“His [Okonkwo] mother and sisters worked hard enough, but they grew women’s crops, like coco-yams,
beans and cassava. Yam, the king of crops, was a man’s crop” (Achebe 23).
Literary devices: symbolism
Literary features: tone → condescending, contemptuous
In Thing Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe uses symbolism for the concept of gender role in Igbo culture.
For instance in this quote, the coco-yams, beans, and cassava signify powerless and weak. Achebe is
reflecting these adjectives on women, which women should only grow worse plants (according to Igbo
culture). On the other hand, yam symbolizes strength and power, which in the text Achebe emphasises
the Igbo men are powerful and man is “the king” of society. Additionally, author utilizes condescending,
contemptuous for the tone, which demonstrates Okonkwo has an extreme pride of being a man and he
considers himself is superior than women. From this quote, readers could understand that in Igbo culture,
the hierarchy based on gender is normal, moreover, the Okonkwo is somehow sexist, however is the
society Okonkwo lives shaped his character.
“Does the white man understand our custom about land?” “How can he when he
does not even speak our tongue? But he says that our customs are bad; and our
own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad
(repetition). How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned
against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his
religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has
won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on
the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” (Achebe, 176)
→ Literary features: Mood - irreverent, shock, heartrending, ominous
Tone - upset, ominous, apprehensive
→ In the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe uses repetition in the lines “But he says
that our customs are bad; and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that
our customs are bad” (L 20-21). The repetition of the “our customs are bad” creates a upset
tone from Okonkwo. It emphasizes Okonkwo’s condemnation of the colonialists for their
disrespect toward Igbo customs, it also shows his criticism of some clan members’
responses to the colonial presence. The repetition and upset tone express an irreverent and
shock mood for Okonkwo and makes the reader feel sympathy for Okonkwo.
Literary Feature: Mood
Literary Device: Foreshadowing
In the novel “Things Fall Apart,” Achebe uses foreshadowing of “Those whose palm-kernels
were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.”
Through Okonkwo’s hard work he is not humble, and does everything himself leading for
something to potentially happen to him because he is so isolated. The foreshadowing of
“should not forget to be humble” creates an uncertain mood. As a result, the reader feels as
there is a major change bound to happen to the main character Okonkwo.
“Okonkwo did not taste any food for two days after the death of Ikemefuna. He drank
palm-wine from morning till night, and his eyes were red and fierce like the eyes of a rat
when it was caught by the tail and dashed against the floor”(Achebe 46).
Literary Features: Tone (Okonkwo demonstrates his sadness and misery after Ikemefuna’s death),
mood, character.
Literary Analysis: In the novel “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe uses simile of “like the eyes of a rat”.
To portray his feelings and emotions of Ikemefuna’s death. Poor Okonkwo is disturbed by his daughter’s
death and is now lost in the world. This simile creates a strong action because it’s referring also to the
audience and Okonkwo’s change in personality is shown. Mood is what is most observable in this piece of
literary device. It makes the audience understand that he is mad and foolish. Comforting mood and tone,
it’s clear that they both appear by the way the author wrote this quote also the tone is notable by the way
thing in the background are going. As a result, the readers might feel displeasure and grief. No one can
ever describe how it feels to lose a new child.
‘God will not permit it,’ said Okonkwo. ‘I do not know how to thank you.’
‘I can tell you,’ said Obierka. ‘Kill one of your sons for me.’
‘That will not be enough,’ said Okonkwo.
‘Then kill yourself,’ said Obierka.
(Achebe 100)
Literary Devices: Hyperbole, Foreshadowing,
Literary Features: Tone: Direct, annoyed, foreboding, stern, solid, uneasy,
Mood: Cautious, chilling, dark, grim, ominous,
In this novel, Things Fall Apart, Achebe uses foreshadowing of “Then kill yourself” (Achebe 100). The use
of this foreshadowing attributes to the ominous tone of the book, as it highlights the point in which
Okonkwo really does take his own life. This sort of language use influences the mood of the moment to
show this foreshadowing, chilling the reader. As a result the audience feels afraid of this moment.
…
In the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe, uses irony in this following quote;
“His father, Unoka, who was then an ailing man, had said to him during that terrible harvest
month: ‘Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A
proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more
difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone (Ironic → Unoka was a failure and he failed
alone).’
Unoka was like that in his last days. His love of talk had grown with age and sickness. It tried
Okonkwo’s patience beyond words (Ironic → Unoka is being nice trying to help and Okonkwo
hates it)” (Achebe 25).
The ironism evokes a sense of humor which makes the reader feel more at ease although it also
somehow creates a sense of sadness. As a result, the audience resents a sense of awkwardness
because of the son and father’s torn relationship although this can also make the reader laugh of
their strange situation.
“If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my
eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. That is what a man does. These people
are daily pouring filth over us, and Okeke says we should pretend not to see.”
The quote uses repetition in sound D to exaggerate Okonkwo’s feeling of femininity within
the Mbanta tribe.
“....., what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. That is what a
man does.”
The quote has a lot of literary features, it sculpts the character for showing the point of
view, also the out burst of outraged tone and threatening mood from Okonkwo
The uses of sound D repetitively helped us understands Okonkwo’s point of view. Readers
already know that Okonkwo is obsessed with manliness, from this quote, it pushes the idea
even further. Not only that, it is also shown that Okonkwo’s understanding of manliness is
associated violent and strife.
“He wanted Nwoye to grow into a tough young man capable of handling his
father’s household when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors”
(Achebe 59)
A : Imagery
Literary feature: Narration
In the novel Things Fall Apart, Achebe uses Imagery of “when he was dead and
gone to join the ancestors” visually describe what happened to his father, the tone
is sadness and pride at the same time.
“ Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are
the palm oil with which words are eaten” ( Achebe,7). TONE: objective, respectful
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE : metaphor In the poem Things Fall Apart, Chinua
Achebe uses metaphor in the lines “proverbs are the palm oil with which words
are eaten”(Achebe). This figurative language compares two important elements of
the Ibo’s civilization, the first one was used for religious ceremonies but also
considered as one of the most valuable products, instead proverbs represents an
instrument used to communicate among the members of the tribe but used also to
pass on stories of their village since they didn’t know how to write. WIth this quote
the writer puts on the same level these two elements and I found it fascinating
because nowadays we forget how important the words are and sometimes we
underestimate it.