Monday, 25 April 2011

The Week of Peace

BY: Emma Shepherd, Zachary Zarnett-Klein, Rachel Bierbrier and Kimberly Snow

Explanation of the concept as found in the novel:
Okonkwo breaks the sacred Week of Peace when he noticed that one of his wives, Ojiugo, leaves her hut without making dinner, frustrating him to the point of beating her up. He is forced to repent by a priest by sacrificing a nanny goat and a hen and paying a fine of one length of cloth and 100 crowries.

Okonkwo does so, and goes on to criticize another clan’s custom of placing the bodies of those who die during the Week of Peace in the Evil Forest. Following the Week of Peace, villagers begin preparing the land for planting new seeds. Nwoye and Ikemefuna help Okonkwo in this process. However, he finds fault in their labour. He tries to help them become better farmers.

Definition:
The week of peace was one of the means of unification for the clan and appeasement for the gods in control over their crops.

Summary of a contemporary article:
Last week, Nigerians marked the Week of Peace. They spent time meditating and with their families in order to restore their inner peace. This annual event is important in the Igbo culture and is followed by the sowing season for all the crops. They believe that in order to have a good, clean crop, the spirit must first be cleansed. No marital relations, physical abuse, or hurtful language is allowed during this week. Spiritual purity is held very dear in Igbo culture and the Week of Peace is a prime example of this.

Photobucket


Works Cited

Catshanghai. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. 
Cover, Its. "Ibo Culture as Seen in "Things Fall Apart"" Lbo's Blog. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. .
The Nigerian Inquirer - the #1 Nigerian News Website. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <http://www.nigerianinquirer.com/>.
Posted by daikossy at 10:23

8 comments:

  1. Unknown16 October 2012 at 11:23

    OKONKWO IS CARZY AND HE NEEDS HELP I AM READING TFA AND I WOULDVE BEEN KILLED HIM LIKE HE KILLED IKEMEFUNA THATS WONG AND NWOYE HE DROVE HIM AWAY AND THATS HIS OWN FAMILY...SHAME ON OKONKWO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown16 October 2012 at 11:24

      i meant crazy but something is truly wrong with him i promise

      Delete
    2. poopypants14 December 2012 at 06:28

      dude, its just a book. chill yo tits. its not a real story bro.

      Delete
    3. haley rodnon7 April 2013 at 23:17

      lol

      Delete
  2. poopypants14 December 2012 at 06:28

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown2 April 2013 at 15:34

    actuly it is baised on a true story but written an fiction

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown7 October 2013 at 15:44

    it is a good book but did not end the way i was hoping for. I thought there was going to be a full out war between the Igbo clan and the Missionaries. I had not thought that he would kill himself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OathOblivio10 September 2014 at 19:08

      This is a trilogy I believe, that continues the story in "No Longer at Ease" and "Arrow of God". No need to be disappointed.

      Delete

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