Chinua Achebe
Lesson plans for Things Fall Apart and other works

|Biography and Background| |Things Fall Apart| |Other Works|

Biography and Background

Chinua Achebe
Biography.

Chinua Achebe
Biography.

Chinua Achebe
Online literary criticism from the Internet Public Library.

Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart
Excellent chapter-by-chapter study questions.

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart Reading and Study Questions
Questions for discussion and writing, divided by section, designed for advanced or college-level students. This page includes a copy of Yeats's "The Second Coming," the source of the title.

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart: Oral and Literary Strategies
The three lessons at this site explore the historical context of the novel, the literary context in contrast to other writers, and linguistic and literary strategies used.

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart: Teaching Through the Novel
The three lessons at this site include mapping changes in African countries, telling stories from different perspectives, and comparing and contrasting views of Africa from different writers, such as Joseph Conrad.

Language is Power: How Language Is Used to Transmit the Values of African Authenticity
This series of lessons is designed to assist African-American students develop the power of their language and "to explore the meaning of their own human essence through language." It was not developed to support study of Things Fall Apart, but the activities related to proverbs and riddles may be useful.

Lesson Plan for Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Three activities.

Things Fall Apart
Activities and a take-home test, links to other sites, sample student essays.

"The Second Coming"
The text of poem by William Butler Yeats from which the novel's title is drawn.

Things Fall Apart
This 13-page study pack includes a pronunciation guide, reading log questions, writing prompts, and activities. Access requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application.

Things Fall Apart
This reading group guide includes 18 discussion questions. Follow the link to a biography of Achebe.

Things Fall Apart
This 13-page document addresses 68 vocabulary words drawn from the novel. Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application required for access.

Things Fall Apart: Reader's Group Companion
Summary and a wide variety of discussion questions, divided into categories.

Things Fall Apart Reading Log
Reading log questions for chapters 20-25, post-reading writing activities. Access requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application.

Things Fall Apart Teacher's Guide
Extensive commentary followed by questions that explore almost every aspect of the novel.

Village of Umuofia
This interactive site asks students to take on traditional roles and participate in village life. This is a great adaptation of Web resources for education! Be sure to click on "Information for Teachers."

Writing Assignment
A writing prompt for Things Fall Apart.

Other Works

Cross-Cultural Poetics
Achebe reads from his Collected Poems in this podcast.

"Civil Peace"
Writing prompt and assessment rubric. Access requires MS-Word or compatible application.

"Dead Men's Path"
Post-reading activities with emphasis on character and conflict. Access to this 5-page document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application.

"Dead Men's Path"
What would Michael Obi's job evaluation look like? This handout challenges students to write it. Access requires MS-Word or compatible application.

"An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness", essay by Achebe
Achebe explores the racist elements in Conrad and in contemporary society.

"Vultures"
This 3-page handout helps student analyze the poem (not included). It emphasizes imagery. Access requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application.

"Vultures" and Teacher Guide
This 2-page handout emphasizes word choice as it helps student analyze the poem (not included). Access requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or compatible application.