Literary devices play a crucial role in enhancing the novels main themes and earning things fall apart its. Choose from 251 different sets of literary terms english 12 things fall apart flashcards on quizlet. As a result, the igbo people no longer have one set of social or moral rules to live by and the unity of the clan is shattered. Literary features of things fall apart by chinua achebe. Elements of a plot a component or element of the plot of a story.
Maybe you used imagery to help them picture what happened. Things fall apart literary device interpretations by lee. Things fall apart, chinua achebes classic 1958 novel of africa just before colonialism, tells the story of a world about to undergo a radical change. In fact, it is an insult to call a man an agbala a woman.
Simile comparison using like or as metaphor comparison that does not use like or as examples. Today i will be discussing the utilisation of various literary devices to globalise themes within things fall apart. Colonialism is one of the major themes of the novel which is introduced in the later in the book. Literary analysis of things fall apart themes 1246 words 5 pages. Renaissance from its earliest beginnings in italy in the fourteenth century through the sixteenth century elsewhere in europe, with a shift in some countries to baroque.
Style in literature is the literary element that describes the ways that the author uses words the authors word choice, sentence structure, figurative language, and sentence arrangement all work together to establish mood, images, and meaning in the text. The story takes place in umuofia, a cluster of villages in niger during the 1890s. These events are all the more painful for the reader because so much time has been spent in sympathetic description of igbo life. In things fall apart, nwoye is an important male role who disagrees with his culture and whether or not his cultural traditions are moral. Use of three literary techniques in things fall apart 123. It describes him as having the urge to work, and makes it seem, as if he can hardly make himself not work. Foreshadowing in the novel foreshadowing in the novel chinua achebe foreshadows the arrival of the colonists using the arrival of the locusts.
Things fall apart themes, symbols, and literary devices. Achebes literary allusion to yeats poem might deepen or extendby comparison andor contrastthe meanings of achebes title and his novel. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Jeff somers is an awardwinning writer who has authored nine novels, over 40 short stories, and writing without rules, a nonfiction book about the business and craft of writing. Simile umuofia was like a startled animal with ears erect, sniffing in the silent, ominous air and not knowing. One method they used to captivate the tribesmen was to sing hymns. Through the character of okonkwo, a man of prominence and stature in his village community, achebe depicts how issues of masculinity and agriculture interact with each other and affect the world of the novel. Get an answer for what kinds of literary devices are used in the novel things fall apart by chinua achebe. Chinua achebe has received numerous literary awards from around the world. The importance of literary devices in things fall apart by chinua achebe. What are some literary devices in things fall apart. Things fall apart is a novel with literary meritand lots of it. Things fall apart is a groundbreaking work for many reasons, but particularly because achebes controlled use of the igbo language in an english novel extends the boundaries of what is considered english fiction.
Chapter 1 introduces the novel s protagonist okonkwo, a. He identifies flash back method, economic use of language, transliteration or literal translation, clarity in the choice of diction, proverbs, etc. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. In things fall apart the igbo society is dominated by gender roles. As you might guess from the title, things fall apart is a tragedy. Achebes introduction of new forms and language into a traditional western narrative structure to communicate unique african. Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the texts major themes. In this lesson well look at the literary devices chinua achebe uses in things fall apart.
Things fall apart interposes western linguistic forms and literary traditions with igbo words and phrases, proverbs, fables, tales, and other elements of african oral and communal storytelling traditions in order to record and preserve african oral traditions as well as to subvert the colonialist language and culture. However, as i read more and more into the story, i couldnt help but tie some things in that particular story to a possible end to the novel. Okonkwo shivers as he remembers the last time the old man had visited him and advised him not to participate in the killing of ikemefuna. As a story about a culture on the verge of change, things fall apart deals with how the prospect and reality of change affect various characters. He is physically strong with great strength in his character. Achebe is voicing his own opinion on colonization through obierika. In the beginning of the novel, okonkwo talks about when he beat amalinze in a fight. Okonkwo is the major character and protagonist of the novel, things fall apart. Chapter 20 pg 176 cultural intrusion causes a divide within a village showing the true ignorance of the missionaries. Sep 30, 2006 chinua achebes novel, things fall apart, is a tragic story about the rise and fall of okonkwo. Since achebe used things fall apart as his title, it can also be seen as the thesis of his book. It tells the story of an african clan being invaded by outsiders and falling to pieces. A critical analysis things fall apart 1958 is a fictional novel by chinua achebe that examines the life the igbo tribe living in a rural village called umuofia in nigeria during the early 19th century. Chinua achebes novel, things fall apart, is a tragic story about the rise and fall of okonkwo.
Exposition on the background of the novel things fall apart is one of the most influential novels of its time, both on a local and global scale. Towards the end of the novel, we witness the events by which igbo society begins to fall apart. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in things fall apart, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Husbands beat their wives just for bringing food a few minutes late. When okonkwo returns from exile to his village, christianity has already spread so far. He has put a knife on the things that have held us together and we have fallen apart. Literary analysis of things fall apart essay 771 words. The literary devices and analysis chapter of this things fall apart study guide course is the most efficient way to study the analysis of literary devices used in things fall apart. It is used to describe okonkwos character trait of always being hardworking. Student will identify what literary device is used, how it is used, and interpret why the author is using it.
Achebes writing style created a novel with rich literary techniques that are employed to a succinct manner. Dec 27, 2019 things fall apart, chinua achebes classic 1958 novel of africa just before colonialism, tells the story of a world about to undergo a radical change. Literary devices play a crucial role in enhancing the novel s main themes and earning things fall apart its widespread acceptance as a quality piece of literature. In the novel, the traditional social structure of the igbo is challenged by the missionaries and the white court. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper achebe. Drums and cannons signal the death of ezeudu, the oldest man in the village.
Literary features of things fall apart by chinua achebe chapter 11 pg 70 achebe throughout the novel uses many different literary features literary features of things fall apart by chinua achebe chapter 11 achebe throughout the novel uses many different literary features to bring emphasis to certain points and equally to create a. Sample literary devices essay things fall apart ap. Simile the similes used in the novel are very realistic and vivid. Character, conflict, complication, crisisclimax, change, resolution. This assignment contains examples of literary devices used in the novel things fall apart and guides students through the interpretation process. The narrative technique in achebes things fall apart pen. The figures of speech such as similes, personifications, antithesis, and rhetorical questions etc. The literary elements of things fall apart by mara s. Get an answer for what literary devices does chinua achebe predominantly use in things fall apart.
In about two hundred words, explain how the literary devices. Achebes characterization in the novel is also very vivid. Significance of the title of the novel things fall apart by. Expositionintroduction, rising action, climax, falling action or resolution.
Religion is threatened, umuofia loses its selfdetermination, and the very centers of tribal life are threatened. Set in nigeria at the turn of the 19th century, chinua achebes things fall apart chronicles the rise and fall of okonkwo, a powerful leader in the igbo tribe, as he fights against the turning tide of british colonialism. He first earns personal fame and distinction, and brings honor to his village, when he defeats amalinze the cat in a wrestling contest. The concept of chi is discussed at various points throughout the novel and is important to our understanding of okonkwo as a tragic hero. Setting the place and time at which a play, novel, or film is represented as happening. Things fall apart themes, symbols, and literary devices thoughtco. The literary periods and movements following the classical period are usually labeled as follows. We can see an example of tragic irony in okonkwos suicide at the end of things fall apart. Literary devices are the tools authors use to help their story. Written at a time when dictatorships and totalitarian regimes were establishing a hold over much of the world despite the defeat of hitlers nazis in world war ii. A critical analysis things fall apart 1958 is a fictional novel by chinua achebe that examines the life the igbo tribe living in a rural village called umuofia in. In order to fully understand the novel and its contents, it is important to look into the history of the novel that led to its publication. Similes and metaphors created by mara senecalalbrecht definitions. The phrase things fall apart is taken from the poem, the second coming by w.
Sample literary devices essay things fall apart ap english. What kinds of literary devices are used in the novel things fall apart. From its very title, things fall apart foreshadows the tragedy which the novel. As a result, the igbo people no longer have one set of social or moral rules to live by and the unity of the clan is. Okonkwo is a respected and influential leader within the igbo community of umuofia in eastern nigeria. As okonkwos tribe and even his own son fall away from tradition, okonkwo clings more desperately. Achebe has used the form of a novel to record the life and social norms and traditions of the igbo people before the arrival of. Two years later, obierika returns to mbanta to visit okonkwo, this time with news that the white missionaries have come to umuofia. Literary analysis of things fall apart themes masculinity okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. Things fall apart literary terms flashcards quizlet. May 08, 2010 literary analysis of things fall apart. The tension about whether change should be privileged over tradition often involves questions of personal status.
The chi is an individuals personal god, whose merit is determined by the. Characters in things fall apart with analysis literary devices. What kinds of literary devices are used in the novel things fall apart by chinua. The second novel in chinua achebes masterful african trilogy, following things fall apart and preceding no longer at ease when things fall apart ends, colonial rule has been introduced to umuofia, and the character of the nation, its values, freedoms, religious and sociopolitical foundations have substantially and irrevocably been altered. Mar 31, 2014 in the beginning of the novel, okonkwo talks about when he beat amalinze in a fight. A study of the use of proverbs as a literary device in achebe. Since achebe used things fall apart as his title, it can also be seen as the. Importance of literary devices of things fall apart by. B yeats, which achebe quotes more extensively in the epigraph. Furthermore, he reports that okonkwos eldest son, nwoye, is among them, which is.
One novel where we can see many different types of literary devices is in chinua. Nov 08, 2008 the literary periods and movements following the classical period are usually labeled as follows. The novel also tells the story of okonkwo, a man of wealth and status who nonetheless has a tragic flaw fear of being perceived as weak which leads him to make many poor life decisions. Literary analysis of things fall apart essay 778 words. Throughout the novel, he strives very hard to shed the inherited laziness to assert his manliness. The literary devices and analysis chapter of this things fall apart study guide. Things fall apart is about the tragic fall of the protagonist, okonkwo, and the igbo culture. What literary devices does chinua achebe predominantly use in. Analysis of the themes from the novel things fall apart, by chinua achebe, including the role of masculinity, agriculture, and change in the. Learn literary terms english 12 things fall apart with free interactive flashcards. The clash of cultures is undoubtedly one of the most universal themes seen in literature. When enzima and her mother started talking about a story within the novel, my initial reaction was something like oh, great.