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Foreshadowing In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

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Throughout Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, literary devices such as foreshadowing, irony, and others are used to give the reader a deeper understanding of the text, and convey the author 's ideas and points. Examples of these occurrences include how Okonkwo is often described in terms of fire and flames. Okonkwo’s nickname was even said to be “Roaring Flame” (Achebe. Page 153), because to him, the image or thought of fire symbolizes masculinity, potential, and life. Achebe uses is irony. An example of tragic irony in Okonkwo 's suicide at the end of Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo is a proud and important man, so he is not expected to commit suicide. When Okonkwo dies, it especially ironic when considering what he regularly said after the terrible harvest year: ' 'Since I survived that year”, he always said, “I shall survive anything.” (Achebe. Page 24.) By saying he could survive anything, it is not expected for him to commit suicide. Yet, in the end, his inflexible will causes his suicide because he cannot deal with the change brought by the missionaries. Therefore his death is even more ironic because the very thing that he says can get him through anything is his will, which is why he kills himself. “Then they came to the tree from which Okonkwo 's body was dangling, and they stopped dead. (Achebe. Page 207.) Achebe 's use of foreshadowing is evident when he talks about Okonkwo 's death. In Okonkwo 's case, the foreshadowing occurs when he is exiled to his motherland
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