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Lesson 10

We will examine the structure of Things Fall Apart.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I evaluate the effects of literary devices and rhetoric in the novel?

  • Can I recognize and interpret important relationships among key details, structure, and style within the novel?

Texts

Core

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

Materials

There are no materials for this Lesson.

Activity 1: Read

We will consider the structure of the novel.

Step 1

Achebe separates his novel into three sections:

Act 1: Setup

  • Exposition: Characters, setting, and situation are introduced.

  • Inciting Incident(s): Something happens that leads the protagonist on an adventure.

Act 2: Confrontation

  • Rising Action: Problems get worse, the protagonist has to change in order to succeed. Often, a mentor helps the protagonist learn.

Act 3: Resolution

  • Climax: The conflict is resolved, often with the protagonist prevailing and things returning to normal.

Step 2

In a group, come to a consensus as to what the inciting incidents are in Act 1 and about the important moments of rising action in Act 2. What mentor comes to the protagonist’s aid? How does the protagonist learn in Act 2?