Things Fall Apart Study Guide and Discussion Questions

'Things Fall Apart' Study Guide and Discussion Questions Things Fall Apart is a famous novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Its considered an important work in world literature, albeit a controversial one. The book has been banned in some places for its negative portrayal  of European colonialism. The book is split into three parts showing the reader the negative effects of colonization on the main characters tribe. It also shows how Christian missionaries work to convert the African population helped to forever alter their culture. The book was written in 1958 and became one of the first books from Africa to become world renowned. It is seen as an archetype for the modern African novel. This is a recommended book to read in a book club because of the depth of the work. Plot Summary Protagonist Okonkwo becomes a successful farmer and earns titles and respect in his community, even though his father, Unoka, was seen as lazy, making him a disrespected laughingstock. His father is a source of shame for Okonkwo, whos strived to be everything his father has not. Hes domineering over his family as a result, and his overarching desire to always seem manly leads to his downfall. He takes in a ward, given to him to care for as a peace offering to avoid war with the neighboring Mbaino community. An oracle says the boy must be killed, but Okonkwo is advised not to do it. He does it anyway. But its after the accidental killing of a leader in his community that he and his family are exiled for seven years. When they return, they find that much has changed in their community because of white missionaries coming to town. Theyve set up a prison, a European-style court of law, a church, school, and hospital. Okonkwo doesnt understand why the people havent revolted against these oppressors. Then, the benevolent Mr. Brown is replaced by a strict reverend who isnt interested in the peoples existing culture. Violence eventually ensues, and the local leaders are eventually taken down by the colonizers. Okonkwo cannot cope and ends his own life. Main Characters These are the main characters in the novel: Okonkwo: protagonist whose fatal flaw is his inability to adapt to change and his reverence for needing to appear tough and manlyIkemefuna: clever, resourceful boy, ward of Okonkwo, whom he kills to not appear weak; given to Okonkwo to avoid warNwoye: son of Okonkwo, who becomes a Christian, a sensitive boyEzinma: daughter of Okonkwo, bold, her fathers favorite; the only surviving child of EkwefiEkwefi: Okonkwos second wifeUnoka: Okonkwos father, whom Okonkwo strives to be the opposite of; Unoka is lazy and enjoys music and conversation; is gentle, cowardly, and not ambitious; thus, he doesnt have the respect of the townsfolk.Obierika: best friend of OkonkwoOgbuefi Ezeudu: the elder of UmuofiaMr. Brown: missionary to Umuofia and Mbanta; patient, kind, respectful, open-minded person who builds a school and hospital in Umofia and encourages people to become literate to keep up with the rest of the world; represents colonizationthe Rev. James Smith: missionary who contrasts with Mr. Bro wn in that Smith is strict and doesnt compromise; has no interest in the native peoples culture; also represents colonization Major Themes In addition to the themes of the effect of colonization on African society and how cultures clash, there are personal themes as well. Readers can also examine how peoples character leads to their outcomes, such as in the case of how adaptable they are to change or inflexible (character is destiny). An examination of the book can look at human emotions and find commonalities and universals (people are people). The destiny theme can also be examined on a societal level. Achebe illustrates the complexity of the Igbo society and how it functions- unlike the authoritarian encroachers- without a strong central government. Is it destiny for the people to have been conquered, then? You can also examine how the community and people interact to find balance and function as a society. Historical Impact Things Fall Apart has become one of the most important books in African literature, as it was among the first major works to bring the African perspective to a worldwide audience and launched the continents modern literature. It even made Western anthropologists realize theyd been getting the story wrong and led them to a reexamine their methods and scholarship on Africas history and peoples. Though controversial to write a novel in the colonizers language, the book was able to reach more people that way, and Achebe was able to work untranslatable Ibo words into the telling so that people would be able to understand them through context as they read, rather than have a translator not achieve adequate subtleties of meaning. The book awakened pride in history and community for people in Africa and led them to realize that they could tell their own stories and that they were valid. Discussion Questions What is important about the title: Things Fall Apart? Is there a reference in the novel that explains the title?What are the conflicts in Things Fall Apart? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) are present?How does Chinua Achebe reveal character in Things Fall Apart?How do the storys themes relate to the plot and characters?What are some symbols in Things Fall Apart? How do they relate to the plot and characters?Are the characters consistent in their actions? Are they fully developed characters? Are some characters more fully developed than others? How? Why?Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?  Do you think the novel is meant to be political? What point was the author trying to make? Did he succeed?Why is the novel so controversial? Do you think the book should be censored or banned? Should it be taught in schools ? How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?What is the role of family and community in this novel? How does it change with the arrival of Europeans? How does it change when the missionaries arrive?Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why? What point do you think the author was making with the conclusion of the novel? Does your perspective change knowing there is a sequel?Would you recommend this novel to a friend?How is religion portrayed in this novel? Do you think the Christian missionaries had a positive or negative impact on the characters?Whats important about the time period the novel is set in?Why do you think the authors decision to write the novel in English  rather than his native language caused controversy?What point is the author trying to make about the African identity? What problems  does the author outline? Does he offer solutions?

The Importance of Relevance in Writing an Essay

The Importance of Relevance in Writing an EssayIf you're a student or teacher, you'll want to make sure you know how to explain your subject's relevance in writing an essay. Your essay will come across as well written if you demonstrate your knowledge in the topic on which it's based.Some students may use the topic and choose the least relevant topic to illustrate the purpose of the subject. Others choose the most popular topic to be used, but not necessarily the topic that has the highest relevance. But no matter what you do, the topic of your essay should have relevance.The importance of relevance in writing an essay is very important. It's not enough to select a topic that's popular and most likely to be understood. You need to show readers what the topic is really about by demonstrating its relevance.As with all things, there are many rules of thumb to follow, but for the sake of clarity, I've listed here my own rules. However, there are no hard and fast rules to follow when it c omes to writing an essay. Most students would find these helpful.Essay topic must be based on a subject or topic that is of interest to readers. While this sounds like an obvious point, it's often forgotten when the topic is chosen without having thought about how the reader would relate the topic to the reader.You don't need to dig too deep into your topic in order to have relevance. Just go with the flow of the essay. Use the subject as a jumping off point to make the topic more appealing and presentable.Research is important for good writing. But this does not mean that you have to spend hours searching the net for 'how to researchan essay' e-books. Instead, you can set up a system that enables you to spend as little time as possible searching and gathering information.Once you have found relevant information about the topic, make sure you take the time to organize and outline your essay. When you use this method, you have a much higher chance of getting your essay finished in a short amount of time.

Research Paper Topics on Memory

Research Paper Topics on MemoryThere are lots of research paper topics on memory that you could use to help you write an impressive paper. The following article is going to explain to you the best topics to use so that you can give your writing a bit more substance.When it comes to memory, there is a lot that is just plain wrong. Memory and knowledge are not the same. Let's look at memory first, and then we'll talk about knowledge and how they relate to each other.The brain is a complex organ that is affected by chemicals in the brain. You need to know about how the brain remembers and processes information. The more complicated your brain is, the more important it is to understand its power. Many people have been told over again that they have a problem remembering.So if your memory is in good shape, and if you have been told that you have problems with memory, what do you do? This is a tough question because for some people it is worse than others. It might be a good idea to ask yo urself 'Why do I suffer from poor memory? '.Many people have had to admit that they suffered from memory problems as a child, or as a teenager, or even as an adult. People do need to understand how this happens, and why.There are a few theories out there on how memory problems arise. These theories may be correct, or they may be inaccurate, but let's take a look at some of the more accurate ones.One common belief is that you lose certain memories as you get older. This is probably true, because children often learn differently than adults. Some people will also remember things wrong, or they can't seem to recall things right, so the world is always changing.Sometimes bad memories, such as poor verbal and numerical skills, is an indication that you are having memory problems. If this is the case, then you might want to try reading up on ways to make your memory better. Having a good memory doesn't mean that you have to suffer from memory problems, but you should know what to do if yo u do.

Can I Use I Statements As Essay Writing?

Can I Use I Statements As Essay Writing?I recently heard a question on a college admissions interview from a student who had never used i statements before. In her case, she had never used statements at all when she was in high school.Let's say that your parents took you to the store and bought you some candy. It turns out that you have a love of sweets. What would you write on a cookie sheet in your bedroom? You may be tempted to write 'my favorite candy'my favorite sweet'.What about chocolate chip cookies? Can you imagine your mother writing something like 'I know how much you love your chocolate chip cookies'?Well, that is not the best way to show affection for someone, and it is certainly not going to be very helpful if you are asking for an admission letter or an academic scholarship. In fact, if your future employer reads your essay, he or she is more likely to call you and ask what kind of teacher you were!For example, what would you write if you were discussing social intelli gence or reasoning or logical constructs? How about the facts that your parents left you the most important key to open the door for your chance at a good school, and that no matter what you did, it is never too late to take steps to change your future? Or that a study shows that much of the intelligence that you use comes from reading? You may want to include those facts.And what if your teacher sent you a statement from the child development center and asked you to take a test? Would you include that? Those are valid questions, and they are best left for your teacher to ask you.The more positive statement that you include will make your essay much more persuasive to admissions committees and teachers alike. The less positive statement will go unnoticed by your potential employers. Good luck with your life and essay writing!

How to write the perfect interview thank you note

How to write the perfect interview thank you note Someone wise once said, â€Å"Saying thanks costs nothing but gives everything.† If you’re a jobseeker who’s currently going through the interview process, it can also help you to gain everything, especially that coveted position. Sending a job interview thank you note within 24 hours of a meeting isn’t just good manners; it can be the act that ultimately secures you the role. Not only do follow-up notes serve to remind hiring managers of your exchange, but they also show prospective employers that you really want the job and that you’re the sort of polite, committed individual they want in their workforce. In other words, follow-up notes are a must-do, and with National Thank You Note Day coming up soon on December 26th, now is a particularly good time to start thinking about how best to express gratitude in a letter or email. Because to really have an impact, you need to go beyond simply saying, â€Å"Thanks for your time†. Let’s loo k at how to craft post-interview correspondence that sets you apart from the competition.1. Lay the groundwork.You should ideally write a personalized job interview thank you note to every individual who set aside time to meet with you – if there were five people on the interview panel, best practice would dictate that you craft five separate letters. To make this easier for yourself, try to get each person’s business card at the end of the interview, or if this isn’t possible, ask your main contact for the other interviewers’ full names and email addresses before you leave.2. Make your â€Å"thank you† sincere and specific.It’s important that your issue of thanks feels genuine and not like something you’re just checking off a list. To make it sound sincere, don’t stop at â€Å"Thanks for meeting with me today.† Rather, pick out and mention one or two specific things you truly appreciated about the exchange. Maybe the in terviewer went out of their way to make you feel relaxed. Maybe they patiently answered all of your questions at the close of the interview. By calling out these particulars, you show that you noticed, and place value on, the effort they invested in the conversation.3. Reference a unique, memory-jogging detail.Hiring managers typically interview a bunch of candidates for a single vacancy, and they’ll likely receive a heap of thank you notes, too. So, when your letter appears in their inbox, they might not immediately recall who you are. Remind them by making reference to a part of the discussion that was (most likely) unique to you. For example, perhaps you discovered that you share a favorite author or attended the same university. Or maybe you found yourselves chatting about an exciting new industry development for a solid 10 minutes. Allude to this in your job interview thank you note to make sure that your face pops into the recipient’s mind when they’re rea ding it.4. Show that you were really listening.Employers want to hire someone who can hit the ground running – someone who really understands what the company needs and what would be required of them as an employee. In most interviews, hiring managers will cover these sorts of details. Show that you were paying attention, and that you genuinely care about the position, by speaking to a few of the key points that the interviewer shared with you. Illustrate that you’re familiar with the goals and challenges that the organization is currently facing, and then go one step further by highlighting how your skills and experience position you well to help them achieve their objectives.5. Reiterate your interest in the position.In the same way that you might leave a meet-up wondering what the interviewers think of you, they might walk away wondering how you feel about the role, now that you’ve learned more details. Use your job interview thank you note to reassure prospe ctive employers that you’re still enthusiastic about the position. Express your genuine interest by pulling out specifics about the role and company that really appeal to you, but be careful not to overdo it.6. Invite a response.Close your note by encouraging the recipient to contact you if they have additional questions or need extra documentation from you in order to make a decision. You could also politely request interview feedback. This way, interviewers will be pressed to follow up, and you’ll (ideally) keep the lines of communication open and your name top of mind.7. Pay attention to formatting and tone.In today’s digital age, it’s absolutely fine to send your job interview thank you note in email form (unless the company you’re applying to is old-school, in which case a handwritten letter would be better). Either way, make sure the tone and language you use is professional, and format the note like you would a formal business letter, with a ppropriate opening and closing salutations. Remember to proofread for spelling and grammatical errors, and finally, keep the note as a whole succinct – while hiring managers will appreciate a â€Å"thank you,† they probably won’t take kindly to having to wade through an epic story.LiveCareer  offers assistance to jobseekers at every step of the journey. Access free  resume templates  and  resume examples, plus a free  resume builder  and advice on how to answer  interview questions  of all stripes.

Enviromental Policy and Regulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Enviromental Policy and Regulation - Essay Example As a means of integrating with such a question, this particular essay will analyze the extent to which the Magnuson – Stevens Act of 1976 has helped to protect the environment to which it was intended to preserve. In order to measure the underlying effectiveness of this act, the author will seek to review the determinant components of the Magnuson – Stevens Act, the subsequent amendments and bills that it has given birth to, the level to which the legislation has been able to ameliorate the issues that it set out to address, and the ultimately whether the legislation can be considered a success, failure, or partial success. Firstly, before delving into measuring whether or the legislation has helped to address the issues that it sought to integrate with, it is necessary for the student o provide a thorough overview of all of the aspects of United States fisheries and protected areas that the legislation sought to address. As such, the Magnuson – Stevens Act of 19 76 can ultimately be broken down into the following 5 component parts: Acting to conserve fishery resources Supporting enforcement of international fishing agreements Promoting fishing in line with conservation principles Providing for the implementation of fishery management plans (FMPs), which achieve optimal yield Establishing Regional Fisher Management Councils to steward fishery resources through the preparation, monitoring, and revising of plans which (A) enable stakeholders to participate in the administration of fishers and (B) consider social and economic needs of states As a function of such a broad approach, the bill can be understood to seek to identify with three functional areas of fishery conservation, 1) the international level that seeks to bring the interpretation of international fishery management in line with what the United States projected in domestic law, 2) seeking to engage in an framework for which the federal government could seek to provide a level of ov erarching conservation within the states and territories it was responsible for and finally, 3) seeking to integrate this framework with respect to the many differentiated rules that had developed within the individual states (Tromble, 2012). As with many layers of legislation that have introduced over the years, the ultimate success of the act cannot be understood in a two dimensional explanation of whether it has been effective or whether it has not been effective. Instead, the overall success and result of the Magnuson – Stevens Act of 1976 varies dependent upon the different regions and fish stocks within the United States. However, as a means of the evolving level of success, the government has been able to integrate with amendments to the bill both in 1996 and 2006; thereby the disenfranchised regions of the nation and fish stocks that were still suffering and left out of the specific rubric of the bill have been integrated with in a far more successful manner than was exhibited when the bill was first passed into law. This amendment process signifies a vital component of the legislation that ultimately bequeaths it with a far greater degree of success than it would otherwise realize (Rouch, 2012). Due to the fact that new fisheries are developed and near exhaustion on a regular basis, the bill requires that amendments must be made in order to integrate the current realities of conservation with the law that seeks to protect the component parts of the

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Economics - Essay Example A monopolist does not have to worry about any such retaliation due to imperfect competition. There are too many barriers of entry into a monopolistic market for new firms. The biggest barrier is that of economy. A monopolist is able to produce his product at a very low cost and it is not possible for the other producers to produce at such a low cost. The competitors are not able to invest in capital like the monopolist invests. The technology that is available to the monopolist is also not available to the competitors. Therefore, the monopolist lowers the price of his product at such a level at which other producers cannot survive. This way, the competitors are driven out of the competition. When this happens, the monopolist raises the price of his product at his desired level again. Another aspect of monopoly is the network effect. The product of the monopolist has no close substitutes. The new consumers also tend to use the monopolist’s product because it becomes a social no rm and a fashion. This is why the demand for his product is always likely to increase. This aspect also serves as a barrier of entry for new firms and as another incentive for monopolist to raise price. Patents and copyrights provide legal protection to a monopolist from competitors. Generally, a monopolist earns supernormal profit which means that the marginal revenue is lower than the price. The demand curve for the monopolist’s product is relatively inelastic. This means that any change in price does not affect the demand for the product. Monopoly is one of the rare scenarios in which the demand for the product is relatively inelastic. Normally, the price goes up in this case because it is very easy for the monopolist. In a competitive market, it is very hard to raise the price of the product because the competitors do not follow the new price. The demand for the product in perfect competition is perfectly elastic and there is no demand if a single firm raises its price. T here is no such case in monopoly. A monopolist has a great influence on the consumers. There are times when a monopolist has to face some retaliation from the consumers when he raises the price unreasonably. In order to deal with this situation, he uses his control on supply. He cuts the level of supply at his own will and it becomes hard for the consumers to get their hands on the monopolist’s product. When they do find the product, they are willing to pay the price asked by the monopolist. This way, the monopolist curbs the reaction of the public and earns real economic profit during the process. However, he does lose some of his customers in the process because the demand for his product is not perfectly elastic and some of the customers are no longer able to afford the product. His ability to control supply and affect the consumers is another barrier for his competitors. Another tactic for a monopolist to make high profit is price discrimination. He segregates the market into two parts. The consumers who need his product more or have an ability to pay more are charged high prices. The rest of the consumers are charged lower prices. Price discrimination works successfully and is profitable when the elasticity of demand of one market is different from that of the separated market. This way, the monopolist earns more profit from the market whose elasticity of de