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Dead Men’s Path (1953)

Chinua Achebe, an African author (1930-present)

Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe (born 16 November 1930) popularly known as Chinua is

a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. He is best known for his first novel and
magnum opus, Things Fall Apart (1959), which is the most widely read book in
modern African literature. Raised by parents in the Igbo town of Ogidi in southeastern
Nigeria, Achebe excelled at school and won a scholarship for undergraduate studies.
He became fascinated with world religions and traditional African cultures, and began
writing stories as a university student. After graduation, he worked for the Nigerian
Broadcasting Service and soon moved to the metropolis of Lagos. He gained
worldwide attention for Things Fall Apart in the late 1950s; his later novels include No
Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills

Achebe's novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of values
during and after the colonial era. His style relies heavily on the Igbo oral tradition, and combines straightforward
narration with representations of folk stories, proverbs, and oratory. He has also published a number of short
stories, children's books, and essay collections.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinua_Achebe

Character

Write in the chart below three (3) positive characteristics and three (3) negative characteristics of Michael Obi
and explain why you chose those characteristics.

negative positive He feel very enthusiasm

Prioritizing his desires and excited to archieve
over the culture, beliefs, his goals to be a good
and village trushs.
Unrespect Enthusiasm head master and develop
the school.

He didn`t think about Have a lot of idea,

people`s feellings and Outspoken Michael Obi
Innovative imaginative, creative,to
opinions. make his goal to became
true.

He forced to build apath He try everything ways to

way at school and change Stubbornness Energic realizing his plan.
the path to the tomb.

Physical and social characteristics of Michael Obi:

Michael Obi, the protagonist of Chinua Achebe's short story "Dead Men's Path," possesses both physical and
social characteristics that shape his character. Physically, he is described as a young, energetic, and ambitious
man. Socially, he is portrayed as rigid, arrogant, and stubborn, with a strong commitment to modernity and
progress at the expense of traditional beliefs and practices. His physical appearance and social demeanor
contribute to the conflict he faces when he clashes with the village elders over the school's path and its
significance to the community's spiritual beliefs.

What is Nancy Obi like?

Nancy serves as a foil to Michael, offering a contrasting perspective that highlights the complexities of the
cultural clash central to the story. While she supports her husband, she also recognizes the importance of
respecting the community's beliefs, which creates tension between her and Michael as the story unfolds.
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Setting

Draw the village shrine, the school compound, the path, and the burial place before and after Obi closes the
foot-path.

The setting of the story is in a Nigerian village called Ndume, and the time frame is
shortly after World War II, specifically in January 1949. The story revolves around
Ndume Central School and its headmaster, Michael Obi, who is enthusiastic about
modernizing the school and clashes with the villagers over their traditional beliefs
and practices.

Why is the path across the school important to the villagers?

In Dead Men's Path the path across the school is significant to the villagers because it holds cultural and spiritual

importance. The path is not merely a physical route but also a symbol of the connection between the living and

the dead. According to the villagers' beliefs, the path is used by ancestral spirits to visit the land of the living

during certain times of the year. The new headmaster, Michael Obi, disrupts this cultural tradition by blocking

the path in an attempt to modernize the school grounds. However, his actions offend the villagers and provoke a

clash between traditional beliefs and modernization. This clash highlights the conflict between traditional African

values and Western influences, as well as the consequences of neglecting or disrespecting cultural heritage. The

story ultimately serves as a commentary on the importance of understanding and respecting cultural traditions,

even in the face of modernization.

What is the significance of the setting in this story?

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Plot

Obi’s plan was not

approved by the
priest. Because that
path was a village
beliefs which is our
ancestors visit us by it.

Obi want to rebuild

the pathway to be a
part of the school.

Because the young woman

was died and it makes the
villagers thought if the
reason was because the new
headmaster rebuilding the
path become a flowers
garden so that they
destroyed the fence and one
of the school buildings
pulled down by them.

The characters are Obi,his

wife(Nancy),old woman,teacher
and Priest.
The setting place were in the
village,school and food path. The
setting time were in the morning
and evening.
Backround Informations is he was
a teacher that going to be a young
headmaster and had the goal of
advancing the school.
 Conflict 4

Conflict is the dramatic struggle between opposing forces or points of view in a story. Without conflict, there is
no plot.

Identify the conflicts happen in Dead Men’s Path. Discuss the types of conflicts and the subjects of the conflicts.

Types of Who Subjects of Conflicts

conflicts
 Symbolism 5

Think about the symbolism in the story. Identify and draw the objects which you think are symbolical and
provide explanation on the meaning of each symbol.

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Theme 6

In your opinion, what is the main theme of Dead Men’s Path?

Consider Obi’s motivation in valuing the flowerbeds more than the villager’s beliefs which then become the root
of the conflict.
Consider Obi’s perception that the school was “backward in every sense” and “unprogressive”. His aim was to
make the school a modern and respected one, yet, which standard that he referred to?

Critical approach

With the lens of postcolonial critical approach, how do you analyze Dead Men’s Path?

If you were to take over as the next principal, how would you manage this particular school?

I would love to build the system first to be modern and introduce modernism of technology and then I
would repair and reorganize the school to be more suitable and comfortable for students also I'm going
Personal
to Response
create a modern school that doesn't diminish local traditions and beliefs so that there will be
cooperation for the common interest and advancement.