Things Fall Apart, Chapters Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen

The tragic hero makes a poorly thought out decision due to his tragic flaw. That decision and the action associated with it mark the point of no return for the hero. Okonkwo has made his bed; now he has to lie in it. In the next three chapters, you will see Achebe return to his use of figurative language and rely on this language to help you see, hear, and feel what is going on in the world of Okonkwo and his family.

Essential Question

• How does a tragic hero’s error in judgment bring about his ultimate downfall?