Background:
In the late 19th century, the Igbo society in Nigeria faced profound challenges with the arrival of
European colonial powers, missionaries, and the imposition of Western influence. The Igbo
community in the nine villages of Umuofia are beset by challenges they has never encountered. The
village crier has called a meeting of all those of title, and the village elders have asked for opinions on
the threat posed by these strangers and seek counsel on how to respond.
Required Reading:
● Chinua Achebe, “Things Fall Apart”
Instructions:
Imagine yourself as a member of the village giving your advice to the elders. After reading Achebe’s
“Things Fall Apart,” craft a minimum 3-page double-spaced paper offering the elders your informed
opinion. Utilize quotations from the novel to support your arguments.
Consider the following questions in your response:
What kind of threat did the Europeans pose to the traditional Igbo way of life? Why were they
so effective at converting indigenous people? How can the Igbo community adapt to face this
threat, and how should they respond? What can you say to influence that outcome?
There are several ways you could take this paper. You may argue for strategies of resistance,
negotiation, or adaptation. Consider the social, cultural, and religious aspects depicted in the novel and
how these elements could inform the Elders’ decisions.
The timing of your response can occur at any point in the novel, and you can draw evidence from any
point. You also have flexibility in the format of this paper. While paragraph structure helps build a
strong argument, this assignment could also be done as a dialogue.
