Things Fall Apart

Once upon a time, European imperialists showed up uninvited on the doorsteps of the Igbo peoples of Nigeria, who were probably all like, "are you lost?" The imperialists told the Igbo that their gods were false, their ways were primitive, and their dress sense was pitiful (we're guessing). Then they seized Igbo territory, built their own churches, imposed their imperial government, and generally wrought colonial havoc all up in there.

And to add insult to injury, they wrote books in which they depicted Africans as savage, backward, and in desperate need of "saving."

Nigerian author-extraordinaire Chinua Achebe was not going to accept that traditional, odious depiction.

Enter Things Fall Apart, one of the first great books in postcolonial African literature. Achebe's masterpiece forced the European world—and the world at large—to accurately view postcolonialism, African identity, and experience. To do so, we get up close and personal with the values, culture, and traditions of the Igbo people. We see the good and the bad, the victories and the problems. And then we watch as colonialism creeps in and changes it all forever.

We gotta be honest. This is a heavy book. But it's also one that you'll never want to stop talking about, or thinking about. That's why we're starting here. In this course, we'll

• examine why Achebe's depiction of the complexities of Igbo culture is so groundbreaking in a world where Western literature and thought is everywhere.
• explore the themes of family and tradition, masculinity and reputation, as they apply to Achebe's illustration of Igbo culture.
• analyze the narrative, dramatic, and character arcs of the book, with special attention to our main man Okonkwo—famed wrestler, tragic hero, and really, really lousy husband.

We're ready when you are, Shmoopers.

Unit Breakdown