Unit 11

English 203: Literature of the NonWestern World

Questions:

Chat:

• "If a child washed his hands he could eat with kings" (2939); "Looking at a king's mouth . . . one would think he never sucked at his mother's breast" (2947).  What do these proverbs mean?  Identify other proverbs & explain them.
• Umuofia is very large: "The market place was full.  There must have been about 10,000 mean there" (2940).  That suggests a city of 50,000.  Explain the kind of government that Achebe illustrates.  How is Umuofia ruled?  How was Britain ruled at the time?
• Achebe illustrates that identity was largely tribal rather than individual.    For example, when Okonkwo beats his wife during the sacred week, does the priest consider this a crime against her?  Identify other instances of this outlook & explain.
• The tribal understanding of identity becomes the fundamental point of conflict with the British.  Explain how the tribal view of identity is illustrated by the good baby tree: "Spirits of good children lived in that tree waiting to be born" (2957-8).  What is the British view on this?
• Why is it necessary for Unoka to be "lazy & improvident." Explain the point both in relation to Okonkwo's character development & to Achebe's theme or purpose in the novel.

When you finish answering the questions, go to the next page:

Review