Things Fall Apart

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• What is the characters’ tone when discussing the missionaries at the beginning of chapter 16? What diction conveys this tone?

• What have the characters now learned is the white men’s primary purpose for being in Igbo land? What are efulefu, and why do the villagers take comfort that the converts are efulefu?

• What do we learn about Nwoye? Why is it significant that we learn this soon after learning about the efulefu?

• How is the tone toward the missionaries different on pp. 144–147? What specific diction/examples conveys this shift in tone?

• The imagery on p. 147 (“He felt a relief…the panting earth.”) conveys what about Nwoye?

• What does the missionaries’ assumption that the Igbo have a “king” convey?

• Why are the villagers astounded at the missionaries’ reaction to the land they are given? What diction does the author use on pp. 148–151 to convey the villagers’ view of/tone toward the missionaries?

• What diction does the author use to describe the villagers’ views of/tone toward the missionaries in chapter 17?

• Who is Mr. Kiaga?

• How does Okonkwo’s feelings toward the missionaries change once he hears about Nwoye’s involvement? How does this impact his feelings about Nwoye? What particularly powerful diction does the author use to convey Okonkwo’s thoughts and feelings?

• What was Okonkwo’s nickname? What does Okonkwo see this nickname representing?

• How could the symbolism of fire/flame be interpreted differently? 

• What does this final line (“Living fire begets cold, impotent ash”) reveal that Okonkwo is realizing?

• What damage have Okonkwo’s “fiery” and hyper masculine characteristics already wrought in his life? Trace back through this chapter and before.