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Things fall Apart chapter 6 analysis.

Page 47: The chapter begins by setting the stage for the arrival of the white Christian missionaries in
Umuofia. The narrator describes how the village had been experiencing a period of peace and
prosperity, with the crops growing well and the people enjoying good health. This creates a sense of
foreboding that something significant is about to happen that will disrupt the peace and harmony of
the community.

Page 48: The narrator introduces the white missionaries as a group of men who are dressed
differently and carry strange objects. The villagers are initially curious about the newcomers and
wonder what their purpose is.

Page 49: The missionaries are welcomed by some of the villagers, particularly those who are
disillusioned with the traditional practices of the Igbo people. The narrator describes how the
missionaries are able to win over converts by offering them a sense of belonging and community.

Page 50: The narrator describes how the missionaries begin to build a church in Umuofia and how
the villagers become fascinated by the new religion. This marks the beginning of a cultural clash
between the Igbo people and the white missionaries.

Page 51: The narrator describes how the Igbo people are initially sceptical of the missionaries and
view them with suspicion. However, as more and more villagers convert to Christianity, the
traditional customs and beliefs of the Igbo people come under threat.

Page 52: The narrator describes how the white missionaries begin to undermine the authority of the
Igbo leaders by offering the converts a new sense of power and status. This creates tension within
the village and threatens the stability of the community.

Page 53: The narrator describes how the Igbo people begin to fear the power of the missionaries and
the new religion. This fear is fuelled by rumours of the missionaries' magical powers and the
punishments that await those who refuse to convert.

Page 54: The chapter ends with the narrator describing how the arrival of the white missionaries
marks the beginning of a new era in Umuofia, one that challenges the traditional values and beliefs
of the Igbo people. The stage is set for a cultural clash that will play out over the course of the novel.

Literary device analysis


Page 41-42: On the first page of the chapter, the author uses imagery to describe the arrival of the
missionaries. He writes, "The white man had indeed brought a lunatic religion, but he had also built a
trading store and for the first time palm-oil and kernel became things of great price." Here, the
author uses the image of a "lunatic religion" to describe the new religion that has arrived in Umuofia.
This language suggests that the villagers view Christianity as something crazy or absurd. Additionally,
the author uses juxtaposition to contrast the negative view of the new religion with the positive
economic impact it has on the village.

Page 43-44: The author uses dialogue to reveal the conflicting views of Okonkwo and his son, Nwoye,
regarding the new religion. Okonkwo is fiercely opposed to Christianity and sees it as a threat to his
culture and way of life. Nwoye, on the other hand, is drawn to the new religion and finds solace in its
teachings. This conflict between father and son serves as a microcosm for the larger conflict between
traditional African culture and the encroaching forces of colonialism.

Page 45-46: The author uses irony to critique the actions of the Christian missionaries. He writes,
"The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at
his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won over our brothers, and our clan can no
longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart."
Here, the author uses irony to highlight the destructive nature of colonialism. The villagers initially
view the arrival of the missionaries as something foolish and harmless, but they soon realize that it
has fractured their community and threatened their way of life.

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