The Second Coming
1. What is historical context of Things Fall Apart?
Ans: The novel is depicting the pre-colonial life of Africa(South-eastern part of Nigeria) and the latter part of the Nineteenth century. Which can be mostly experienced in second part of the novel by observing the intrusion of Europeans and the missionaries. The customs that are highlighted in the novel, is similarly actualized in real life, in Onishtha city.
2. What is significance of the title?
Ans: The title is borrowed from W. B. Yeats's poem, "the second coming."
"Things fall apart; the center can't hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity".
3. Write a brief note on the concept of 'Chi' in Things Fall Apart?
The Chi concept is about the personal God. That would be interpreted as good or evil as per the person's deeds. For example: Unoka, the father of Okonkwo, who is failure as considered by his son, since he was so lazy, builded interest in music only and didn't bent to do some work, so his children may have good fortune as Nwabikie's children had. Three huge Barnes, nine wives, thirty children and only a highest title. But this was more than enough. While Okonkwo had to work hard to overcome poverty and misfortune, as it was considered, the gift given by his father.
There is a stranger's story behind this. A person who didn't work, won't get occasion to be buried as normally the people who have contributed well in the village do. He would be left alone in the forest with swallowing stomach and limbs(as was the condition of Unoka). It wasn't only Okonkwo who was pitying this condition of his father, but the whole village was against this attitude. Thus it was considered his 'Chi' was faultery. Which wasn't making him realize, what he was doing is wrong. He must change his attitude towards the life. But getting involved more in the same process day by day. Perhaps getting used to the usual activity unable to come out of comfort zone but found contention in the providence on daily basis, condesing with the belief as if God sprinkling the graces upon.
When he died, he was with the sickness of swelling, thus he can't be kept at home but in the evil forest to take his last breath on the above of the Earth. It is said: 'When he died he went with flute in his hand', nothing else.
Lastly he had left the world, leaving his family behind(the mother and sister). Though not taken care by his father and didn't get anything in inheritancy, Okonkwo had to look after his mother and sister, from his meager income.
In contrast when Chielo a widow woman asked 'Ikwefe', as your husband had tried to threaten you with his heavy voice, carrying gun in his hand and how brutal it is! Then appreciated her by 'praising her Chi' as it is good. Otherwise noone could be so normal as she seems to be.
Conclusively it can be said, "Chi" is associated with conscience/awareness. Consceince can be good as well as bad, reflecting on the concerned personality. Accordingly he/she is ultimately rewarded by the Earth/God.
4. What do you think about the incident of Ikemefuna? How does it help to understand the Ibo culture in more specific ways?
Ans: It is aptly the difference between 'Nativism' and 'native identity'. The ibo culture represents the first notion, Ikmefuna endorsed with the latter. 'Everything that is borrowed, is to be given back'. The responsibility to look after Ikernefuna was given to Okonkwo for some days, while he wasn't knowing it will take all the three years. Alongside many conflicts were going on, personally and outside but he ignored because somewhere he had become fond of Ikemefune. Unaware of one day he would be given order to slain down Ikmefuna with his own hands.
Hence it seems that it is the time, which will indicate how you have to react, if in favour or disfavouring. Considering the latter you would become victim of someone else's hands, and the innocent, who is given an identity of nativism, without uttering word/asking his wish, he would be eliminated from the Earth forever.
This is how Igbo culture functions, where there is always revelry, revelry is followed by something ominous, the manliness showcased by having more wives, more children, many barns and a number of titles. In absence of these, a man is considered nothing, but a victim of society and therefore left to struggle through his own "Chi". It is also shown paralelly, even though having a number of wives, but they are treated equally, concerning their rights as well as husband's shared love, but actual honor is given to the first wife. Since it seems she is well aware of the customs taking place in Umofia village(Can be experience through one of the scenes, where palm-wine is distributed among the neighbours, others surrounding there and then the wives called at last, to have a drink of the same, but with decorum and with calculated measure).
Comprising all these elements we see how a culture is constituted.
5. Write a brief note on Ibo people's belief in the world of spirits.
Ans: It is mainly regarded with the growth of crops. When a person shows inability to work for his own livelihood, he seeks help from God, Oracle/priestess, who is any persona. That will suggest the person to slain a hen/goat so he may have better season of crops.
As seen in one of the scenes, Unoka is reprimanded by making him realize, what he is doing is wrong: simply asking to kill a hen, so he may have better season of crops, where actually the soil is already exhausted and an exhausted land would be able to reward back the labour, that is contributed for your own living. Many had to cross seven rivers, to get them food. How you would be able to get the same, by only sitting at home? It isn't at all possible, moreover against the very nature. If anything goes against nature, it would become a hasty progression, therefore a resulted destruction. That will lead you nowhere but to your own downfall.
Likewise the Ibo people's beliefs are connected with the spirits. But it seems illusive that spirits are able to answer rightly.
6. How is the difference between the father land and the mother land is described in Things Fall Apart?
7. Write a brief note on the concept of Nativism and Native identity in Things Fall Apart.
8. Point out the important points of Things Fall Apart which can be compared with Kanthapura by Raja Rao.
