African Literature

Things Fall apart

African Literature

• Encompasses both traditional oral literature and written works in

African languages, as well as works in European languages
written by African authors.
• Focusing on themes that are relevant to African society, culture,
and history.
• Genres, including novels, short stories, poetry, and drama,
written in various languages such as English, French, Arabic,
and local African languages.
• Addresses issues such as colonialism, independence, identity,
and cultural heritage, providing diverse perspectives on the
African experience.
Author
• Chinua Achebe
• Nigerian author of the novel “Things Fall Apart”
• First published in 1958.
• It depicts pre-colonial life in Igboland (modern-day southeastern
Nigeria) and the subsequent appearance of European missionaries and
colonial forces in the late 19th century. It is seen as the archetypal
modern African novel in English, and one of the first to receive global
critical acclaim. It is a staple book in schools throughout Africa and is
widely read and studied in English-speaking countries around the world.
The novel was first published in the United Kingdom in 1958 by William
Heinemann Ltd, and became the first work published in Heinemann's
African Writers Series.
Text
Elements
• Sensory details/Sense perception

• Structure
Figure of Speech Used:
Methahor, simile, allusion, and personification

Symbols:
egwugwu, locusts, yams, folktales, fire, and the Mother of
the Spirits.
References
• https://www.britannica.com/art/African-literature
• https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/things/summary/
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Things_Fall_Apart
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc_VL3awV-k
• https://study.com/academy/lesson/literary-devices-in-things-
fall-apart.html