📚 Things Fall Apart – Chapter-wise Summary

Chapter 1: Okonkwo’s Rise

Summary:
- The novel opens by introducing Okonkwo, a respected leader in the Igbo village of Umuofia.
- Okonkwo is known for his wealth, strength, and success in farming yams.
- His father, Unoka, was poor and irresponsible, and Okonkwo despises him for it. Okonkwo is determined never to be weak like his father.
- Okonkwo gains his fame by defeating a wrestler, Amalinze the Cat, in a contest.
- The chapter sets the stage for Okonkwo’s rigid sense of masculinity and his fear of appearing weak.

🧠 Memory Check (Chapter 1)

Q1: What event makes Okonkwo famous?
➔ A1: He defeats Amalinze the Cat in a wrestling match.

Q2: Why does Okonkwo despise his father?
➔ A2: His father was weak, irresponsible, and poor.

Q3: What is Okonkwo’s greatest fear?
➔ A3: Appearing weak like his father.

Chapter 2: The Oracle and Exile

Summary:
- The village is preparing for a feast of the earth goddess, and Okonkwo must take part in the rituals.
- The Oracle of the Hills and Caves is consulted to resolve a conflict between two villages.
- Okonkwo is summoned to the Oracle and is told that a child from his village must be sacrificed to avoid war.
- The village elders decide to kill a boy, Ikemefuna, who had been living in Okonkwo’s house for three years.
- Okonkwo is deeply affected but reluctantly agrees to kill Ikemefuna, fearing that showing emotion or weakness would harm his reputation.

🧠 Memory Check (Chapter 2)

Q1: Why is the Oracle consulted?
➔ A1: To resolve a conflict between villages.

Q2: Who is sacrificed, and why?
➔ A2: Ikemefuna, to prevent war.

Q3: How does Okonkwo feel about killing Ikemefuna?
➔ A3: He is deeply affected but kills him to avoid appearing weak.

Chapter 3: Okonkwo’s Family

Summary:
- Okonkwo works hard to maintain his wealth and honor. He has three wives and many children.
- The chapter focuses on Okonkwo’s relationship with his family. His wife, Ekwefi, is depicted as a loving mother who has suffered the loss of many children.
- Ezinma, Ekwefi’s only surviving child, is Okonkwo’s favorite.
- Okonkwo is harsh with his children, especially his son Nwoye, whom he believes is lazy and weak.
- The chapter shows Okonkwo’s deep fear of weakness and how it affects his relationships.

🧠 Memory Check (Chapter 3)

Q1: Who is Okonkwo’s favorite child?
➔ A1: Ezinma.

Q2: Why does Ekwefi mourn?
➔ A2: She has lost many children before Ezinma.

Q3: How does Okonkwo treat his son, Nwoye?
➔ A3: He is harsh and critical, believing Nwoye is lazy and weak.

Chapter 4: Ikemefuna’s Death

Summary:
- Ikemefuna has been living with Okonkwo’s family for three years. He has become attached to Okonkwo and his family, particularly Nwoye.
- The village elders tell Okonkwo that the boy must be killed. Okonkwo is instructed not to participate directly, but he takes part in the killing.
- Ikemefuna, unaware of his fate, calls Okonkwo “father” as he is led to his death.
- Okonkwo strikes the final blow to Ikemefuna’s head, despite his emotional bond with the boy.
- This marks a significant moment in Okonkwo’s emotional journey, showcasing his commitment to avoiding weakness, even at the cost of his humanity.

🧠 Memory Check (Chapter 4)

Q1: How long has Ikemefuna been living with Okonkwo’s family?
➔ A1: Three years.

Q2: What is the significance of Ikemefuna calling Okonkwo “father”?
➔ A2: It highlights the emotional bond between them.

Q3: How does Okonkwo participate in Ikemefuna’s death?
➔ A3: He strikes the final blow, even though he has grown attached to the boy.

Chapter 5: The Feast of the New Yam

Summary:
- The chapter focuses on the feast of the New Yam, a time of celebration and community bonding.
- Okonkwo’s household is preparing for the feast, and the chapter describes the domestic roles of the wives and the importance of food in Igbo culture.
- Okonkwo’s wife, Ojiugo, goes out without preparing food for the family, which causes Okonkwo to beat her in anger.
- The chapter reveals the conflict between Okonkwo’s need to maintain authority and his emotional repression.

🧠 Memory Check (Chapter 5)

Q1: What is the feast of the New Yam?
➔ A1: A celebration of the new harvest and community bonding.

Q2: Why does Okonkwo beat his wife, Ojiugo?
➔ A2: She went out without preparing food for the family.

Q3: What does Okonkwo’s reaction reveal about him?
➔ A3: His need for control and emotional repression.

Chapter 6: The Wrestling Match

Summary:
- The village holds a wrestling match in honor of the New Yam festival.
- Okonkwo’s daughter, Ezinma, attends the match with her mother, Ekwefi.
- Chielo, the priestess of the Oracle, takes Ezinma to the shrine of the Oracle, causing Ekwefi great worry.
- The match is a significant social event, and the chapter highlights the importance of physical prowess and social rituals in Igbo culture.
- Okonkwo’s presence at the match shows his continued desire to maintain his reputation as a strong, powerful figure in the community.

🧠 Memory Check (Chapter 6)

Q1: What event does the village celebrate?
➔ A1: The wrestling match during the New Yam festival.

Q2: Who takes Ezinma to the Oracle?
➔ A2: Chielo, the priestess.

Q3: What does the wrestling match symbolize?
➔ A3: The importance of strength, masculinity, and social cohesion in Igbo culture.

Chapter 7: Okonkwo’s Struggle with Nwoye

Summary:
- Ikemefuna’s death deeply affects Nwoye, who begins to pull away from his father.
- Okonkwo tries to encourage Nwoye to embrace the traditional masculine values, but Nwoye is emotionally distant.
- Okonkwo’s anger towards Nwoye grows, and he sees him as a disappointment.
- Nwoye’s rebellion against Okonkwo’s harshness becomes more evident as he is drawn to the Christian missionaries arriving in Umuofia.

🧠 Memory Check (Chapter 7)

Q1: How does Ikemefuna’s death affect Nwoye?
➔ A1: Nwoye becomes emotionally distant and begins to rebel against Okonkwo.

Q2: What does Okonkwo try to teach Nwoye?
➔ A2: Traditional masculine values and strength.

Q3: What is Nwoye’s response to his father’s harshness?
➔ A3: He is drawn to the Christian missionaries.

Chapter 8-25: The Rising Tension and Collapse of Umuofia

Summary:
- The remaining chapters follow Okonkwo’s exile and his eventual return.
- The arrival of the British missionaries and the spread of Christianity begins to divide the community.
- Okonkwo’s efforts to maintain the traditions of his people and his authority fail in the face of colonial influence.
- The tragic finality comes when Okonkwo commits suicide, unable to cope with the changing world around him.

🧠 Memory Check (Chapters 8-25)

Q1: How does Okonkwo react to the arrival of the British missionaries?
➔ A1: He refuses to adapt and tries to maintain traditional authority.

Q2: What is the significance of Okonkwo’s suicide?
➔ A2: It represents the ultimate breakdown of his identity and the collapse of traditional Igbo society.

Final Recap Summary Table:

Chapter	Key Event
1	Okonkwo’s rise and his desire to avoid weakness.
2	Ikemefuna’s death and Okonkwo’s harshness.
3	Okonkwo’s family and his harsh treatment of Nwoye.
4	Ikemefuna’s death and Okonkwo’s emotional conflict.
5	The Feast of the New Yam and Okonkwo’s aggression.
6	The wrestling match and social rituals.
7	Nwoye’s rebellion and the arrival of Christianity.
8-25	The rise of colonialism, Okonkwo’s fall, and his suicide.