Things Fall Apart
By Chinua Achebe
GCSE English Literature
Revision Notes
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1 Things Fall Apart – GCSE English Literature Revision Notes
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2 Things Fall Apart – GCSE English Literature Revision Notes
Table of Contents
Context ................................................................................................................................... 5
Summary ................................................................................................................................ 6
Characters............................................................................................................................... 8
Okonkwo ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Nwoye ................................................................................................................................................ 8
Ezinma ................................................................................................................................................ 8
Mr. Brown .......................................................................................................................................... 9
Reverend James Smith ....................................................................................................................... 9
Uchendu ............................................................................................................................................. 9
The District Commissioner ................................................................................................................. 9
Unoka ................................................................................................................................................. 9
Obierika............................................................................................................................................ 10
Ekwefi............................................................................................................................................... 10
Enoch ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Ogbuefi Ezeudu ................................................................................................................................ 10
Chielo ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Akunna ............................................................................................................................................. 10
Nwakibie .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Mr. Kiaga .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Okagbue Uyanwa ............................................................................................................................. 11
Maduka ............................................................................................................................................ 11
Obiageli ............................................................................................................................................ 11
Ojiugo ............................................................................................................................................... 11
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols ................................................................................................ 11
Themes............................................................................................................................................. 11
Change vs. Tradition...................................................................................................................... 11
Interpretations of Masculinity ...................................................................................................... 11
Language as Cultural Difference ................................................................................................... 12
Motifs ............................................................................................................................................... 12
Chi ................................................................................................................................................. 12
Animal Imagery ............................................................................................................................. 13
Symbols ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Locusts .......................................................................................................................................... 13
Fire ................................................................................................................................................ 13
Important Quotations Explained ............................................................................................ 14
1. ...................................................................................................................................................... 14
2. ...................................................................................................................................................... 14
3. ...................................................................................................................................................... 15
3 Things Fall Apart – GCSE English Literature Revision Notes