Exploring Themes in Things Fall Apart

What motivates the District Commissioner to arrest the leaders of Umuofia in Chapter 23?

• He wants to protect them from harm.

• He wants to assert colonial authority and punish them for burning the church.

• He believes they are innocent.

• He wants to reward them for their cooperation.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Which theme is most evident when the elders of Umuofia are humiliated by the colonial authorities?

• The importance of family

• The clash between traditional and colonial values

• The beauty of nature

• The power of storytelling

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Summarize the main event that occurs to the leaders of Umuofia in Chapter 23.

• They are celebrated by the villagers.

• They are arrested and held for ransom by the District Commissioner.

• They travel to a neighboring village.

• They hold a festival.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How does Okonkwo’s reaction to his imprisonment reflect his character development?

• He becomes more accepting of colonial rule.

• He grows more frustrated and desperate, showing his inability to adapt.

• He finds peace and forgiveness.

• He decides to leave Umuofia.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Which symbol is used to represent the loss of power among the Umuofia elders?

• The yam harvest

• The shaving of their heads

• The breaking of the kola nut

• The beating of drums

Compare the way justice is administered by the Umuofia clan and the colonial authorities in these chapters.

• Both use negotiation and respect.

• The clan uses communal decision-making, while the colonial authorities use force and humiliation.

• Both rely on violence.

• The clan uses written laws, while the colonials use oral tradition.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What does the demand for a ransom by the District Commissioner’s court messengers symbolize?

• The generosity of the colonizers

• The corruption and exploitation of colonial rule

• The unity of the villagers

• The fairness of the legal system

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Interpret the figurative language: “He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” What does the “knife” represent?

• The arrival of new crops

• The influence of colonialism and Christianity

• The start of a war

• The end of the harvest

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

How do the villagers of Umuofia respond to the arrest of their leaders?

• They immediately attack the colonizers.

• They gather together and raise money for the ransom.

• They ignore the situation.

• They celebrate the arrest.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Which of the following best summarizes the cultural perspective of the Umuofia people regarding justice?

• Justice is best served by individual action.

• Justice is a communal responsibility and involves the input of elders.

• Justice is determined by outsiders.

• Justice is unimportant to the clan.