Things Fall Apart Themes

Haggard means...

• a close observer

• looking exhausted or unwell

• crowded, thick, tightly packed

• strict or serious; harsh

During the harvest celebration, what aspect of his culture was most meaningful to Unoka?

• meeting other villagers during the celebrations

• enjoying the climate at that time of year

• playing music at the celebrations

• telling stories about his childhood

Reread paragraph 6 of Things Fall Apart. What does paragraph 6 suggest most clearly about Unoka's personality?

That was years ago, when he was young. Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a loafer, and they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back. But Unoka was such a man that he always succeeded in borrowing more, and piling up his debts.

• He grew more amusing as he got older.

• He was finally forced to work for his livelihood.

• He was seen as more of a burden to those around him.

• He lost his ability to talk people into lending him money.

From the evidence in paragraph 6, what inference can you make most clearly about Okonkwo's childhood?

• Okonkwo grew up eager to follow in his father's footsteps.

• Okonkwo felt ashamed of his father's lifestyle.

• Okonkwo vowed to repay his father's many debts.

• Okonkwo was thing and weak from lack of food.

Which of these selections best describes Okonkwo?

• He is well-known for his physical strength and temper.

• He is remembered only for his victory twenty years before.

• He was a lazy and uncaring father.

• Despite his poverty, he cared dearly for his son.

Which of these selections best describes Okonkwo's opinion of his father?

• Okonkwo admires his father's physical strength.

• Okonkwo is jealous of his father's physical strength.

• Okonkwo thinks his father was a failure.

• Okonkwo mourns his father's death.

Which of these sentences from the text best supports the correct answer to Question 6?

• "He was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth."

• "That was many years ago, twenty years or more, and during this time Okonkwo's fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan.."

• "He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists."

• He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father.

The contrast between father and son supports the theme that--

• children tend to be stronger and more successful than their parents.

• we are often labeled with the reputation that our parents had.

• family relationships have a strong effect on our worldview.

• children of failures are less likely to work hard or save money.

How are Okonkwo and the narrator of Heart of Darkness, Marlow, most similar?

• They are both persistent.

• They both believe in powerful spiritual beings.

• They both are eager to exert their power over less powerful people.

• They both are angry men determined to succeed.

In what way, are Okonkwo and Marlow most different?

• Okonkwo is afraid of Amalinze the Cat, while Marlow is afraid of nothing.

• Okonkwo is physically among while Marlow is weak.

• Okonkwo is fierce and brave, while Marlow startles easily.

• Oknonkwo craves attention, while Marlow doesn't care what people think.