Chinua Achebe essays

Chinua Achebe essays One of the most highly known African authors today is the Nigerian born Chinua Achebe. Chinua Achebe's main focus in his writings was to tell about the African experience, but in a completely different way previous authors wrote. The works of Achebe painted a picture of how life changed for Africans due to the impact of European culture on African society, and described the struggles of his people to free themselves from European influences. Many critics saw Chinua Achebe as a visionary, while others saw him as a voice for the Nigerian culture, giving him the reputation as the "father of the African novel in English." When England sent colonizers and missionaries to Africa, it had a great effect on African tribal life, and on Chinua Achebe. Achebe became slightly interested in British culture, and began reading English writings; only to be disgusted with the message British authors were trying to get across. Achebe learned that English authors saw Africans as "inhumane savages" that needed to be saved (Carroll 68.) Angry with the English writings, Achebe decided to answer back by writing his first novel, Things Fall Apart, in 1958, to counteract the distortions of English literature about Africa. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe tells the story of an Ibo village of the late 1800s and one of its great men, a warrior named Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a champion wrestler, a wealthy farmer, a husband to three wives, a title holder among his people, and a member of the select egwugwu, whose members impersonate ancestral spirits at tribal rituals. However life changes dramatically for the Ibo society and Ok onkwo with the arrival of British colonizers and missionaries, also known as the "white" man. The order of the Ibo society is disrupted with the appearance of the "white" man in Africa and with the introduction of "white" religion (Carroll 77-78.) Okonkwo, who is looked upon highly by his people, is unable to adapt to the changes that ac...

Awesome Quotes That Will Leave Your Friends Dumbstruck

Awesome Quotes That Will Leave Your Friends Dumbstruck Have you felt the need to impress your colleagues, peers, or friends with your profound wisdom or expansive knowledge? While wisdom cannot be gained overnight, you can impress folks with your insight. A little bit of preparation will do the trick. Post cool profile status updates on Facebook and Twitter every day. Make sure that statements reflect the real you. If you want to use these awesome quotes, make sure to cite the author. Do you have to make a speech on a research topic? Dont be monotonous. Begin your speech with some interesting information. You can also use these awesome quotes to make an impressive start. Once you have grabbed attention, the rest of the speech will become easy. When you send birthday messages to your friends, instead of the boring happy birthday, throw in these awesome quotes. On your birthday, throw a party for friends, and give each friend a party favor with a personalized quote written on the gift. Read a few of these awesome quotes and commit them to memory. Once you have done that, you can simply walk into a group and stun them with your newfound wisdom. Isnt that a brilliant way to grow your fan following? Get started on your path to stardom. Sir James Barrie If you cannot teach me to fly, teach me to sing. ‎Eric Thomas When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful. Jerry Seinfeld Its amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper. Ruth E. Renkel Never fear shadows. They simply mean theres a light shining somewhere nearby. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Mans mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions. J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone There are some things you cant share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them. Ruth E. Renkel Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance. Will Rogers Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else. Jimmy Carter Go out on a limb. Thats where the fruit is. Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty Its the imperfections that make things beautiful. George Burns No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible. Rick Riordan, The Lost Hero I don’t try to be awesome. It just comes natural. Sir Winston Churchill A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. Antoine de Saint-Exupà ©ry If you want to build a ship, don’t herd people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. Marilyn Monroe Im selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you cant handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell dont deserve me at my best. Albert Einstein Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and Im not sure about the universe. Benjamin Franklin A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. William J. Cameron Money never starts an idea; it is the idea that starts the money. Tao Le Ching It is only by not trusting that you turn someone into a liar. Bertrand Russell The fundamental cause of trouble in the world is that the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt. Chinese Proverb Pearls dont lie on the seashore. If you want one, you must dive for it. Steve Jobs Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Alice Longworth If you haven’t got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me. Antoine Saint-Exupery A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock pile when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind. William Shakespeare The earth has music for those who listen. Rumi Looking up gives light, although at first it makes you dizzy. Anaà ¯s Nin We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are. Elvis Presley Do something worth remembering. Michelangelo Genius is infinite painstaking. Voltaire The best way to become boring is to say everything. Richard Branson Screw it. Let’s do it! W. C. Fields I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally. Aristotle There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. Zen Proverb Sit, walk, or run, but don’t wobble. Epictetus Only the educated are free. Karl Wallenda Life is being on the wire, everything else is just waiting. Thomas Edison The greatest invention in the world is the mind of a child. Zen Saying Leap and the net will appear. Raynor Schein Tears are the rinse water of an unhappy heart. John A. Shedd A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.