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Exploring Themes and Motifs in "Things Fall Apart": A Workshop Guide

This workshop focuses on identifying themes and motifs in Chinua Achebe's novel "Things Fall Apart." Participants will review motif tracking sheets to brainstorm possible topics, engage in a thesis statement workshop, and outline paper specifications. Key themes include the complexities of tradition versus change, the impact of gender roles, and cultural identity. A practical guide will incorporate the "Rule of Six" for constructing effective thesis statements. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how motifs connect to thematic elements and begin drafting their papers.

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Exploring Themes and Motifs in "Things Fall Apart": A Workshop Guide

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  1. Monday, May 2nd – Do Now Take out your motif tracking sheets and make a list of the possible topics that are addressed in Things Fall Apart.

  2. Agenda • Things Fall Apart Paper • Thesis Statement Workshop

  3. Paper Outline & Specifications

  4. Themes What is a theme? How does one go about identifying the theme? Take a stab at identifying the themes in TFA.

  5. Theme formula

  6. This is what past students came up with: Traditional gender roles can prohibit one from reaching a state heroism Traditional gender roles can restrict Language is a tool that can empower oneself or disempower others Maternal love and nurture is necessary to the development of a well-rounded individual. An individual’s native culture is not necessarily where he/she belongs. Overcoming conflict is a part of life. Two different cultures can peacefully exist if both are flexible. A culture’s rigidity and inflexibility can cause conflict. The struggle between change and tradition is complex

  7. But…how does my motif connect to a theme?!?! • Yams = status, power • Theme = a man’s masculinity influences one’s status and self worth in the Ibo culture. • Thesis statement: In Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart, yams appear as a recurring motif and reflect the theme that an Ibo man’s masculinity, status, and self-worth are based on rigid social norms and quantifiable qualities.

  8. THESIS STATEMENTS –A THESIS needs to follow the Rule of SIX: Arguable - It contains an assertion or claim that can actually be argued against. Provable - It can actually be supported by multiple kinds of evidence. Worth proving - It can’t focus on so trivial a point that the argument isn’t significant. Restricted - It limits the scope of the paper to what can be discussed in detail in the space available. Unified - It focuses on one single idea. Precise - It is stated in such a way that it can have only one interpretation.

  9. In motif groups… • Compare motif examples (group) • Brainstorm a list of themes that your particular motif develops (group) • Write three (3) possible thesis statements for your motif (individual) You have thirty minutes so use your time well.

  10. Let’s test out your own thesis statements now. Find two other people to read your thesis statements and test it against the Rule of SIX.

  11. THESIS:_______________________________________________________________ (and the writer’s) name)

  12. THESIS:_______________________________________________________________THESIS:_______________________________________________________________

  13. Homework Based on today’s thesis work, write the first two pages of your paper. This should include at leastyour introduction and 1st body paragraph. Please type and double space this preliminary draft.

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