Part I:
Log 1: Chapter one introduces Okonkwo and gives a little background about him. Okonkwo is an Ibo warrior who was brought to fame at eighteen by throwing Amalinze the Cat (the greatest undefeated wrestler). Okonkwo then goes on to explain a little about his father. We learn that Okonkwo despises his father and wants to be nothing like him.
Focus Question 1 (Ch. 1-2): The men of Umuofia decide what to do about the murder of a woman from their clan by at first expressing their rage toward the village of Mbaino (page 11, paragraph 1). After lots of bickering, they decide to follow through with their normal course of action which was to negotiate with the other village. Women in Umuofia do not have much of a role in making this decision. During their meeting on page 11, no women are mentioned and it seems that women are only used to reproduce and serve their men. This indicates that their society is not big about equality and enforces male dominance. The word that means woman in their tribe (agbala) also means a man that has taken no title.
Log 2: In chapter two, Umuofia finds out that a girl from their village has been killed. Many men of Umuofia talk and decide to make the rival village of Mbaino sacrifice a young man and a young woman (who will marry the widower of the deceased woman). The young man who is sacrificed, Ikemefuna, is sent to live with Okonkwo and his family. Ikemefuna is absolutely terrified of Okonkwo at first.
Focus Question 2 (Ch. 3-4):The concept of chi to me seems that it may be some type of internal gut feeling or a conscience. On page 27, it says “… the Ibo people have a proverb that when a man says yes his chi says yes also.” When you’re debating on whether or not to do something your gut feeling is going to be what you want to do. Your conscience will most likely always agree with you. When Okonkwo says that he challenged his chi, he means that he was seeing if his chi would turn on him or agree with him like it always does.
Log 3: The New Yam Festival is happening at this time. Okonkwo was never really a fan of this feast so he really doesn’t pay much attention to it. Later that day, he finds a dead banana tree and asks who killed it. It turns out to be his second wife, Ekwefi, and he beats her. Ekwefi later says something under her breath which causes Okonkwo to shoot at her. The highly anticipated wrestling match takes place and a man named Okofo wins the match.
Focus Question 3 (Ch. 5-6):When Obiageli broke the pot, I expected Okonkwo to become outrageous and probably try and kill her just as he had tried to kill her mother (page 39). I was surprised that he didn’t even try to beat her. I think Okonkwo acted the way he did because what she did wasn’t that big of a deal to him. He was too busy eating all of his wife’s dishes and maybe had wrestling on his mind since that was mentioned when during the conversation
Log 4: Ikemefuna has been staying with Okonkwo and his family for 3 years and has become very close with Nwoye. One of Okonkwo’s friends informs him that an oracle has claimed that Ikemefuna must die and Okonkwo should have nothing to do with it. Ikemefuna does die but Okonkwo finds himself giving Ikemefuna his last blow so he’s not seen as weak. Okonkwo falls into a depression and cannot sleep or eat for many days.
Focus Question 4 (Ch. 7-8): I do think Okonkwo is typical in the Ibo society. In this book so far, it seems to me that Ibo men are the head of everything. Okonkwo often goes into his obi and has his children serve him. He never cooks, only builds and fixes things when he needs to. He refuses to be seen as week. It’s even said on page 61 that he decided to kill his son because he was afraid of being weak. Okonkwo even beats his son, Nwoye, because he cries (page 57). I do think this is extreme but it’s nothing that I haven’t seen before. Some men in today’s society think that women are below them and should always cater to them.
Log 5: Okonkwo decides to go over to his friend’s house (Obierika). Talking with his friends makes the death of Ikemefuna easier to handle. He says that if Ikemefuna would have been killed during a busier time he wouldn’t have been as sad. The chapter ends with a discussion of how neighboring villages customs differ from theirs.
Focus Question 5 (Ch. 7-8 cont): At the end of chapter 8, it is foreshadowed that diversity will be brought into their society and that it may tamper with their culture. When the conversation is coming to a closing, one of the men, Manchi, says (page 74) “…You might as well say that the women lies on top of the man when they are making children.” Obierika goes on to compare this custom to the story of white people. These men believe that white people aren’t fit for their society because they most likely do not follow or believe in the customs of the Ibo society.
Log 6: Ekwefi informs Okonkwo that their daughter Ezinma is dying. We find out that Ezinma is an ogbanje which means she is a cursed child. Ogbanje are children that die at a very young age and come back into their mother’s womb as a different child after they die. Chapter 9 goes on to explain how Ekwefi was cursed with birthing Ogbanje and how Ezinma was a breath of fresh air. A “court” case is staged in chapter 10 about a man who beat his wife but would not admit to it.
Focus Question 6 (Ch. 9-10) : Ekwefi has a bitter attitude towards life while she miscarried many times, her husband's first wife successfully had three children who were strong and healthy (page 79). She never blamed others for her misfortune but only her chi for not allowing her any.
Log 7: Ekwefi tells a story that explains why a tortoise shell is not smooth. Then Chielo (the woman who also calls Ezinma her daughter) says that Agbala wishes to see her daughter. Okonkwo and Ekwefi are both scared to send their daughter away but she returns safely. Ekwefi remembers times like this when she first met Okonkwo. Lastly, Okonkwo’s gun explodes which causes the death of a clansman. He is forced to exit to the motherland and is not welcome in Umuofia for 7 years.
Focus Question 7 (Ch. 11-13): I think Achebe chose to end Part I in this way because this causes a shift in tone going into Part II. When you start reading the story, no one expects for him to be exiled from his own town for 7 years. I also think he ended Part I in this way to show how violence really effects this community. This could be related to the infiltration of Western technology into traditional culture because guns were brought to a funeral. In their culture guns were fired to show respect to the dead but it’s a dangerous weapon. Anything could go wrong at anytime.
Part II:
Log 1: Okonkwo and his family have been recently exiled. He goes to his motherland and builds a new hut with an obi and huts for his 3 wives and children. Okonkwo’s uncle and cousins live in his motherland. Uchendu (Okonkwo’s uncle) gives an explanation as to why Okonkwo fled to his motherland (when exiled, you flee to your motherland if it’s under bad circumstances and your fatherland if its under good circumstances). Obierika comes to visit and bring money from Okonkwo’s crops that he sold. Obierika tells a story of the clan Abame.
Focus Question 1 (Ch. 14-15): Okonkwo is not happy about his new life. On page 131, it says “Work no longer had for him the pleasure it used to have, and when there was no work to do he sat in a silent half sleep.” This shows that Okonkwo has lost his sense of being since he has moved to Mbanta. But Okonkwo knows that he has to accept his new life because of what he did in Umuofia. An example of figurative language (simile) is on page 131. Okonkwo being exiled is compared to a fish being cast out onto dry land.
Log 2: Okonkwo has now been in Mbanta for 4 years. A new religion, Christianity, has invaded Umuofia and the surrounding towns. The Mbanta people have allowed them to come into and even allow them to build a church. They give them the Evil Forest to build the church on and they are surprised when nothing happens to the Christians. Nwoye (Okonkwo’s son) has decided to join the Christians in their religion.
Focus Question 2 (Ch. 16-17): With beget meaning bring about and impotent meaning powerless or helpless, I interpret “Living fire begets cold, impotent ash” as Okonkwo saying that him (Roaring Flame) brought about his son Nwoye who he describes as a curse (page 152). Okonkwo wonders why his son isn’t fearless and famous like he was a Nwoye’s age.
Log 3: The Christian community is gradually spreading and becoming influential among other people in the clan. Mr.Kiaga, the Christian leader, explains that everyone comes from the same God no matter what they belief. The Christians are also banned from entering into the Mbanta community. Okonkwo’s exile is coming to a close and he thanks his kinsmen by giving them a huge feast. One of the eldest members of the Mbanta clan explains to the younger generation that they’re letting everything go downhill.
Focus Question 3 (Ch. 18-19): The converts actively threaten the religious traditions of Mbanta because their religion (Christianity) is spreading rapidly. On page 154 it says “ At first the clan has assumed that it would not survive. But it had gone on living and gradually becoming stronger.” The converts are being very influential.
Part III:
Log 1: Okonkwo’s exile has ended and he is headed back to Umuofia. He plans to rebuild his status in Umuofia because he knows that it has been taken since he’s been gone. Once he arrives he sees that Christianity has taken over. He wonders what has happened to his fatherland of Umuofia. An egwugwu has come to greet the new religion and its people. The leader of this religion (Mr. Brown) stands his ground which results in his church being destroyed.
Focus Question 1 (Ch. 20-22): Since Okonkwo was exiled, many things have changed in Umuofia. One being that many respected men in the Ibo clan have given up their status and joined the Christians. It says on page 174, “Such a man was Ogbuefi Ugonna, who had two titles, and who like a madman had cut the anklet of his titles and cast it away to join the Christians.” Another change in Umuofia would be that government now plays a part in their division. The Christians built a court and a prison (page 174-175) which hosts’ cases in ignorance and jails men who have offended against the white man’s law. Lastly, another change is that Umuofia is being updated or modernized. A school and hospital have been built (page 181) by the Christians. Lastly, emphasis is taken off of many things in the clan. The people of Umuofia are know to celebrate lots of things.
Log 2: Okonkwo and his men discuss what should be done about the Christians invading their homeland. Okonkwo is clearly upset and expresses his anger towards the new religion and towards the people who did not prevent these people from spreading this religion. Six men, including Okonkwo, are sent to jail after a brief scuffle. They are not set free until a fine is paid.
Focus Question 2 (Ch. 23-25): When Okonkwo hears his clansmen asking “Why did he do it?” (page 205), they are referring to why did Okonkwo decapitate one of the Christian messengers. I think Okonkwo did it because he was in a state of shock. He just came back from his exile and here these men are envading his father land. They took one of his sons and many other people from other families. With that being said, Okonkwo is tired of these people and with the history of his tribe, violence is the answer.
Log 3:
Focus Question 3 (Ch. 23-25):