Who's Who in "Things Fall Apart"? Quiz

Answer: We don't know

Okonkwo's first wife is never named in the book, only being referred to as "Nwoye's mother". Ekwefi is Okonkwo's second wife and his favourite. He in fact stole her from another man; this is seen to be one of the reasons why Okonkwo is so unlucky. Ezinma is Ekwefi's daughter, Okonkwo's favourite child. Ojiugo is Okonkwo's third and final wife, who is seen in the books to be beaten during the sacred Week of Peace.

Answer: True

Ezinma "wielded a strong influence" over Obiageli, even though they were about the same age. Obiageli is not mentioned very much in the novel, but her name stuck in my head! Ezinma and Obiageli are both Okonkwo's daughters, but Ezinma is his favourite and he often wishes that she were a boy.

Answer: False

Okonkwo always thought that Nwoye was very weak - much like Unoka, Okonkwo's own father. For this he disliked him, and when Nwoye converted to Christianity later in the book, Okonkwo was furious, even saying that "Nwoye was not worth fighting for".

Answer: Ikemefuna

Hopefully, you knew this! Ikemefuna was brought to Okonkwo to look after, until it was time for him to be killed. Indeed, it was Okonkwo himself who "drew his machete and cut him down", even though he liked Ikemefuna and they saw each other as father and son. Ikemefuna was very important because, after his death, Nwoye began to question the way the tribe did things - a contributing factor to his conversion to Christianity.

Answer: A kind Christian who tries to understand the tribe

Mr Brown comes to set up a church and school in Umofia and attempts to convert people to Christianity. Although he tries to teach his ways to the tribe, he doesn't force them to give up their religion and tries to understand their views and ways of life.

Answer: Uchendu

Uchendu reminds Okonkwo that "mother is supreme" and that he should be grateful for the support his mother-land has given him. Remember, Unoka is Okonkwo's father, and Umuofia is the land of the nine villages in the novel. "Ukonkwu" isn't a character at all.

Answer: Okonkwo

Okonkwo's character can be described as him being incredibly horrible! However, you can understand the reason for him being like this: he was trying not to be like his father. Even though Okonkwo has his flaws, there are moments in the novel where he is seen to have good points too, such as the fact that he does care for his family (when he goes to get Ezinma back from Chielo) and that he makes people feel safe when he is around.

Answer: He unmasks an egwugwu

This is a huge offense, as the tribe believe that when the egwugwu is unmasked, the spirit is killed.

Answer: Chinua

Remember - Chinua is the author's first name! He is not a character in the novel, although the character of Okonkwo is supposedly based upon his grandfather. Uchendu is Okonkwo's uncle, Ezeudu is the old man who died in the novel, and Isaac is the Christian name Nwoye chooses after he converts.

Answer: Obierika

Obierika visits Okonkwo when he has to go to his motherland in exile, to tell him of the news at home. He is very loyal to Okonkwo, right to the end, even when he has committed suicide (which is seen as a sin in the eyes of the tribe).