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Lesson 5

We will analyze Okonkwo’s attitude toward characteristics he deems as feminine.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I formulate and use questions to establish and deepen my understanding of the novel Things Fall Apart?

  • Can I use connections among details, elements, and effects to make logical deductions about Chinua Achebe’s purpose and meaning in Things Fall Apart?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe, Penguin Random House, 1994

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read

We will complete a mini-lesson on parallel structure.

Step 1

Add the definition of parallel structure to your Vocabulary Journal: Parallel structure is the technique of using the same patterns of words or phrases within a sentence or passage. Using parallel structure in your writing gives ideas equal importance and helps create sentences that are clear and well-organized.

Step 2

Write the following three examples from Chapter 1 in your Mentor Sentence Journal.

  • "The drums beat and the flutes sang and the spectators held their breath." (p. 3)

  • “He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father.” (p. 4)

  • “When they had eaten they talked about many things: about the heavy rains which were drowning the yams, about the next ancestral feast and about the impending war with the village of Mbaino.” (p. 6)

Consider the following questions about the above examples:

  1. What is the parallel structure in each example?

  2. Why is parallel structure an effective stylistic device that an author might choose to use?

Choose four characters from Things Fall Apart and write a sentence with parallel structure that describes their characteristics. For example:

Ezinma enjoys taking care of her father, being a friend to her mother, and eating eggs and other delicacies that other children are forbidden to enjoy.

Activity 2: Read

We will study Okonkwo’s attitude toward what he perceives as feminine qualities.

Use the Analyzing Relationships Tool to understand Okonkwo’s attitude. Use the following guiding question:

  1. What is Okonkwo’s attitude toward characteristics he perceives as feminine?

With a partner, use the Analyzing Relationships Tool to analyze at least three of the quotes below, which reveal Okonkwo’s attitude toward women and the characteristics he associates with women.

  • "No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man." (p. 53)

  • "Without looking at the man Okonkwo said: ‘This meeting is for men.’" (p. 26)

  • "To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength." (p. 28)

  • "Inwardly, he was repentant. But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error." (p. 31)

  • "‘She should have been a boy.’" (p. 64)

Activity 3: Discuss

We will participate in a partner discussion on Okonkwo’s attitude toward what he perceives as feminine characteristics.

With a partner, use the Academic Discussion Reference Guide to participate in a discussion. Start by sharing your claims about Okonkwo’s attitude about characteristics he perceives as feminine. Consider the following question:

  1. What is Okonkwo’s attitude about gender roles? In other words, is his attitude about characteristics he perceives as feminine the same for women as it is for men?

Then give evidence to support your claims and discuss how the evidence supports each claim.

After your discussion, respond to the following question together:

  1. Does this characteristic lead to the death of Ikemefuna? Explain.

Activity 4: Write

We will write a claim using parallel structure.

Using parallel structure, write a claim about Okonkwo’s attitude toward women and the qualities he perceives as feminine in your Mentor Sentence Journal.

Share your sentence with your group, and pick one of your group’s claims to share with the class.