Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Page:1 I believe this opening to the novel is going to be ironic because the falcon cannot hear the falconer is a metaphor that might mean two of the same kind cannot get along. His fame rested on solid personal achievements Page:3 All fame begins when you do something noticeable. For example, actors and actresses build upon their careers and reputations by achieving excellence in their personal goals, as well as perfecting their public performance.
Okonkowo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen he had brought honor to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat. Page:3 This quote here gives great background information about the main character about his personality and some what how he looks. By telling us he threw a great undefeated wrestling champion the author lets us infer that the character is most likely muscular “…It was said that when he slept, his ives and children in his houses could hear him breathe Page:4 One question that comes to mind when I read this is if he alternates between homes on certain days or months. From what I understand, it used to be socially acceptable to have many wives and children, but they all lived together in one home, scattered among different chambers within the house. He always said that whenever he saw a dead man’s mouth he saw the folly of not eating what one had in one’s lifetime. Page:4
I think that what the author was trying to imply in this passage was that in his personal experience, he has noticed that many people take many things for granted and that they don’t live their lives according to what they want and need to do. So much is wasted during one’s lifetime, and people just allow their lives to pass them by. Unoka, for that was his fathers name, had died ten years ago. In his day he was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomarow. Page:4 I find this very ironic because his son Okonkwo is a tall strong man and totally opposite of his father.
Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten. Page:7 This qoute represents how Unoka could persue and talk freely to people he owned food or money. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings. Okonwo had clearly washed his hands and so he ate with kings and elders. Page:8 This figurative lanquage represents how great Okonkwo is, the villages admire people by age and already at his young age he is praised by elders Children were warned not to whistle at night for fear of evil spirits… On a moonlight night it would be different. Page 10
Here we get an idea how kids childhood is being introduced. They play till they can see and if its too dark they have to stay at home because of their beliefs. After the wine had been drunk Okonkwo laid his difficulties before Nwakibie. Page:21 I get a feelin Okonkwo is trying to get something from a wealthier man but by a help of wine, something his father would do. And then Nkechi came in, bringing the third dish. Page:45 Okonkwo isn’t nice to his wives. He treats his wives and children terribly, but yet he still finds it appropriate for them to work for him all of the time and for them to all slave in the kitchen everyday and every night.
He only needs one dinner. It would be more sensible for the wives to switch off on cooking days instead of all three women preparing dinner every single day. Old men nodded to the beat of the drums and remembered the days when they wrestled to its intoxicating rhythm. Page:47 I thought that only special men were able to wrestle in these special matches. If that is true, then why is it such an honor if everyone does it? If all men wrestled “professionally” when they were young, then why is this wrestling match so interesting and important? What makes it different or special? They became normal human beings again.
Page:48 Are these “non-professional wrestlers” considered celebrities? In this chapter, they were addressed as 15 or 16 year old boys. Hey weren’t even on teams. They were just warm-up acts. How can they be considered special or important after such a short period of time? I think she will stay. They usually stay if they do not die before the age of six. Page:46 What are they talking about? In this country is it legal for a ten-year-old child to move out? Where is she going to go? If it is customary for children to stay home until they are adults, then why are they having this conversation? . when they thought they were equally matched, they stopped them. Page:47 Why do the judges decide when the match is over? This seems unfair. The judges could favor one wrestler over the other and just make it so that he wins instead. .. have enough in the barn to feed the ancestors. Page:53 This is so ludicrous. Why do they need to feed their ancestors? It is ridiculous to waste their own food; to put it on a grave and watch it rot. Okonkwo told the story of how he had stalked his victim, overpowered him, and obtained his first human head. Page:54
So do many people of this country like to decapitate other living people for sport? Is it common and legal to steal someone’s life just so that you can have his or her disgusting head? How did Okonkwo pick his victim? In the quote it says ‘first human head. ‘ Does he have many human heads? Does it make Okonkwo a big tough manly man to stalk and decapitate a poor innocent man? My daughter’s suitor is coming today. Page:65 Why is a ten-year-old child getting married? Is the “man” also ten years old? Why would an adult want to marry someone who is so young?
A chick that can grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches. Page:66 The metaphor in this passage I believe means that people don’t get strong or smart as they live but they are both with it. I believe that’s false because to be good at something you have to develop skills and master them. “I shall return very soon,” said Okonkwo, looking at the position of the sun. Page:70 Another statement that resembles Okonkwo’s intelligence. Nowadays’ its easier to tell time with or without a watch but back then he didn’t have a highly learning system to learn from so this proves he had to learn a lot by himself.
When he was a child his mother had told him a story about it. But it was a silly story as all woman’s stories are. Page:74 This theme about ignorance towards females has been popping up a lot in this novel. I thinks its just their culture to treat woman bad like making fun of them like this. … when they died , entered their mothers’ wombs to be born again. Page:77 I Am confused about this. When a baby dies, it comes back to the womb again and dies? How does it come back again if its died and how do they know its the same baby.
