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Lesson 2

We will determine the themes of Things Fall Apart.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I gather and organize relevant and sufficient evidence to demonstrate an understanding of the novel?

  • Can I evaluate the effects of literary devices in Things Fall Apart?

Texts

Core

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

Materials

Reference Guides

Activity 1: Read – Write – Discuss

We will determine potential themes in Things Fall Apart.

Step 1

There are several thematic ideas in Things Fall Apart. A thematic idea identifies a possible subject, topic, conflict, or human experience that a literary work might be addressing. Refer to the Thematic Ideas section on your Theme Reference Guide to learn more about thematic ideas.

With your group, list several thematic ideas from Things Fall Apart. Not all thematic ideas in the novel are listed in the Theme Reference Guide.

Step 2

In your group, choose one thematic idea to express as a theme. A theme is a statement or claim about a piece of literature that expresses its underlying message or meaning. Read the Expressing Themes section of your Theme Reference Guide to learn how thematic ideas are developed into themes.

Draft two themes for your chosen thematic idea. Because themes are developed over the course of a text, understanding a theme requires that the reader have read and analyzed most or all of the text. Throughout the text, the author leaves a trail for the reader to follow—events, characters, or setting can all provide clues about a theme.

As a group, choose your best theme. Trace how that theme is developed over the course of the text by answering the following questions:

  1. Where do you first see evidence of the theme? Provide either a direct quote or a summary of the text with a page number citation.

  2. Where else do you see evidence of the theme as it develops? Choose several moments where the theme is developed and provide either a direct quote or a summary of the text and page number citation for each instance.

  3. Return to your original theme statement. Is it still accurate and precise, or do you need to revise it to fit the evidence you found?

Activity 2: Present – Discuss

We will discuss themes in Things Fall Apart.

Step 1

Share your group’s thematic idea, theme, and explanation with the class. As you listen to other groups, take notes in your Learning Log.

Step 2

As a class, discuss the thematic ideas and themes presented. Which do you agree with? Which do you disagree with?

Activity 3: Write

We will write about one of the themes of Things Fall Apart.

Review your notes on the thematic ideas and themes in Things Fall Apart. Individually, choose one theme and write an analysis of how it is developed over the course of the novel. Respond to the following questions in your analysis:

  • What is one theme of Things Fall Apart?

  • How does Achebe develop that theme over the course of the text?

Be sure to support your analysis with evidence from the text.

Finish your analysis for homework.