Lifestyle & Smart living

Great literature: A look at Things Fall Apart

Great literature: A look at Things Fall Apart
Great literature: A look at Things Fall Apart

There are a lot of great books out there, but novel Things Fall Apart (Nigerian author Chinua Achebe’s debut of 1958) is one of special ones, deserving of attention. It is a common piece of literature at college and one that is known as a wonderful choice. But, why it is a good book? Well, there are a few reasons, some of which are explained below.

Simplicity

Most students will love this book, and one of the main reasons for that is its simplicity. The language isn’t convoluted, without losing detail, and it is rich with imaginary that is easily accessible. There are no overcomplicated sentences or any ambiguous vocabulary. This potentially means that writing an essay on Things Fall Apart can be done relatively easily and successfully. There are countless possibilities for stunning essays. This is something that all students and all teachers appreciate these days and a huge advantage of the book.

A new world

Each chapter in this amazing book tells a story set in Umuofia. This remains the case throughout, but the book is able to reveal something about this unfamiliar world and bring it closer to the reader. One learns about festivals, rules, life in general and ceremonies, all explained in great detail. All of this helps the reader experience a new world and maintains their interest. The “fall apart” meaning of the title is partly about revealing these specifics, and they are something special.

Brevity

One generally only needs one or two days to read this book. It has 219 pages and it is very engaging, so it’s an easy one to cover in a single sitting. This is to an extent because of the lack of superfluous or empty words and sentences that are not needed. Similar books set for college literature assignments are often twice as long, which can mean that for some (but not all!) they are less appealing and more challenging to write about.

Vivid language

The language used in Things Fall Apart is extraordinary. The author does not translate every word, so a lot of Igbo vocabulary remains that is wonderfully evocative, bringing Africa closer to a reader and rendering the text more interesting. Here, the English language basis is contrasted with and inspired by African elements that make for an extremely vivid result, which helps the reader imagine the scenery and action more effectively. It’s no wonder universities regularly include this book as a must-read on their syllabuses.

Conclusion

Things Fall Apart is a remarkable work that is not easily compared with other books of similar theme. It’s one of a kind that deserves a place in the hearts of book lovers, and offers a greater understanding of Africa.

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