A Pragma-Stylistic Approach to Analysing Proverbs: A Review of Some Selected Proverbs in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God

African artworks, to be specific, literature has for quite a long time now demonstrated African tradition and culture. One major African literary tool that has maintained its efficacy in the African cultural heritage is the use of proverbs. Proverbs have been diversely used to perform several functions in the African traditional setting. Among such functions are: confirming opinions, warning, showing regrets, doubts, justifications and many more. This paper seeks to examine some selected proverbs from Chinua Achebe’s novels – Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God. Significantly, one can conclude that the style of a writer can go a long way in determining the reception and authenticity of his works. Chinua Achebe has extensively employed proverbs in his works as a tool for setting out or revealing his characters, themes and many others. This study is a pragma-stylistic approach to the analysis of proverbs used by Achebe in the selected novels. The researchers focus primarily on the style, meaning and function of the proverbs used in the selected texts. A critical content analysis method is employed for this study to determine the functions of the proverbs within the context of the novel. This study brings to the fore the very nature of African proverbs, specifically the Igbo of Nigeria and reveals the various functions ascribed to these proverbs. This will provide readers with the necessary knowledge on the very reasons why some proverbs are used and will ignite the research impetus of some researchers to further investigate other approaches to proverbs. This study has contributed immensely to the existing literature on pragma-stylistic studies and the understanding of a pragma-stylistic approach as a theoretical concept with a unique focus on analysing African proverbs. Keywords: Achebe, Proverbs, Pragmatics, Pragma-stylistics, Stylistics

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Re-Reading Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Postcolonial Perspective

10.31219/osf.io/8zh79 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

A.K.M. Aminur Rashid

Keyword(s):

Cultural Practices ◽

Chinua Achebe ◽

The Novel ◽

Way Of Life ◽

The Past ◽

Igbo People ◽

Christian Culture ◽

Things Fall Apart ◽

The Individual ◽

To Receive

Being a postcolonial narrative, Things Fall Apart experiences a wide critical acclaim. From the pen of Chinua Achebe, the Igbo cultural complexity has come into being a theme that opens up a historical account of the clash of two cultures. Okonkwo, a very well-known public figure in his community falls under the threat of a new culture brought by the white missionaries preaching the gospels of the Christianity. After the arrival of the Christian culture, the first collision that takes place is the division at the individual, and then at the societal levels. When a number of the Igbo people, including Okonkwo’s son, change their religion, it creates chaos and confusions throughout the community. Although the Igbo people have a well-established way of life, the Europeans do not understand. That is why they show no respect to the cultural practices of the Igbo people. What Achebe delivers in the novel is that Africans are not savages and their societies are not mindless. The things fall apart because Okonkwo fails at the end to take his people back to the culture they all shared once. The sentiments the whites show to the blacks regarding the Christianity clearly recap the slave treatment the blacks were used to receive from the whites in the past. Achebe shows that the picture of the Africans portrayed in literature and histories are not real, but the picture was seen through the eyes of the Europeans. Consequently, Okonkwo hangs himself when he finds his established rules and orders are completely exiled by his own people and when he sees Igbo looses its honor by falling apart.

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Lexical Gaps and Ideological Shift in the Translation of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart as “Le Monde S’effondrein French”

Asemka: A Bi-Lingual Literary Journal of University of Cape Coast ◽

10.47963/asemka.vi10.287 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 283-297

Author(s):

Angelinus Kwame Negedu

Keyword(s):

French Language ◽

Original Text ◽

Chinua Achebe ◽

The Novel ◽

English Reader ◽

Original Title ◽

Things Fall Apart ◽

Ideological Divergence

In translating Chinua Achebe‟s Things Fall Apart, Michel Ligny translates directly Igbo terminologies, realities and beliefs into the French language. This has contributed greatly in the preservation of the beauty and authenticity of the original text. However, the title of the novel is domesticated by Michel Ligny to present a different ideology. Within the framework of Lawrence Venuti (2004) theory of domestication and foreignization of translation, this paper examines the ideological divergence between the title of the original text and the title of the translation. The paper concludes that the ideology that the translated title projects to the French-reader is totally different from the ideology that the original title projects to the English-reader.

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Okonkwo’s Fall: Multiple Perspectives

World Journal of Educational Research ◽

10.22158/wjer.v3n1p151 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 151

Author(s):

T S Varadharajan ◽

Dr. K. Ramesh

Keyword(s):

The Other ◽

Chinua Achebe ◽

The Novel ◽

Multiple Perspectives ◽

Igbo Culture ◽

Things Fall Apart

This article aims at exploring the causes of the fall of Okonkwo, the protagonist of the Nigerian Novel. Things Fall Apart by the renowned novelist, Chinua Achebe. Though the novel mainly deals with the fall of Igbo Culture where Okonkwo has played the sheet anchor role in the novel, Things Fall Apart at the hands of British establishment in Nigeria, the other vital reasons that make him vulnerable will also be discussed at length in this article. It is from the study of the novel, it is established that the Igbo society that refuses to change itself could be one of the reasons for the fall. However, it is very clear that the changes should take place spontaneously and not by force which the Igbo society has been the victim and the representative, Okonkwo its scapegoat. The writers of the article make sure that the reading of this article will be an eye opener in terms of Nigerian consciousness as revealed in the novel, Things Fall Apart.

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THE IMPACT OF THE 19TH CENTURY EUROPEAN COLONIALISM IN AFRICA, IN THE NOVEL “THINGS FALL APART” BY CHINUA ACHEBE

British (Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra Inggris) ◽

10.31314/british.8.2.109-118.2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 109

Author(s):

Afriliyani Piola ◽

Happy Anastasia Usman

Keyword(s):

19Th Century ◽

Qualitative Method ◽

Primary Data ◽

Chinua Achebe ◽

The Novel ◽

Early 19Th Century ◽

Things Fall Apart ◽

European Colonialism ◽

The 19Th Century ◽

The Impact

Things Fall Apart is a novel potrays the background of traditional life and primitive culture Ibo tribe in Umuofia, Nigeria, Africa and also the impact of European colonialism towards Africans’ society in the early 19th century. The research applies the qualitative method and it supported by the sociology of literature approach. The primary data are taken from the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Based on the analysis the researcher conducts, the impact of European colonialism in Africa which not only brings a positive impacts but also negative legacy. There are several points of the impact European colonialism in Africa : existence of christianity, existence of language, establishment regulation and contribution to development.

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Women in Achebe’s Novel “Things Fall Apart”

10.18326/rgt.v3i1.37-50 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 37

Author(s):

Mundi Rahayu

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Belief System ◽

Decision Making Process ◽

Chinua Achebe ◽

The Novel ◽

Postcolonial Feminism ◽

Patriarchal Culture ◽

The Social ◽

Things Fall Apart

This paper explores the image of women in Chinua Achebe novel’s Things Fall Apart. As the prominent postcolonial writer, Achebe has a vivid expression describing the social cultural values of the Ibo community in Nigeria, Africa. Analysis of the novel is done through the perspective of postcolonial feminism. Postcolonial feminism finds the relation and intersection between Postcolonialism and feminism. This interplay is interesting to observe. The findings show that in traditional patriarchal culture as in the novel, women are portrayed happy, harmonious members of the community, even when they are repeatedly beaten and barren from any say in the communal decision-making process and constantly reviled in sayings and proverbs. However some other interesting findings are that the women also have big role in the belief system of the community, and in Achebe’s novel he made it an amusement, for example by punishing Okonkwo because of his beating to his wife in the sacred time. Keywords: Postcolonial Feminism; Traditional Patriarchal Culture; Community

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Language and Gender Representation in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

English Language Teaching ◽

10.5539/elt.v12n11p55 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 55

Author(s):

Blessing U. Ijem ◽

Isaiah I. Agbo

Keyword(s):

Female Gender ◽

Gender Representation ◽

Chinua Achebe ◽

The Novel ◽

The Unconscious ◽

Male And Female ◽

Language And Gender ◽

The Social ◽

Things Fall Apart ◽

And Gender

This article examines the linguistic construction of gender in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. It shows how this reflects the social reality of the relationships between women and men in society, which is firstly structured in the unconscious mind. The examination of language use in constructing genders in the novel is important as it unveils the relationships between the male and the female in society. This is because gender representation is influenced by unconscious and hidden desires in man. This study specifically examines Achebe’s use of grammatical categories in the construction of the male and female genders in Things Fall Apart. To this end, it reflects the pre-colonial Igbo society in its socially stratified mode, which language served as the instrument for both exclusion and oppression of women. This article shows that the male and female genders dance unequal dance in a socially, politically and economically stratified society where the generic male gender wields untold influence over women in that pre-colonial Igbo society. The study further shows that Achebe used language in Things Fall Apart to glorify masculine gender while portraying the female gender as docile, foolish, weak and irresponsible second-class citizen.

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UNEARTHING PARENTHOOD IN THE NIGERIAN CULTURE THROUGH THE EXAMPLES OF THE PARENTAL FIGURES IN THE NOVEL THINGS FALL APART BY CHINUA ACHEBE

International Journal of Advanced Research ◽

10.21474/ijar01/13333 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (08) ◽

pp. 830-833

Author(s):

Samaira Tomer

Keyword(s):

Chinua Achebe ◽

The Novel ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Long Term Effect ◽

Parental Figures ◽

Things Fall Apart ◽

The Relationship ◽

The Ideal

This essay aims to unearth parenthood in the Nigerian culture through the examples of parental figures in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. This paper will be citing various studies about Nigerian family structure, bonds and relationship it will also be analysing various incidents throughout the course of the novel. The paper will also be discussing the short term and long term effects of parenting on a child. The paper will take a deeper look into the familial relationships in the Igbo society and the parenting style that they usually followed. It will outline the failure of parental figures in certain incidents with reference to the attachment theory. The paper will be analysing the relationship between Unoka and Okonkwo and its long term effect on Okonkwo, the relationship between Ikemefuna and Okonkwo and the relationship between Nwoye and Okonkwo. The paper will be discussing major events in these relationships and will compare it with the ideal style of parenting. To conclude, the paper would finally unearth parenthood in the Nigerian culture through the examples of parental figures.

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Conflict between Tradition and Change in Chinua Achebe's postcolonial novel Things Fall Apart

Al-Adab Journal ◽

10.31973/aj.v1i124.115 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (124) ◽

pp. 81-92

Author(s):

Suhaib Majeed Kadhem

Keyword(s):

Colonial Period ◽

Chinua Achebe ◽

The Novel ◽

Traditional Values ◽

African Culture ◽

African Countries ◽

English Novel ◽

History Of ◽

Things Fall Apart ◽

Different Cultures

In studying the history of Asian and African countries, the colonial period plays an important role in understanding their history, religion, tradition and culture. Things Fall Apart is an English novel by the Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, published in 1957, which shows the African culture, their religious and traditions through the Igbo society. This novel captures the colonial period and its effect on Igbo society. It is a response and a record of control of western colonialism on the traditional values of the African people. This paper treats the novel as a postcolonial text, by focusing on the clash between occupied and colonizers, the clash between tradition and change, and the clash between different cultures, The Europe Empire and the African natives

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Meaning and Function of Sea Alms Ceremony for Coastal Communities Banyutowo Dukuhseti Pati

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202020207025 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 202 ◽

pp. 07025

Author(s):

Laura Andri R.M.,S.S.,M.A. ◽

Rahma Wulan S.

Keyword(s):

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Coastal Communities ◽

Educational Values ◽

Daily Work ◽

Local Tradition ◽

Long Time ◽

Ritual Activity ◽

And Function ◽

Meaning And Function ◽

Depth Interviews

Sea alms ceremony is a ritual activity carried out once a year by the Banyutowo community. Banyutowo is one of the villages located in Dukuhseti District, Pati Regency. This traditional ceremony is carried out every month in Sura in the Javanese calendar. The sea alms has been going on for a long time and has become a strong cultural attraction. Sea alms for the coastal community of Banyutowo is not only about cultural rituals, but as a means of obtaining safety and maintaining natural balance. Aiming to express gratitude for the sustenance given by God Almighty, through this ceremony the Banyutowo community also requested safety in carrying out their daily work as fishermen so as not to get any interference. In addition, the values contained in marine charity include religious, social, economic and educational values. This tradition is believed to be a local tradition that cannot be eliminated. The focus of the study in this study is the meaning contained in the sea alms ceremony and its function for the surrounding community. The implementation of the research was carried out by applying qualitative research methods, through observation, documentary and in-depth interviews with informants in Banyutowo. While the collected data was analyzed using descriptive, analysis and comparative methods. The results of this study are changes in the development of culture in sea alms rituals, both the process of carrying out rituals, meanings, and the function of the sea alms itself.

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Totems and Pantheons: Paradigmatic Muses in Achebe’s Poetry

Nile Journal of English Studies ◽

10.20321/nilejes.v1i1.36 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 47

Author(s):

Chike OKOYE ◽

Ikechukwu Emmanuel ASIKA

Keyword(s):

Chinua Achebe ◽

The Novel ◽

Writing Style ◽

Strong Affinity ◽

Things Fall Apart ◽

The Rich ◽

Collection Form

Poetry is arguably the most ancient, direct and forceful genre of literature; whether written or oral. African’s foremost novelist and widely acclaimed father of literature, Nigeria’s Chinua Achebe, is mostly known for his prose works, especially the novel Things Fall Apart. Little comparatively, is known of his poetry. But the fact remains that Achebe is a good poet as he is widely recognized as a good novelist. Although the scale of preference tilts more to his prose works than poetry nevertheless; he made lasting impressions and remarks with his poems which are worthy of note. The collection, Beware Soul Brother exists to bear testimony on the personality of Achebe as a poet and what poetry achieves in society. Incidentally, his collection of poems, Beware Soul Brother is a veritable and worthwhile corpus of his characteristic package of Igbo lore, reminiscences, experiences and unique writing style; in the grand genre of poetry. Select poems in the collection make deft use of Igbo religious and cultural tenets which Achebe the poet masterfully weaves as muse, paradigm and cultural rooting in order to portray the Igbo cosmology and worldview. This paper explores his art and style in presenting the gods, totems and guiding ancestral wisdom of the rich, ancient lore of the Igbo. Select poems from the collection form the crux and illustrations of the thrust of this paper and demonstrates Achebe’s strong affinity with the cultural artefacts of his native custom. The implications of these in his culture are also predicated on his poems for effectiveness and to achieve a desired goal of portraying the poet as not just purveyor of his native custom and tenets but a crusader who preaches for social restoration and the need to mend walls and build bridges after years of war and wreckages.

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