Rough Draft of Final Portfolio Research Based on Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

RUNNING HEAD: PORTFOLIO PROJECT OUTLINE AND SPECIFIED CULTURAL ANALYSIS

Portfolio Project Outline and Specified Cultural Analysis

Jadah Arrington

ENG130-2

Colorado State University – Global Campus

Dr. Stone Meredith

November 9, 2019

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RUNNING HEAD: PORTFOLIO PROJECT OUTLINE AND SPECIFIED CULTURAL ANALYSIS

Outline: “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe

● Introduction

○ The introduction is designed to give insights into the topic of the research. Here

we introduce the themes in the novel and some of the key characters who

contribute to the overall plot of the discussion.

● Struggle between change and tradition

o This is one of themes common throughout the novel. The research

paper shall look into how the community in Nigeria strived to retain its

culture with the influence of the missionary and the introduction of the

foreign form of governance.

● Different Interpretation of masculinity

o Okonkwo appears to be the strongest man in the land due to his strong

body as compared to many of the strongmen in the community. Also, his

fighting browses have earned him respect and fear and he called upon

whenever any fighting challenge occurs.

● Language: the sign of cultural differences

o Chinua Achebe has tried in the book to demonstrate the strength of the

African language which was overlooked by other English writers. He has

also portrayed how the African language such the Igbo is hard to translate

to English because it might lead to the change of the meaning that was

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RUNNING HEAD: PORTFOLIO PROJECT OUTLINE AND SPECIFIED CULTURAL ANALYSIS

intended. IN some instances, Achebe introduces the fact there are several

African languages used by different and he makes fun of it.

● Divide among different generations.

o The Okonkwo come in through different generation. The

first-generation divides Okonkwo from his father, Unoka. Unoka was not

a worrier like his father, who was known to be a terrible conman who

owed everybody in the community.

o Another generation division is seen between Okonkwo and his son

Nwoye which share some common features as his grandfather, but

Okonkwo thinks that he is like his mother. Nwoye is not interested in the

warlike his father and also, his lack the love arts.

● Pride

o pride is another theme common through the novel which is seen in

Okonkwo who takes as the most fearless man in the community. He takes

pride in his achievement as a worrier, which has made him accomplish a

lot. The pride also has become the reason for his looking down upon other

people.

● Repression

o Throughout the novel, Okonkwo appears to repress his emotions so as

not to appear weak in his adversaries and the community who seems to

depend on him. Achebe was known for not showing his emotions unless

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RUNNING HEAD: PORTFOLIO PROJECT OUTLINE AND SPECIFIED CULTURAL ANALYSIS

when he is angry. Okonkwo also things that man should always be feared

and should be full of anger.

● Ethnographic distance

o The narrator in many instances had explained some aspects of the Igbo

world to the readers. The narrator seems to distance themselves from their

culture and try to explain the culture to the reader who may otherwise not

familiar with the culture.

● Conclusion

o The conclusion of the research reflects on the themes of the research. It

is at this point that the researcher let the reader to known what was being

discussed in the paper.

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