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Things Fall Apart Figurative Language

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Chapter 10:

In chapter 10 of Things Fall Apart, the author had purpose in all text. The text supported the author’s purpose of being a female is difficult. Females had to deal with having their thoughts or opinions not important. “There were many women, but they looked on from the fringe like outsiders” (Achebe 87). In this quote, there is a simile to compare the women to outsiders. It is difficult being a female because you want to be able to have your voice heard but in this tribe, the women’s opinions mean nothing to the men. With the men liking to show authority, it only comes back to show that they are cowards that are beating their wives. This chapter was a foreshadow to chapter 5 as they also had women beat, and abused if they did not cook or clean the house.

Chapter 11:

In chapter 11 of Things Fall Apart, the author used a lot of figurative language. At the start of chapter 11, Achebe uses a hyperbole to exaggerate a meaning. “One could not have known where one’s mouth was in the darkness of that night” (95). This quote shows the importance of the absolute darkness and how it exaggerates how someone won’t know where there mouth is because it is difficult to see in the dark. In the quote, “Her heart jumped painfully with her” (Achebe 100), this is a use of personification. It is showing the readers how Ekwefi …show more content…

“‘Never kill a man who says nothing. Those men of Abame were fools. What did they know about the man?’”(Achebe 140). This results to fear is destructive is because the result of this action results in the white man killing the Clan of Abame. This is destructive as you don’t want something to to control your life actions. “Those were good days when a man had friends in distant clans. Your generation does not know that. You stay home, afraid of your next-door neighbor”(Achebe 137). This is like the 21st century as we revolve around our phone. It is sort of like the clan because we also don 't

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755 Words | 4 Pages

China Achebe demonstrates the disrespect the Ibo men had for woman in Things Fall Apart by depicting verbal and physical abuse within the community. The men have control over a woman through power of authority. This physical and verbal abuse lets the men of the society feel empowerment over the woman. “ Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper” Achebe 12.

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868 Words | 4 Pages

The theme of “Things Fall Apart” can be tied to our society by saying the we can 't let cultures from all around the world clash like we do. We need to respect all the other cultures and give them a chance. We can 't all be like the british and just force our beliefs onto others. People will believe what they want to, unless you are like most of the villages like Umuofia.

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1600 Words | 7 Pages

29 Jan. 2016. 0 This website provides a broad description of the author, which includes early life, education, university, teaching and producing, Things Fall Apart, and marriage and family. Learning about the author would further help readers understand the origin of the novel.

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1027 Words | 5 Pages

The significance of social status in “Things Fall Apart” is huge in the characterization of key characters, and it provides insight into how the Ibo clan is structured. Achebe further uses the theme of social structure to guide his characters a certain way and to guide the readers through the plot of the novel. From the very beginning of the novel Achebe introduces “social status” to the readers as a very important aspect of the book. From the very first line- “Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond” – us readers come to an understanding that the main character, Okonkwo, is of high social status and that this tale will most likely be about him and his personal achievements.

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559 Words | 3 Pages

In chapter seven of the book, “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, Achebe uses many biblical allusions such as the locusts representing the ten plagues of Egypt, Okonkwo playing a part in Ikemefuna’s death like the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, and Ikemefuna portraying a Christ like character throughout the chapter. The locusts swarming Umuofia, Okonkwo having a role in the sacrifice of Ikemefuna, and the way Ikemefuna acts during his sacrifice, all represent biblical allusions. After waiting seven years for the locusts to return, the people of Umuofia are relieved when the locusts finally arrive, “Everyone was now about, talking excitedly and praying that the locusts should camp in Umuofia for the night” (56). The locusts swarming Umuofia is a biblical allusion used by

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1750 Words | 7 Pages

The distinct separation of power between men and women is repeatedly seen in Things Fall Apart, a fictional book by Chinua Achebe. Through this separation, it is seen that in a male-dominated society, men dislike matriarchal power in women and cause an imbalance in power; but women are just as needed as men in families and societies. Notably, it is clear, that the men in Umuofia view daughters as inferior; women are viewed as properties and they aren’t as well-praised as much as the first-born males. Additionally, women are viewed as mild and weak. In many cases, Okonkwo even uses the words “woman” or “womanly” to insult a man for being weak or of a lesser social rank.

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881 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, the authors' claim of "balance" within the Igbo tribe is invalid. Although one may view that women and men existing in this society as balanced due to the fact that both the men and women have a particular part in the general public; The men hunt for dinner, while the ladies prepare the meals and care after the kids. However, through close reading, the society is actually imbalance. While the women are living oppressed, the men are holding positions of high power. The women in the tribe not only being socially oppressed by men of high authority, but also physically and emotionally abused by men in their home who likewise holds power.

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1106 Words | 5 Pages

First, gender roles in a society have a huge cause and effect that affects the people in the society, in the novel things fall apart these roles greatly affect family life. An example of this is how Okonkwo, the main protagonist in things fall apart, leads his family. Okonkwo is very strict and expects his wives and children to obey his every command, this caused his young wives and children to be scared of him. “Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand. His wives, especially the youngest, lived in perpetual fear of his fiery temper, and so did his little children”(13).

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1346 Words | 6 Pages

Okonkwo and Ezinma, an unexpressed love. In his novel, ‘Things Fall Apart’, Achebe presents to the reader, a story based around the village of Umuofia. Through his narration which is close to an oral tradition, we discover the culture and commodities of that village as well as of some surrounding villages. Superstitions, festivals and traditions, everything is vividly described.

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855 Words | 4 Pages

Things Fall Apart Everyone has its own unique perspective on certain things. In doing so, one must interact or collide with another throughout life. In Things Fall Apart, the author, Chinua Achebe, attempts to communicate the concept of cultural collision while depicting the life of the Igbo tribe. He creates two main characters with contradicting characteristics and responses to a cultural collision in order to strengthen the theme:

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1774 Words | 8 Pages

Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Chinua Achebe. In the novel there is a main character called Okonkwo. He lived in Umuofia where he was also known throughout many of the nine villages around Umuofia. In the beginning of the story we see his overwhelming hatred towards his father Unoka. His father died about ten years ago and had not taken any title and was very much in debt.

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1252 Words | 6 Pages

Things Fall Apart, a book written by the author Chinua Achebe is a story filled with amazing culture. It is about the rise and downfall of the main character, Okonkwo. The book had many different aspects of the African culture and the different time period. For example, characters and their importance throughout the story, and how women were treated in this culture and time period. Topics from religion, family, and the social complexity were very much involved throughout the entire book and portrayed by many of the characters.

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895 Words | 4 Pages

In the Ibo hierarchal society, women are the subject of unequal treatment and patronization. They are considered weak and are not given any power. As the novel, Things Fall Apart unravels, the author, Chinua Achebe reveals the distinct attributes of femininity. Feminine traits are also viewed with disdain in Umuofian society, especially by the protagonist of the novel, Okonkwo. His past experiences shape his disposition and give rise to his stereotypical mentality; however, several events contradict the prevalent perspective of women, leading to Okonkwo facing conflicts within himself.

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891 Words | 4 Pages

Once their muddy shoes step into the house, they did not have to lift a finger and their wife was at their every command. Their vulnerable egos did not let their wives get the upper grip, and yet they came in all shapes and sizes, they are allowed to be rude, and they could work at some simple, low-paying job and nobody at the time would ever look down upon them. If man could also bear woman’s societal pressures, perhaps equal rights would be obtained much faster, and a larger diversity of households would exist amongst the

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889 Words | 4 Pages

Everyone as a human being has experienced some form of change in our life, big or small, and it has a lasting effect on who they are and how they act. In Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’, change is a forward facing theme of the whole story, we see change in all forms occur throughout the book; the arrival of the white men and their changing of the igbo culture, the tearing apart of Okonkwo’s family by religion and traditions, and the change that occurs within Okonkwo himself when he realizes he cannot prevent change from happening in the community and culture he loved. Change is destructive in ‘Things Fall Apart’, especially to such a magnitude as we see in the story, it is destructive to communities, to families, and especially to individuals.

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