Things Fall Apart, Chapters Six, Seven, and Eight

Your cultural background shapes your interpretation of the world around you, how you think of yourself, and how you interact with others. Developing a sense of cultural awareness is key in today’s world. In the past, a lack of cultural awareness has led to events such as the Holocaust and racial segregation. Throughout the novel, you will see a lack of cultural awareness leading to a society that falls prey to a more dominant culture. As readers of a novel based on such a different culture, you must gain the ability to stand back and ask: Why do they do things in that way? How do they see the world? Why do they react in a particular way? Do not get bogged down in the cultural differences. In these three chapters, you will gain more insight into what makes the Ibo tribe tick.

As you read Chapters Six, Seven, and Eight, continue to be observant of the prolific use of similes and metaphors. Chinua Achebe uses them to describe in greater detail everything from the drums and drummers at the wrestling match to Nwoye’s horrified realization of what his father has done.

These three chapters will also reveal a great deal of insight about Okonkwo as a tragic hero. This is information that will be important for you to track and understand. One great reading strategy that may help you in tracking his development as a tragic hero is to use sticky notes throughout your novel, making note of key passages/events that directly relate to the archetypal tragic hero.

Analysis

Important events in this reading include a wrestling match, a swarm of locusts, a murder, and the viewing of a white-skinned man. The wrestling match takes place on the village green or ilo. Here the drummers line the field and excitement for this event is very high. Ikemefuna stays with Okonkwo’s family for three years. Together with Nwoye, the two frequently visit Okonkwo’s obi. It is here where they share stories full of violence. A swarm of locusts engulfs the village and the tribe collects the insects to serve as a source of food. Ogbuefi Ezeudu visits Okonkwo and gives him a message from the Oracle that Ikemefuna must be killed. Then during a walk home, Ikemefuna is attacked by a man with a machete. Ikemefuna cries to Okonkwo for help, but instead of rescuing him, Okonkwo strikes the boy down. His crime brings him to tears as he struggles with feelings of guilt and sorrow. The murder of Ikemefuna causes Okonkwo to sink into depression. The time of year has left Okonkwo idle, and this weighs on him as well. Okonkwo has also committed a tribal sin by killing a kinsman. He was so very afraid of looking weak that he was willing to violate the laws of his tribe. The last part of this reading ends when members of the tribe are discussing the appearance of a white-skinned man.

 

Ibo Culture Review

Test your knowledge about the culture of the Ibo tribe in this interactivity. In this non-graded interactivity, read each statement and decide whether it is true or false. Then, select the appropriate answer and click SUBMIT. Click the player button to get started.