Style and language in things fall apart. Language as a Bridge to Understanding in Things Fall Apart, a Novel by Chinua Achebe: [Essay Example], 905 words GradesFixer 2022-12-18
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In Things Fall Apart, the late Nigerian author Chinua Achebe employs a unique style and language in order to convey the cultural and societal conflicts experienced by the Igbo people during the early 1900s.
One of the most notable aspects of Achebe's writing style is his use of proverbs and folklore. Throughout the novel, the characters frequently reference traditional Igbo proverbs and folktales, which serve to not only convey the cultural values and beliefs of the Igbo people, but also to illustrate the depth of their oral tradition. For example, the character Okonkwo frequently uses proverbs to assert his authority and to emphasize his masculinity, such as when he says "He who brings kola brings life," to emphasize the importance of hospitality in Igbo culture.
Another important element of Achebe's style is his use of dialogue to convey the distinct cultural identities of the various characters. For instance, the character Obierika frequently speaks in a more philosophical and introspective manner, reflecting the importance of wisdom and contemplation in Igbo culture. On the other hand, Okonkwo speaks in a more aggressive and assertive manner, reflecting the importance of strength and masculinity in Igbo society.
In addition to proverbs and dialogue, Achebe also employs a range of descriptive language to convey the rich cultural landscape of the Igbo people. For example, he describes the intricate beadwork and elaborate hairstyles of the women, as well as the ornate masks and sculptures used in traditional Igbo religious ceremonies. Achebe's detailed descriptions not only serve to immerse the reader in the world of the Igbo people, but also to highlight the importance of art and aesthetics in Igbo culture.
Overall, Achebe's use of proverbs, dialogue, and descriptive language serves to not only convey the unique culture of the Igbo people, but also to illustrate the ways in which this culture is being threatened by the arrival of European colonizers. Through his distinctive style and language, Achebe effectively captures the complexity and depth of the Igbo experience during this tumultuous period in their history.
Use of Language in Things Fall Apart
He sees the world in black and white; either something is evil, or it is good. Often speaking in the past tense, he also narrates the story with little use of character dialogue. Thus the word Igbo is written as Ibo, the pre-1960 spelling throughout Things Fall Apart. His goal is to use language to depict how the Ibo view their world. Achebe's use of Igbo language, speech patterns, proverbs, and richly drawn characters creates an authentic African story that effectively bridges the cultural and historical gap between the reader and the Igbo. Language and communication are an essential part of culture and using a foreign tongue to craft an artistic rendition of that culture would be leaving out a substantial portion of its worth.
The List of Characters includes a pronunciation that uses equivalent English syllables for most of the main characters' names. The objective tone of Things Fall Apart gives the reader to make their own judgments about the characters and their actions. An understanding of Igbo culture can only be possible when the outsider can relate to the Igbo language and terminology. The following pairs of characters serve as foils for each other: Okonkwo and Obierika, Ikemefuna and Nwoye, and Mr. What kind of style does John Achebe use? The understanding of chi and its significance in Igbo culture grows as one progresses through the book. In his motherland, he is immediately accepted, and his relatives give him land and fields to begin a new life.
First, the deserters are impressed with the wealth the white man brings into Umuofia. Narration Achebe develops Things Fall Apart through a third-person narrative—using he and she for exposition—rather than having the characters tell it themselves. And if our brothers take the side of evil we must root them out too. The idea of pride is constantly developed throughout the thoughts and actions of the novels protagonist Okonkwo. In a 1966 essay reprinted in his book Morning Yet on Creation Day, he says that, by using English, he presents "a new voice coming out of Africa, speaking of African experience in a world-wide language. For three or four moons it demanded hard work and constant attention from cock-crow till the chickens went back to roost. These particular elements give Things Fall Apart an authentic African voice.
Consider the sound of the drums in the night in Chapter 13 go-di-di-go-go-di-go ; the call repeated several times to unite a gathering followed by its group response, first described in Chapter 2 Umuofia kwenu. He detests the sight of blood and abhors violence of any kind. In keeping his language direct and to the point, Achebe invests his prose with the feeling of neutral reportage. See eNotes Ad-Free Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. They can steal your cloth from off your waist in the market.
Things Fall Apart: Chinua Achebe and the languages of African literature
Vivid images result, giving the reader a clear representation of people and events. The ability to read and write in English begins to represent power, as the white men provide more financial incentives for learning their language and more clan members choose to enroll in their schools. Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. The Igbo's pride is constantly challenged by the colonizers as they gain increasingly more power in Africa. Achebe's decision to transcribe several words from the Igbo language throughout the novel takes back some of this power, however, by suggesting that there are African ideas that cannot be adequately described in English. Okonkwo was not an evil man but his life was dominated by fear of weakness and failure which made him extremely violent and aggressive.
Achebe uses figurative language like metaphors and similes to compare the characters in the story, to describe the character and the movement of action they make in the story. If all books about Africa were written in African vernacular there would be no further expansion of knowledge. Nwoye Quotes From Things Fall Apart 605 Words 3 Pages p. The author, Achebe, shows us that there is more meaning to a story than the outside shell of it, his words show the reader a powerful meaning in his text. His style creates a sense of formality befitting a historical narrative told from a third-person omniscient point of view. Okonkwo is a flawed hero, but his attempts to confront the forces transforming his village speak to a long history of anti-colonial resistance.
Paull Young via Flickr, Published 60 years ago this year by Heinemann in London, Things Fall Apart has sold more than 10m copies and been translated into more than 50 languages. What literary devices does Achebe use? Aside from individual words, Achebe also includes longer sections of Igbo-language text. The tone that Achebe presents a view of complex to the story filled with supports the Igbo social, religious, and living habits. Setting Things Fall Apart is set in Umuofia, a tribal village in the country of Nigeria, in Africa. His style creates a sense of formality befitting a historical narrative told from a third-person omniscient point of view. The stories Achebe tells throughout Things Fall Apart are themselves tales within the tale. As discussed in the Analysis section for Chapter 3, the chi concept is more complex than a personal deity or even fate, another frequently used synonym.
Language as a Bridge to Understanding in Things Fall Apart, a Novel by Chinua Achebe: [Essay Example], 905 words GradesFixer
Okonkwo understands and accepts his punishment. Change In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart 889 Words 4 Pages Everyone as a human being has experienced some form of change in our life, big or small, and it has a lasting effect on who they are and how they act. The last date is today's date — the date you are citing the material. He is not an elder and has no official status as a leader, but he is relied upon as a man of action and he hopes one day to become a leader. Including Ibo terminology allows the reader to be exposed to more aspects of the culture and feel a closer connection to the book and the characters. The Igbo culture is fundamentally an oral one — that is, "Among the Igbo, the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten" Chapter1.
What type of language is used by Chinua Achebe in Things Fall Apart? Analyze the language in Things Fall Apart.
Educational, administrative and religious institutions had conducted life in the colonies in the language of the coloniser. In the short three years that he lived with Okonkwo and his family, he has become a part of the routine, learn to work efficiently on the yam farm and has overall become an avid member of the family. Some names reflect the qualities that a parent wishes to bestow on a child; for example, Ikemefuna means my power should not be dispersed. Overall, language can be a barrier but it is also a bridge to understanding. In contrast to Western writers and artists who create art for art's sake, many African writers create works with one mission in mind — to reestablish their own national culture in the postcolonial era. Achebe adds another twist in his creative use of language by incorporating a few examples of Pidgin English. Okonkwo finds out that his son Nwoye has joined Christianity and takes exception to it.
