over the course of the book?

Religion

1. What is the nature of the Igbo gods? What sorts of elements or concepts do they represent? What does this indicate about Igbo culture?
2. Why do you think there is so much superstition surrounding children (abandoned twins, ogbanje children, etc.)?
3. Are the Igbo gods vengeful? When compared to Chrsitianity? What sort of justice do they carry out?
4. Do the people of Umuofia truly believe that the egwugwu are ancestral spirits, or do they realize the truth about them? Why do the people of Umuofia listen to the egwugwu?

1. How does fear of the unknown and misunderstanding of different cultures affect the Umuofia and the Christians? Does either side ever really try to understand each other?
2. Who are the first converts to Christianity? Why do these people find Christianity so appealing?

Masculinity

1. What makes a strong man? What makes a strong Igbo man?
2. Which character best fits the definition of a strong, capable Igbo man? Consider many characters, their strengths and weaknesses before deciding.
3. Where do we see examples of masculine/male privilege in the novel?
4. Where do we see examples of feminine/female privilege in the novel?
5. Are there male characters in the novel who are not like Okonkwo who are successful? Who? What makes them successful examples of masculinity?
6. What is the purpose of gender-coding almost every aspect of society – right down to the crops and murder?
7. How might Okonkwo’s “sins” be seen as the results of an imbalance between nurturing feminine and aggressive masculine forces?
8. Compare and contrast the notions of "motherland" and "fatherland"
9. Interpret the idea/concept that "mother is supreme", what does it mean for Okonkwo? For other Igbo people?

Clash of cultures

1. How do white men view Igbo people?
2. How do the Igbo view white men?
3. What are some of the misunderstandings that the missionaries and the Igbo people have between each other?
4. Is the younger generation of Umuofia straying away from long-established customs?
5. What impact does the arrival of the Christians have on the people of Umuofia?
6. Can Umuofia be a unified group of people without shared traditions?

Igbo Society Complexity

1. Where in the novel do we see examples of Achebe showing detailed descriptions of Igbo culture?
2. How do his examples show the "complexity" of Igbo society?
3. What makes a society "complex"? Consider your own opinions and what you see from the novel.
4. In such ritualized events as weddings and funerals, what aspects of life do the Igbo people celebrate or mourn?
5. Much of Igbo culture includes highly stylized speech. What purpose does the formal way of speaking serve? To another man? To an audience? To a family member? To the gods?

Tradition vs. Change

1. Is change important for/beneficial to a society? Why or why not?
2. What values do people get from upholding tradition? What values do the Igbo people in TFA get from their traditions?
3. What are some ways that traditions hurt people? What are some ways that traditions hurt people in TFA?
4. Should societies resist change or embrace it?
5. How do the various people in TFA react to the changes happening around them? Consider different characters and perspectives.
6. Can Umuofia be a unified group of people without shared traditions?
7. What is Okonkwo's view on the missionaries? On colonial education? Does his view differ from that of other characters?
8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of colonial education?