Chinua Achebe’s novel "Things Fall Apart" is a work that in a certain way depicts contemporary developments: Published in 1958, Achebe describes events in the period of the early transition phase of British colonization of Nigeria – roughly, around 1900 – referring to Okonkwo, the protagonist, and the Igbo, a native ethnic group. Both are subject to fundamental changes, but to what extent can these changes be expressed in literary terms? Are there certain markers that can be used to identify tendencies, for example modernism? This investigation will be the subject of the following essay.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Defining Modernism
- Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Modernism
- Okonkwo - a modern protagonist?
- Igbo - a modern society?
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay analyzes Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart through the lens of modernism. It aims to determine whether the protagonist, Okonkwo, and the Igbo society exhibit characteristics aligning with modernist literary and artistic principles. The essay begins by defining modernism and its key features before examining Okonkwo and the Igbo society separately, assessing their actions and societal structures against the established criteria of modernism.
- Defining Modernism and its characteristics
- Okonkwo's character as a reflection of modernist ideals
- The Igbo society's structure and its relation to modernist concepts
- The impact of colonialism on the modernist traits of the Igbo
- The application of modernist literary analysis to a post-colonial text
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the essay by establishing a context of societal change and using the ongoing corona pandemic as an example of how significant events reshape human thought and behavior. It then introduces Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, published in 1958, as a text that reflects similar transitions in early 20th century Nigeria under British colonization. The chapter outlines the essay's objective: to investigate whether the novel and its characters exhibit modernist characteristics.
Defining Modernism: This chapter offers a comprehensive definition of modernism, discussing its origins, duration, and key features. It emphasizes modernism's self-conscious break from the past, the rejection of traditional views, the relative nature of truth, feelings of alienation and despair, and the celebration of individual strength. The chapter also highlights the experimental nature of modernist art and literature, often employing stream-of-consciousness narration, a reaction to the shattering impact of World War I on societal institutions and beliefs. The debate surrounding the precise temporal boundaries of modernism is also addressed, acknowledging varying perspectives on its conclusion.
Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Modernism: This chapter serves as a bridge between the theoretical exploration of modernism and the practical application of the theory to Achebe's novel. It will analyze the extent to which Okonkwo and the Igbo society embody modernist ideals. It would delve into specific examples from the novel to illustrate how both the protagonist and the society at large display certain modernist traits despite the book's historical context. It would also analyze the relationship between the societal structure and the individual actions within those societal constraints.
Keywords
Modernism, Postcolonialism, Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo, Igbo society, colonialism, literary modernism, stream-of-consciousness, individualism, tradition, change, alienation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Chinua Achebe's *Things Fall Apart* and Modernism
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an essay analyzing Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart through the lens of modernism. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The preview is intended for academic use, facilitating the analysis of themes within the essay.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The essay explores the intersection of modernism and postcolonialism in Things Fall Apart. Key themes include defining modernism and its characteristics, analyzing Okonkwo's character as a reflection of modernist ideals, examining the Igbo society's structure and its relation to modernist concepts, assessing the impact of colonialism on the Igbo's modernist traits, and applying modernist literary analysis to a post-colonial text.
How does the essay define modernism?
The essay provides a comprehensive definition of modernism, encompassing its origins, duration, and key features. It highlights modernism's break from the past, rejection of traditional views, the relative nature of truth, feelings of alienation and despair, and the celebration of individual strength. The experimental nature of modernist art and literature, including stream-of-consciousness narration, and its reaction to World War I are also discussed.
How does the essay analyze Okonkwo's character?
The essay analyzes Okonkwo's character to determine the extent to which he embodies modernist ideals. It examines his actions and motivations within the context of the Igbo society and the impact of colonialism, using specific examples from the novel to support its analysis.
How does the essay analyze Igbo society?
The essay analyzes the Igbo society's structure and its relationship to modernist concepts. It examines the societal structure and its constraints on individual actions, exploring how both the society and its individuals might display modernist traits despite the historical context.
What is the role of colonialism in the essay's analysis?
The essay explores the impact of colonialism on the modernist traits of the Igbo people. It considers how colonial influence might have shaped or challenged the expression of modernist characteristics within the novel.
What is the overall approach of the essay?
The essay uses a comparative approach, bridging theoretical exploration of modernism with a practical application of the theory to Achebe's novel. It aims to determine whether the novel and its characters exhibit modernist characteristics, considering both individual and societal aspects.
What are the keywords associated with the essay?
Keywords include: Modernism, Postcolonialism, Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo, Igbo society, colonialism, literary modernism, stream-of-consciousness, individualism, tradition, change, alienation.
What is the structure of the essay?
The essay is structured with an introduction, a chapter defining modernism, a chapter analyzing Things Fall Apart through the lens of modernism, and a conclusion. The introduction sets the context by referencing societal changes and the impact of significant events such as the corona pandemic.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2021, Chinua Achebe’s "Things Fall Apart". Read in Modernistic Terms, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1150872
