Okonkwo's character: What are his qualities, how does he earn the respect of clan members? What role does he play within his own family? In what respects is he a typical man of Umuofia? How is Okonkwo different from his father? What does he fear? What is chi? How does his chi effect Okonkwo? Does Okonkwo consistently follow the social rules? What does Okonkwo's attitude about wrestling suggest about his character?

Social Customs and Rituals: What qualities are important in an Igbo man? An Igbo woman? What are families in Umuofia like? What's the importance of the clan? What kinds of social customs and rituals are important in Umuofia? What behaviors are expected? How do they establish rank and respect? How do speakers in Umuofia use proverbs? What does it mean to have a title? What occasions does the clan celebrate? What significance does the clan attribute to yams?

Okonkwo's Family: What role does Ikemefuna play in the family? How does Okonkwo believe Ikemefuna has helped his son? What compels fear Okonkwo's action? How does Nwoye differ from his father? What does Okonkwo think of his daughter, Ezinma? What does Ekwefi think about her chi? What is an iyi-uwa? What does Chielo, priestess of Agbala want Ezinma for; and how does Ekwefi feel a conflict between duty and family? How does the accident alter Okonkwo's life?

Social Customs and Rituals: How does Okonkwo believe men ought to treat women? Who decides Ikemefuna's fate and why? What does it mean to have a title? How does it effect one? What does the marriage arrangement ceremony tell us about Igbo values? How do members of the clan think about their own tradition? How does the egu-gwu judge the mistreatment of women? How is the uri celebrated? And what does it signify? What is the kola? How does the village learn about Ezeudu's death and what do we learn about Igbo values from the funeral?

Life in Mbanta: How is Okonkwo able to begin a new life? How do the villagers receive Okonkwo and why? What values does Uchendu share in his speech? What is it about the Mbanta worldview that makes them decide to give land to the missionaries? Is it a good response? Do all agree? How does Okonkwo feel about his son Nwoye?

Colonialism vs. Tradition: What news does Obierika bring Okonkwo? How does Okonkwo respond? What does Obierika's response to Okonkwo's appreciation say about traditional values? How do the Igbo in Mbanta respond to the message of the missionaries? What puzzles them? Who resists and who accepts them? Why? What does the narrator suggest about politics and religion? What does the clan perceive as an attack and how would Okonkwo have them respond? What does Uchendu's send-off speech see as the threat to his way of life and what does it foreshadow?~

Changes at Umofia: What are the important changes that have taken place during Okonkwo's exile? Why does Obierika claim "It is already to late" to fight? What does Obierika mean when he says "we have fallen apart"? What disappoints Okonkwo about his reception? How do the men of Umofia see their situation during the council?

Okonkwo's Values: How does the loss of Nwoye effect his attitude towards his remaining sons? What have the seven years of exile done to his place in Umofia? How does Okonkwo's warrior-like character contrast with his treatment at the hands of the commisioner? How does Okonkwo want to respond to his imprisonment? Is he ready to accept the decision of Umuofia's council? Do Okonkwo's final two acts reflect his adherence to traditional values or a deviation from them? How does Obierika see him?

Christianity and Colonialism: How relationship do politics and religion seem to have? Why does the clan respect the reverend Mr. Brown? How does the narrator present Christianity and Igbo tradition? Do the Igbo and the colonists understand each other? Why do Enoch's actions cause such a crisis? What decision does it lead the clan to make? How does the commissioner explain the authority of Law? How does the role of messengers exemplify the colonists' political skill? Consider the final exchange between the commissioner and men of Umuofia--what does it contribute to our sense of the narrator's attitude towards the two parties?

• Project by Brown Univ. Students: http://landow.stg.brown.edu/post/achebe/achebeov.html