FRSC 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Ogbanje, Chinua Achebe, Falconry
8 May 2018
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Okonkwo – renowned throughout the nine villages for wrestling fame, influential
clan leader, his fathers reputation has helped to succeed.
Unoka – lazy and improvident man. Okonkwo has been ashamed of him since
childhood. Clan -> coward and spend thrift. Never took title in his life. Borrowed
money from clansmen, never paid debt.
Obierka – okonkwos best friend, cared for his crops in his absence/ did not want
to attend ikemefuna;s death because he claims to have had better things to do.
Nwoye – left his father to follow the white man religion/Okonkwo fear he is like
unoka. Okonkwo oldest son who is believed to be weak and lazy. Beaten by
Okonkwo.
Akunna – great man of Umuofia who gives his son to be taught in Mr. Browns
school, discusses Umuofian religion with Mr. Brown. Clan leader. Influence on
missionary advance advances mr. browns strategy for converting the largest
number of clansmen.
Ikemefuna – sacrifices to appease the earth goddess/ describe as being a ill faded
lad. Boy given to Okonkwo by a neighboring village. Live in the hut with
Okoko’s first ife ad eoes popular ith his hildre. Close ith oye.
Chielo – priestess of agbala dedicated to the oracle of the goddess agbala. Widow
with two children.
Reverend James Smith – replaces mr. brown, strict and uncompromising,
stereotypical white colonialist. Demands his converts reject all of their indigenous
beliefs and shows no respect for indigenous customs or culture.
Mr. Brown – white missionary who is in charge, maintains the main church in
Iguedo, gets sick and has to leave, human, respectful, liked by Umuofia. First
white missionary to travel to Umuofia. Institutes policy of compromise,
understanding, and non-aggression between his flock and clan.
Ezinma – ekefi’s daughter, a ogaje or a hild ho repeatedly dies ad
reeters the o to e reor, okokos faorite hild, alled salt y oiageli
ho she has lots of ifluee oer, rystal of eauty oly hild of seod ife.
Understands Okonkwo better than any of his other children.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
The District Commissioner – authority figure in the white colonial government in
Nigeria. Prototypical racist colonist. Thinks he knows everything about native
African customs
Uchendu – youger rother of Okoko’s other. Reeies Okoko ad faily
warmly when they travel to mbanta.
Enoch – fanatical convert to the Christian church in Umuofia.
Mr. Kiaga – native turned Christian missionary who arrives in mbanta and
converts nwoye and many others.
1. When and where does the story take place? What kind of world is it?
Takes plae aroud 9’s i Uuofia ad Mata illages of the Igo trie i
Nigeria. Very poor world with men in entitlement.
2. How would you characterize Okoko’s ies of his father?
He was ashamed of him. He was known as a lazy man. He was known to the clan
as a coward and spend thrift.
3. In terms of social structure, what does Okonkwo represent?
Strongest warrior
4. Okonkwo has several children. Which is his favorite? Why? By the end of the
book, which of his children causes him the most displeasure? Why?
His favorite is Ezinma. Because she really gets him and really understands the
things hes going through. Although he did say that it was a shae that she as’t
a boy. Nwoye because he just left them to follow the white man religion.
5. Why is Okonkwo sent away from Umuofia for seven years?
He is sent away because he on accident shot and killed ezeudus 16 year old son.
Killing a clansman is a crime against the earth goddess.
6. Compare and contrast Mr. Brown and Reverend James Smith. What might
Achebe be saying about European colonialism through his portrayal of these two
characters.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Okonkwo renowned throughout the nine villages for wrestling fame, influential clan leader, his fathers reputation has helped to succeed. Okonkwo has been ashamed of him since childhood. Obierka okonkwos best friend, cared for his crops in his absence/ did not want to attend ikemefuna;s death because he claims to have had better things to do. Nwoye left his father to follow the white man religion/okonkwo fear he is like unoka. Okonkwo oldest son who is believed to be weak and lazy. Akunna great man of umuofia who gives his son to be taught in mr. browns school, discusses umuofian religion with mr. brown. Influence on missionary advance advances mr. browns strategy for converting the largest number of clansmen. Ikemefuna sacrifices to appease the earth goddess/ describe as being a ill faded lad. Boy given to okonkwo by a neighboring village. Oko(cid:374)k(cid:449)o"s first (cid:449)ife a(cid:374)d (cid:271)e(cid:272)o(cid:373)es popular (cid:449)ith his (cid:272)hildre(cid:374).
