Meaning through personal history

Thesis: Chinua Achebe’s personal background is apparent in his novel Things Fall Apart as he includes both the values and belief of his Christian upbringing as well as those of his native Nigerian background, through characters such as Okonkwo and Mr. Brown, in order to allow the readers to interpret the meaning of the novel without any bias created by the author. 

Topic Sentence 1: Having grown up during the colonisation period, Achebe uses characters such as Rev. Smith and Mr. Brown in order to portray the negative and positive effects of the missionaries arriving to the Igbo land to his audience.

Topic Sentence 2: Due to his Nigerian background, Achebe uses the characters Okonkwo and Uchendu in order to show the audience the rich Igbo culture and its values, as well as the effect that christianity had on the Igbo society. 

Topic Sentence 3: In order to show an appreciation towards the best values of both cultures, Achebe uses characters such as Nwoye and Obierika as they both question some of the tribe’s traditions and values. 

Gender Influences

Thesis: Depending on one’s understanding of gender influences in the novel Things Fall Apart, audiences can have different interpretations and understandings of the Igbo society and culture due to the unique values and traditions of the Igbo people. 

Topic Sentence 1: In order to fully understand the gender influences within the novel, one must identify and fully understand the gender roles in the Igbo society, as well as it contribution to the overarching themes of the novel

Topic Sentence 2: Personal upbringing and culture shape the way someone perceives the novel thus depending on one’s values and beliefs, it shapes the way gender influences is perceived in the novel. 

Topic Sentence 3: Depending on the time period in which the novel is read in, it influences how the novel is perceived and the role of gender influences as society norms and values change.