Reference no: EM133270106
Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen he had brought honour to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat. Amalinze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten, from Umuofia to Mbaino. He was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth. It was this man that Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights.
The drums beat and the flutes sang and the spectators held their breath. Amalinze was a wily craftsman, but Okonkwo was as slippery as a fish in water. Every nerve and every muscle stood out on their arms, on their backs and their thighs, and one almost heard them stretching to breaking point. In the end Okonkwo threw the Cat.
That was many years ago, twenty years or more, and during this time Okonkwo's fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan. He was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look. He breathed heavily, and it was said that, when he slept, his wives and children in their houses could hear him breathe. When he walked, his heels hardly touched the ground and he seemed to walk on springs, as if he was going to pounce on somebody. And he did pounce on people quite often. He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists. He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had had no patience with his father.
1. Contextualisethis passage: where in the action of the novel does this scene take place? What is the setting? What scene is described?
2. Comment on the use of narrative voice in this novel and discuss the implications of this choice?
3. Things Fall Apart was written to counter the colonial myths about African savagery, among other concerns. Why, then, does the novel open with the spectacle of a wrestling match and the theatrical display of violence? Substantiate your answer with examples from the passage.
4. Identify the figure of speech used to describe Okonkwo's prowess?
5. Describe Okonkwo's major accomplishment and explain how it reflects the values of Umuofian society. Elaborate by drawing on another example from chapter 1.
6. Comment on the significance of the temporal shift in this passage. (Your response should consider what message this temporal shift conveys).
7. Focusing on the last paragraph of the extract, identify some of the words and phrases used to characterise Okonkwo. What kind of impression is created? Is this impression consistent with his depiction in earlier paragraphs and why?
8. Some scholars have argued that Okonkwo is a tragic hero in the mold of classical Greek tragedies. What tragic flaw is suggested in this passage? Your response should further indicate and explain the proverb used to contrast this flaw in chapter 1.
9. In the novel's opening paragraphs, Okonkwo is literally wrestling with Amalinze. With what/who is he metaphorically wrestling? Substantiate your response with an example from the extract and additional evidence in chapter 1.