Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ chronicles the life of Okonkwo, the leader of an Igbo community, from the events leading up to his banishment from the community for accidentally killing a clansman, through the seven years of his exile, to his return. I have taught this novel many times over the last 20 years. I have used this specific resource (revised in 2021) to lead my teaching in class, as a distance learning material (Google Meet/SKYPE lessons), as a homework assignment and even as a tool of revision – all have worked well for the students.
This dynamically illustrated PowerPoint lesson (26 slides) provides a step-by-step guide to essay writing, focusing on the question:
‘Women suffer great losses in this novel but also, in certain circumstances, hold tremendous power. What role do women play in Okonkwo’s life? Is there any difference between his interaction with specific women and his understanding of women and femininity in general?’
This is a complete resource, with no further work required from the teacher. Enjoy!
