Read through Page 62.
Respond to the following prompts. You must incorporate quotes into your writing using MLA format.
Due Dates: A Block: Friday, 11/26
B Block: Thursday, 11/25
Pg. 45 - 51
1. Explain how the passing of time is represented by the wrestling matches. Think generationally.
Pg. 52-62
2. Is Nwoye starting to grow up? (52-52)
3. Does Nwoye want to please his father? How? Why?
4. After our in-depth analysis of Okonkwo, are you surprised by his actions concerning Ikemefuma?
1.As the pace in the book doesn't go too quickly, during the wrestling, even though it may have been a quite big event, the book didn't slow down that much. Some things happened during the wrestling, which may have made the book slow down a bit more.
ReplyDelete2.Yes. He grows up by working harder and not being lazy, but probably from the influence of Ikemefuna. He also grows to be slightly more like his father too.
3.Yes. He tries to please his father by working harder and saying he does not listen to woman's stories anymore, for he is becoming a man, even though it is not the truth. His father is pleased and does not beat him much, especially compared to earlier in the story. He tries so he doesn't end up being lazy and so he doesn't get beat from his father.
4.Yes. Mostly because when Ogbuefi Ezeudu tells Okonkwo that the Oracle had decided that Ikemefuma must be killed. Also that Okonkwo cared for Ikemefuma and he didn't want him to be killed, but he cut him so he wouldn't look week
1. Time is represented in the wrestling match because it includes many of the generation. Young men are the one who wrestles, and were waving the palm frond. While the old men were nodding to the beat of drum, remembering the past when they were wrestling. This tells that all generation had been included in the wrestling matches in many ways.
ReplyDelete2. Nwoye is starting to grow up because he starts to grumble about woman and their troubles, which makes that he can control women. This action shows that he is a man.
3. Nwoye wants to please his father. And he is showing it by listening to masculines stories instead of women stories. Even thought Nwoye still like women stories and want to hear some, he wants to please Okonkwo so he pretend he doesn't like it anymore. And his father was pleased about it.
4. I am surprised by Okonkwo's action because I thought he liked Ikemefuna and thought he was one of the family member. Because he didn't want to be thought that he was weak, he killed Ikemefuna. So Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna to prove and protect his power.
Shiori Hishinuma
B4 Literature
1. The time doenst go fast in the book. The book didnt slow down but there was something happening in the book and that made the story abit slower.
ReplyDelete2. His growing up becuase he works harder and not get lazy. The other reason is that he can control the women. Those reasons make him like a grown up man.
3. He wants to please his father so he pretend to not like a women's story even though he still does. To please his father he listen to masculine's story, so now his father is pleased.
4. Yes, becuase i thought that Okonkwo liked Ikemefuna but Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna
1. The passing of time is represented generationally at the wrestling matches for there are two groups of wrestlers. The first group of wrestlers are young boys whom "were not the real wrestlers; [but] they merely set the scene" (Achebe 47). The next group of wrestlers were the real wrestlers from 9 different neighboring villages.
ReplyDelete2. Nwoye is starting to grow up. He is now allowed to do "difficult and masculine tasks in the home, like splitting wood, or pounding food" (Achebe 52). He is also learning how to grumble about women and their troubles, so he would sound grown up.
3. Yes, Nwoye is trying to please his father. Even though he does not want to, in order to feel grown up and to please his father, he has to "feign annoyance and grumble aloud about women and their troubles" (Achebe 52). Also, Nwoye has to listen to Okonkwo's horrible, and "masculine stories of violence and bloodshed. Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell" (Achebe 53).
4. Yes, I am surprised with Okonkwo's actions because Okonkwo clearly likes Ikemefuna. Because of him, Nwoye is growing up to be a tough man."[Ikemefuna] grew rapidly like a yam tendril in the rainy season, and was full of sap of life. [...] Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son's development, and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna" (Achebe 52).
Lisa Shimazaki
A1
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe wrestling match is represented as the passing of time because it kind of shows how the older men must pass the glories of the match onto the younger ones. Of course, no man could stay strong forever. The book says that there were older men, remembering the times when they were the ones wrestling. "Old men nodded to the beat of the drums and remembered the days when they wrestled to its intoxicating rhythm" (Achebe 47). Even Okonkwo, who was well known as a wrestling champion had to give it up to the younger men
ReplyDeleteYes, it is clear the Nowye is growing up. This was probably influenced by Ikemefuna and Okonkwo too knows of this as well. "Okonkwo was inwardly pleased with his son's development, and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna" (Achebe 53). Nowye loved Ikemefuna and trailed after him almost all the time. He became from a sorry boy to a very happy child.
Yes, I know Nowye really wished to please his father. I know this because when Okonkwo tells him tales of war and brutality, Nowye does not show that he prefers different stories. "But he now knew that they were for foolish women and children, and he knew that his father wanted him to be a man. So Nowye feigned that he no longer cared for women's stories" (Achebe 54)
I am only partially surprised at Okonkwo's actions. Okonkwo is a man of brutality who fears to be called a coward or a failure. I knew that he would do anything to prevent this from happening, but him to have really killed Ikemefuna was a little startling. Ikemefuna was Okonkwo's favorite. He loved him dearly (although he did not show it). "Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak" (Achebe 61). It's so tragic.
Zen Sugino
A2 Literature
The passing of time is shown through the generation because the youngest goes first, then as the competition gets more complex, older and more experienced people go. “They were not the real wrestlers; they merely set the scene” (Achebe, 47). And as time went, the older wrestlers went.
ReplyDeleteNwoye started to grow a little bit, however he is not as masculine as other boys around the village. “So Okonkwo encourgaged the boys to sit with him in his obi...Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stroies that his mother used to tell...” (Achebe, 53). He knew that he needed to man-up however, he really couldn’t, because he preferred his mothers story. But now I have an understanding that Nwoye has a clue that his father wanted him to be more masculine.
Nwoye is trying his best to please his father, since he is a little bit scared and afraid of his father. Since Ikemefuna was a little bit more manly than Nwoye, he knows that it is better for him to please his father, too make him proud. And his father actually accepted that he is pleased. “Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his sons’s development, and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna” (Achebe, 52). So this quote proves that he was pleased.
Yes I was really surprised that he actually had the time to spend on other people, especially when he was caring. Basically all he cares about is his reputation on being manly; since he does not want to be called a weak or a failure, like how his father, Unoka was. “As sson as his father walked in, that night, Nwoye knew that Ikemefuna had been killed, and something seemed to give way inside him, like the snapping of a tightened bow” (Achebe, 61). This also proved that Nwoye had been a little bit manly but I read the 8th chapter of the book which explained more about Okonkwo’s sadness and feelings towards Ikemefuna.
1. You can tell that time is passing on by how the wrestling match is organized, as the youngest would go first, and the leader's would go last. The boys who went first, which were at the age of 15-16, "were not real wrestlers; they merely set the scene", (Achebe 47), before the leader's came on at the end.
ReplyDelete2. Nwoye is growing up in his society, as his mother and father send him to do more masculine choirs, like cutting wood or pounding food. Ikemefuna also felt like he was growing up as well, by teaching Nwoye, and leading him on. "...they no longer spent the evenings in mother's hut while she cooked, but now sat with Okonkwo in his obi, or watched him as he tapped his palm tree for the evening wine", (Achebe, 52).
3. Nwoye wants to please his father because for a long time he has been criticized by his father for being lazy, even though he was quite young, and his father being too rough. He's doing this by doing things that his father wants him to do, like doing masculine choirs, and especially treating the women in Okonkwo's household. "And so he was always happy when he heard him grumbling about women. That showed that in time he would be able to control his women-folk", (Achebe, 53).
4. I'm somewhat surprised, and not surprised. I was not surprised that Okonkwo would not refuse killing Ikemefuna, as sorrow and sadness was not something that Okonkwo normally had shown for most of his life. I was surprised, however, how he killed him. I found it a bit beyond Okonkwo to hack Ikemefuna down when he was cowering away to his father when another one of the elders slashed the palm oil he was carrying. "He heard Ikemefuna cry, 'My father, they have killed me!' as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid for being thought weak," (Achebe, 61). I don't think Okonkwo will ever stop being afraid of being thought weak, as he has been doing so for a lifetime.
1. they went to see the Muvaki because they had to find out about the disease that was spreading.
ReplyDelete2. the Muvaki determined by dropping 4 sticks, and he will do this twice, and if both times fell the same way, his estimation would be correct.
3. I think Nhamo is the scapegoat in the story, because even though she didnt murder the man, she has to pay the consequences of her own father.
4. There wasnt much conflect between portugal and mozambique. I think the author wrote it in this way, because he wanted the story to have a larger climax at the end, and if he includes the problems of other country, i think it would be too complicated for this kind of a story.
5. I think it also means about himself being weird. But actually i am not really sure.
6. Every magic has its source. so i think the muvuki is really smart, and he can think of the situation by having small information. Many fortune tellers these days use this way to tell and give hints.
by the way this is jun ogawa from A2
ReplyDelete1) Well, at the beginning, it says in the book that when drums started beating, the old men started to remember their days of wrestling with the rhythm of the drums. There were two teams and the occasion began with wrestling of boys of age around 15-16. They were not what people really wanted to see, but gave a starting feeling. Usually, they were not considered real wrestlers and given a lot of attention although in this case, they were fighting and even the elders took excitement in the 3rd match – “But the third created a big sensation even among the elders who did not show their excitement so openly” (Achebe 47). This quote shows that the first matched were not that interesting and catchy, however in this case they were. The drummers relaxed for the more enthralling matches. After that, the real wrestling had started and everyone was very much into the matches.
ReplyDelete2) I think, he is trying to grow up, but he is not really. Many people will argue this but this is my opinion. “Nothing pleased Nwoye more than to be sent for by his mother or another of his father’s wives to do one of those difficult and masculine tasks in the home, like splitting wood, or pounding wood. On receiving such a message through receiving such a message through a younger brother or sister, Nwoye would feign annoyance and grumble aloud about women and their troubles” (Achebe 52). This quote proves that he liked it when he was said to do a hard job, which is considered masculine, but if he is really growing up, he should be neutral to the jobs he has been assigned to and not grumble about women because that is considered, for me, capricious & immature. But this is the opinion of a 21th century boy. People of those times would definitely say that he was growing up especially when he talks about women in a mocking way. That is because “No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man” (Achebe 53).
3) He did want to please his father – “And when he did this, he saw his father was pleased, and no longer rebuked or beat him. So Nwoye and Ikemefuna would listen to Okonkwo’s stories about tribal wars…” (Achebe 54). He feigned, means he pretended that he did not care about women’s sympathetic emotional stories & that was considered masculine. He did so to please his father, who wanted him to become a real MAN!!!
4) No, I am not surprised by what Okonkwo let happen to Ikemefuna and did to him. What mattered to Okonkwo the most is not being a coward, like women, his generation thought, and masculine – “He heard Ikemefuna cry, ‘My father, they have killed me!’ as he ran towards him. Dashed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak” (Achebe 61). This quote directly shows that Okonkwo’s fear was the fear itself. To not display any cowardness, by displaying fear, he killed his son-like “hostage”. Nothing mattered to him, even the death of his “son”, but being weak, not bold, and not masculine.
Janet Choi
ReplyDeleteWorld Literature A1
1. The wrestling matches best represent time. The wrestlers moving on from younger generations to older generations represent people getting old and time passing. Also, old men watching the matches recall their memories when they were wrestling as well. “Old men nodded to the beat of the drums and remembered the days when they wrestled to its intoxicating rhythm” (Achebe 47).
2. Yes, he is starting to grow up. He is starting to do difficult chores like splitting wood. Ikemefuna has some influence in Nwoye growing up. “He was like an elder brother to Nwoye, and form the very first seemed to have kindled a new fire in the younger boy. He made him feel grown-up; and they no longer...but now sat with Okonkwo in his obi, or watched him as he tapped his palm tree for the evening wine” (Achebe 52).
3. Yes. Nwoye wants to please his father Okonkwo because he knows that his father wants him to be a strong man and gain success. He starts listening to Okonkwo’s violent stories instead of his mother’s stories, which he actually likes more. “But he now knew that they were for foolish women and children, and he knew that his father wanted him to be a man. And so he feigned that he no longer cared for women’s stories” (Achebe 54). Also, when he makes his father pleased, his father does not beat him, so he continues pleasing his father to avoid getting beaten.
4. Yes. It seemed like Okonkwo is starting to like Ikemefuna more and more, and he is proud of him causing much developments in Nwoye. But when Ogbuefi Ezeudu orders him to kill Ikemefuna, he immediately does so to prove that he is not weak. “Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak” (Achebe 61). I thought he would at least hesitate a little, since he cared for the boy so much, but killing him really surprised me.
The passing of time is shown because of how the matches and teams are organized by age. The younger matches were usually not very exciting and the wrestlers were inexperienced, so the observers did not expect a good match. "They were not the real wrestlers; they merely set the scene" (Achebe 47). Yet when one wrestler beat the other with good moves, the crowd roared with applaud because it was quite unexpectedly incredible. When the older and experienced men wrestle each other, the observers start to feel a sensation of excitement even before the matches started, and they also roared more when one threw the other.
ReplyDeleteSince Nwoye is growing up he starts to understand the ways of his father (which are quite sexist). He starts to complain aloud about the annoyance of women, which to Okonkwo is an important part of growing up. Instead of watching his mother cook, he spent more time with his father. He also starts to do some masculine jobs like splitting wood and pounding food."he was always happy when he heard him grumbling about women-folk. No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and children he was not really a man" (Achebe 53).
Nwoye trys to please his father by trying to make the transition from child to man. He closely listened to the violent stories of war that his father told him, instead of the more comforting child stories that he had been told by his mother for a long time. Okonkwo also stopped beating Nwoye. "when he did this he saw that his father was pleased and no longer rebuked him or beat him" (Achebe 54).
I am somewhat surprised that Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna, but I knew that something cruel would happen, because Okonkwo was always a little strange. He was a bold man but the way he thought was strange from the beginning of the story. Even when he murdered Ikemefuna it said that he was afraid of showing weakness. "Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak" (Achebe 61).
Louis W
A2
The wrestling match shows the generation where old man beats the drum cheering their favorite player, and young wrestlers (around 15-16) competing intensely to become the next champion. “Old men nodded to the beat of the drums and remembered the days when they wrestled to its intoxicating rhythm” (Achebe 47).
ReplyDeleteNwoye is getting accustomed to village society. “He made him feel grown-up, and they no longer spent the evenings in mother’s hut while she cooked, but now sat with Okonkwo in his obi” (Achebe 52). He is starting to get affected by his father such as being sexist and considering that man holds a high social status. Besides, he helps his father’s labor work like splitting wood and pounding food.
Yes. Though, Nwoye misses his mother’s stories, he knows that he pleases his father when he expresses disdain for women and their concerns. “He wanted him to be a prosperous man, having enough in his barn to feed the ancestors with regular sacrifices. And so he was always happy when he heard him grumbling about women” (Achebe 53). He was also expecting to meet with his mother; unfortunately he gets killed before that happened.
I am astounded. Okonkwo just killed his “son” because of prophecy, and he just didn’t want to ruin his reputation. What he had done is the oracle insisted that Ikemefuna must be killed. Okonkwo had a little confusion, but he didn’t want people to consider him as a coward and weak, so he killed Ikemefuna with machete. “Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak” (Achebe 61).
The passing of time is represented by the wrestling match because there are two groups of wrestlers from different generations. The match starts off with a match with young boys. Then it progresses to the main match between the adult wrestlers. “The contest began with boys of fifteen or sixteen. There were only three such boys in each team. They were not the real wrestlers; they merely set the scene” (Achebe 47).
ReplyDeleteNwoye is starting to grow up also because of Ikemefuna. Ikemefuna is influencing Nwoye in becoming a man. Nwoye is starting to grumble about women, showing that he will be able to control women soon. Men who can’t control women and his children are considered not really a man. “No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and his children (and especially his women) he was not really a man” (Achebe 53). Also he is starting to do masculine tasks at home for his mother or his father’s other wives such as splitting wood.
Nwoye does want to please his father because he is afraid of him and does not want to be beaten up by him. He is trying to please him by growing up to be a man. For example, instead of listening to his mother’s stories, which he prefers, he is listening to his father’s stories, involving gruesome scenes. “Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell, and which she no doubt still told to her younger children” (Achebe 53).
I am surprised of Okonkwo’s actions. Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna when he actually was quite satisfied with his behaviour. Ikemefuna played a big role in helping Nwoye grow up. “He was like an elder brother to Nwoye, and from the very first seemed to have kindled a new fire in the younger boy. He made him feel grown-up; and they no longer spent the evenings in mother’s hut while she cooked, but now sat with Okonkwo in his obi, or watched him as he tapped his palm tree for the evening wine” (Achebe 52). I am surprised that Okonkwo’s reputation of being thought as not weak is more important to him than to the gratitude he owed Ikemefuna for helping his son grow.
Lisa He A1
1. In the book Things Fall Apart, time is represented in the wrestling match; because it has many generation to it. In this book, time flash occurs rapidly; and it is kind of hard to organize what is going on, which part of time you are on. On the wrestling scene; time is represented because there are two different group of wrestlers in the story.
ReplyDelete2. I think Nwoye is growing up, but growing up is not always in a good way. He is physically growing, but in my opinion, he is not mentally. Around this part of the book, he is still afraid of his own father; and I think this is a thing that he or anyone else can't get over with it; since Okonkwo treats Nwoye awful.
3.Nwoye tries to please Okonkwo, because he doesn't want to get beaten up anymore, and he wants to show that he is growing up to Okonkwo. He reads stories that is rather for 'grown up boys', rather than what he really wants to read, which is the woman story. Okonkwo seeing his action, he is very pleased about it.
4.I am surprised about Okonkwo's action, because Ikemefuna was killed by Okonkwo when he was kind of fine about him. Ikemefuna helped Nwoye to grow, and he did; I think Okonkwo is confused, and things aren't so easy to understand; for me too.
Suzu Hiroyama
Literature A1
1. In Things Fall Apart, the representation of time, is the wrestling match. This is true because it shows the coming of age of boys as they wrestle boys their own age, and those who had already experienced the glory of winning matches, fight men of the same age range for the position of the winner. "This shows how in time, even the most strongest and most powerful of wrestlers, must eventually be beaten by another man, and the cycle goes on. "Old men nodded to the beat of the drums and remembered the days when they wrestled to its intoxicating rhythm" (Achebe 47). It overall represents generations of boys and men fighting their peers for the title of winner.
ReplyDelete2. Nwoye, was indeed growing up, especially in society due to being sent to do more manly tasks such as cutting wood and also by acting more manly as he time to time would " feign annoyance and grumble aloud about women and their troubles" (Achebe 52).
3. Nwoye wanted to indefinitely please his father, due to being criticized on many occasions by his father. Okonkwo did not want his son to end up like his father, who was known to be one of the "weak" men of their village. He thought, by pressuring Nwoye into manhood, he would become more manly. In some ways, his "plan" did work, because Nwoye was growing up, but in other ways he was also pushing him to becoming more sensitive as he was forcing Nwoye to hide his true personality. "...He feigned that he no longer cared for women's stories. And when he did this he saw that his father was pleased, and no longer rebuked him or beat him" (Achebe 54).
4. I was in some ways surprised, but on the other hand, not surprised at all. I was not at all surprised that he killed Ikemefuna due to his pride. I very much expected him to do such a "bold" (as he would have called it) thing in order to show his masculinity and his strength. I was though, surprised by how he killed Ikemefuna and how cowardly it was. Although I knew he did not want to do it, I though, because of his pride and constant need of being considered manly, that he would have killed Ikemefuna alone but make it less painful and in a more caring way because he was on his own , but instead, he looked away and let the other man take the first blow. I thought he would leave it as that because it was already bad enough, but I did not know that he was so caught up in his image, that he would later join in to "finish him off". "He heard Ikemefuna cry, 'My father, they have killed me!' as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down. H was afraid of being thought weak" (Achebe 61). I thought he was better than that.
I need to talk to you Mr. Philips on why this is late on Monday.
Shannen Romero Perez
A2 World Literature
1. The passing of time is represented by the wrestling which shows the generation of people and especially the boys because of the fights put in order of ages. “The contest began with boys of fifteen or sixteen. There were only three such boys in each team. They were not the real wrestlers; they merely set the scene” (Achebe 47). The wrestling of the younger boys is still a set-up for the major fights coming after. Even though they are still young, they are fighting for their own honor and the winner will get the attention of the audience which is the main representation of this event.
ReplyDelete2. Nwoye is growing up physically and mentally. "Okonkwo was inwardly pleased with his son's development, and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna" (Achebe 53). He could act like the man that his father wanted him to be because of his physical force. He could convince himself that he had to be this kind of man which also shows his mental development. He knew now how to please his father.
3. Yes. He wanted to please him first, because he didn't want to be beaten and also didn't want to be the weak son for his father. If he acted the way he wanted, Okonkwo would be probably ashamed and worried about Nwoye. Okonkwo couldn't accept his son being like his father and would probably get mad and beat Nwoye. Because of these reasons, Nwoye tried hard to act like a real man by working hard on duties that were for men and showed his disinterest in women's stories. "So Nowye feigned that he no longer cared for women's stories" (Achebe 54).
4. I am surprised in some way but at some points, it wasn't something unexpected. The fact that he killed himself Ikemefuna wasn't really surprising when I found out the reason. "He was afraid of being thought weak" (Achebe 61). His pride pushed himself to kill his son (not totally but considered Ikemefuna as his son) which actually came back to him with fear and uncomfortableness. Although it was mainly because of pride, he killed the one who he considered as his son more than the real son. This is something that actually surprised me. As mentioned, this opinion would change depending on the reason.
I am sorry for the late, I had some technical problem.
Kana
A2 Literature
The wrestling match is shown as the passing of time because it shows how the younger generation of wrestlers must undergo a series of wrestling matches as they get older. The competitions get harder and harder as they get older. "There were only three such boys in each team. They were not the real wrestlers; they merely set the scene" (Achebe 47). All in all, the representation of time is shown through wrestling matches, by 'setting the scene' with a young generation of boys and other men fighting to be the winner.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that Nwoye is growing up from the perspective of his father, Okonkwo. Although I wouldn't include things like complaining about women as a part of growing up to be more like a man, I think that Okonkwo would consider this as a part of becoming more manly. He also starts to do more strenuous amounts of work such as cutting wood. "No matter how prosperous a man was, if he was unable to rule his women and children he was not really a man" (Achebe 53).
Nwoye starts to please his father by going through the transition from a boy into a young man. He distances himself from his mother's stories, and listens patiently to his father's tales of war instead. Okonkwo also stops beating Nwoye. I think that this is so because Okonkwo is starting to understand that Nwoye is making an effort to grow up. "He wanted him to be a prosperous man, having enough in his barn to feed the ancestors with regular sacrifices" (Achebe 53).
I was really surprised with Okonkwo and his actions, mostly because I thought that Okonkwo was pleased with Ikemefuna, and his behavior as well. Ikemefuna also plays a huge role on being an influence to Nwoye, and helping him grow up to become more of a man instead of a boy. I didn't think that Okonkwo's decisions would be wavered because of a prophecy, so this shocked me. "He was like an elder brother to Nwoye, and from the very first seemed to have kindled a new fire in the younger boy" (Achebe 52).
Sorry for the late answers, my computer had some technical problems. I will talk to you in class on Monday.
Rina Dishman
B4 Literature