THINGS FALL APART

By the end of this unit, students will be able to: understand how African literature and literary traditions influence Achebe’s writing style; discuss the dramatic development of the narrative in terms of exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution; demonstrate a literal, personal, interpretive, and critical understanding of the text; explain the importance of the title as a theme in the novel; explain the central conflicts in the narrative, and explain the nature of the internal and external conflicts with which various characters cope; understand the novel as an exploration of the ramifications of colonialism; examine Okonkwo as a tragic hero; analyze the importance of literary elements like dramatic irony, foreshadowing, and suspense on the development of the story; trace and discuss recurring imagery; discuss the use of proverbs in the narrative and how they contribute to the overall effect of the novel; analyze how point of view influences the literary narrative; and explain how Achebe uses character foils to illuminate the differences between the principal characters. 104 pages. ©2008.