Colonialism in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

by Louise Hawker (Editor)

Overview

Great literary works resonate with readers not only because of well-developed characters and plots, but also because they often reflect important social themes. The Social Issues in Literature series brings together the disciplines of sociology and literature in a unique format designed to support cross-curricular studies. Each volume explores a work of literature through the lens of the major social issue reflected in it, and features carefully-selected content representing a variety of perspectives. All volumes in the series contain biographical and critical information about the author; secondary excerpts offering both historical and contemporary views of the highlighted social issue; a timeline of the author's life; a “For Further Reading” section of other works on the issue; and a detailed subject index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737746518
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	04/24/2010
Series:	Social Issues in Literature Series
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction 11

Chronology 14

Chapter 1 Background on Chinua Achebe

1 The Life of Chinua Achebe G.D. Killam 19

2 Chinua Achebe's Philosophy of Fiction Jerome Brooks Chinua Achebe 29

3 Achebe Feels a Special Commitment as an African Writer Romanus Okey Muoneke 37

Chapter 2 Things Fall Apart and Colonialism

1 Okonkwo's Actions Foreshadow Colonialism's Impact on Traditional Values Christopher Heywood 47

2 Okonkwo's Loss of Identity Parallels the Experience of Colonized Africans Ifeoma Onyemelukwe 52

3 Language Conveys Male Africans' and Colonists' Power Ada Uzoamaka Azodo 62

4 Women Play a Key Role in the Community Depicted in Things Tall Apart Linda Strong-Leek 71

5 Achebe Does Not Idealize Precolonial and Postcolonial Igbo Society G.D. Killam 80

6 Igbo and European Cultures Clash Willene P. Taylor 88

7 Okonkwo's Tragedy Is Not Due to Colonialism Umelo Ojinmah 96

8 The White Man Redeemed Igbo Society Romanus Okey Muoneke 103

9 Three Distinct Endings Present a Layered Approach to the Colonized Experience Richard Begam 110

Chapter 3 Contemporary Perspectives on Colonialism

1 Foreign Aid Is a Twenty-first-Century Form of Colonialism John A. Burton 120

2 The One Laptop per Child Project Is a Form of Colonialism Stanley Douglas Stych 123

3 Norfolk Islanders Resist Colonization by Australia Kathy Marks 127

4 French Revisionists Attempted to Defend Colonialism in Africa Julio Godoy 133

5 The First Woman Elected President in Africa Is Called a Neocolonialist Kuumba Chi Nia 139

6 The United Nations Wants to Force Liberation on Unwilling Colonies Ian Mather 143

For Further Discussion 148

For Further Reading 150

Bibliography 151

Index 156

Editorial Reviews

Review: Colonialism in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart "This series focuses on how social issues have been presented in classic literature. These books provide a unique perspective to the United States' social issues both past and present."—ARBA, March 2009

From the Publisher