Things Fall Apart

Why Use Sample Essays on Things Fall Apart?

 Publication date: 1958

 Genre: Historical novel

 Author: Chinua Achebe

 Сharacters: Okonkwo, Ekwefi, Unoka, Nwoye, Ikemefuna, Ezinma, Obierika, Chielo, Ogbuefi Ezeudu, Mr. Brown, Mr. Smith, Mr. Gibson.

 Based on: The invasion of European colonizers into Southeastern Nigeria in the late 1800s. 

 Symbols: Locusts, fire, chi, animal imagery, drum language, change and tradition, masculinity.

 Influence: Achebe was brought up in Nigeria after the missionaries had been established, and his father was among the first to convert to Christianity. However, Achebe refused to replace his Igbo name with an English one.

 Plot: The first part describes Okonwo's early years and his rise to a position of power within his clan until he kills his adopted son Ikemefuna and is exiled from the village. The second part of the novel depicts Okonwo's life in exile with his mother's family and distant relatives, and it introduces Mr. Brown and other missionaries. The final part sees Okonwo return to his village to see it changed by the presence of white men, his confrontation with the missionaries, as well as his last violent acts of murder and suicide.

 Interesting facts:

 Things Fall Apart is the first part of the trilogy and is followed by “No Longer at Ease” (1960) and “Arrow of God” (1964).

 The novel was first published in the UK by William Heinemann Ltd. in 1962 as the first book of the African Writers Series.

 The novel's title is a quote from W. B. Yeats's poem "The Second Coming".

 Chinua Achebe wrote the novel in English because the standard written version of the Igbo language is stilted, as it was created artificially from multiple dialects.

 The book was adapted into a radio drama, a film, and a miniseries. It also inspired theatrical productions, songs, and music albums.

 Quotes:

 "Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten."

 "And at last the locusts did descend. They settled on every tree and on every blade of grass; they settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground. Mighty tree branches broke away under them, and the whole country became the brown-earth color of the vast, hungry swarm."

 "He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger."

 "The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."

 Why this topic is important: The novel describes intercultural conflict and misunderstandings, as well as the impact of an invasion of one civilization by another and the consequences for humanity.

Don't think you'll never have to write a Things Fall Apart essay if you're not taking Literature classes. This novel is a staple in Africa, but also in many schools across the globe as a realistic depiction of the effect of colonization on the indigenous African culture through the prism of personal, family, and tribe drama. So you may be required to write an essay on Things Fall Apart in your History, Sociology, Philosophy, and Political Science classes.

To make the task easier for you, we've created this enormous essay database with a huge section dedicated to required reading books and authors. And Chinua Achebe's novel is one of the most sought-after categories among students.

So if you're tired of staring at a blank screen and want to finally make some progress on your Things Fall Apart essay, start by skimming the samples we've collected. They will get you into the right frame of mind and provide inspiration and ideas you can borrow and adapt for your assignment.

Excellent Examples of Things Fall Apart Essay Topics

And if our free essay samples aren't enough to tickle your creativity, we've come up with a few creative Things Fall Apart essay ideas you can borrow. Use the titles below, and adapt or tweak them until they fit your vision and assignment requirements:

1. How does the character of Okonkwo embody the themes of masculinity, violence, and power in the novel?
2. The role of religion and spirituality and the clash between traditional Igbo beliefs and Christianity
3. The short and long-term impact of British imperialism on the Igbo people
4. Achebe's use of language and storytelling techniques to convey the Igbo culture and worldview
5. Nwoye's transition from a traditional Igbo upbringing to Christianity.
6. The significance of the yam harvest festival and its role in the social and cultural life of the Igbo people
7. The female characters' experiences reflecting the patriarchal society of the Igbo people
8. The use of proverbs and folktales and their contribution to the overall themes and message of "Things Fall Apart"
9. The theme of exile and alienation in "Things Fall Apart"
10. Change and transformation in "Things Fall Apart" through the prism of characters' adaptation to shifting circumstances and values
11. The influence of Okonwo's relationship with his father, Unoka, on Okonkwo's character and worldview
12. The theme of fate and destiny and the role of chi in the lives of the Igbo
13. Okonwo's emasculation cycle and its connection to violence in "Things Fall Apart"
14. The role of storytelling and its contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage and identity
15. Obierika as the voice of reason and conscience in "Things Fall Apart"

How to Write an Essay on Things Fall Apart

Writing an essay on Things Fall Apart requires the same simple steps as completing any other assignment. But if you use SpeedyPaper resources, the task will go much smoother:

1. Choose the topic for your essay about Things Fall Apart. Check out our sample titles and topic ideas above to speed up this step.
2. Seek secondary sources for your analysis. Pay attention to the reference sections in our samples, and you'll quickly find a handful of usable sources.
3. Craft an outline for your Things Fall Apart essay. Use reverse-outlining to find the winning patterns in our sample papers, and pick the best practices for your assignment.
4. Fill in the blanks. Skim through your favorite examples one last time to borrow quotes, clever word choice, transitions, etc.
5. Edit and proofread your essay on Things Fall Apart. Revise the paper before submitting it for grading, and ensure you follow the formatting requirements.

And if you have no time to implement our tips on how to write an essay on Things Fall Apart theme, get SpeedyPaper experts to help.