Things Fall Apart

• Engels
• Voortgezet speciaal onderwijs

What was your reaction?

• In a minute, you will see a couple of pictures.
  
• Use your phone to participate in this discussion.
  
•  Describe what your first reaction was when you first encountered it, or what you think your reaction would be.
  

Squid

Were you ever surprised by something new/unfamiliar? In what way?

First encounter in Things Fall Apart

• First encounters can be rather confronting; as you might have noticed by now, these first conclusions are sometimes misplaced.
• Please answer the following questions individually:

1. How does Okonkwo's tribe react upon meeting the "white man" first?
   
2. Do they remain that way throughout the novel, or does their attitude change? Why/why not?

First encounter in Things Fall Apart

• Homework assignment:
  In groups of 3-4, choose a passage from Part 3 that according to you, shows a first encounter between the tribes and Westerners. Next week, shortly prepare a presentation why you chose that particular passage.

Many stories, like Avatar, centre around the first encounter between different species/societies/etc.

Avatar

READ THE SUMMARY

In the year 2154, a human colony has been established on a distant planet called Pandora. The humans are hunting for a rare mineral that could solve the ecological crisis on Earth. However, their plans are thwarted by an indigenous race called the Na'vi, whose village is resting right on top of the rare ore they need. To solve this problem, Col. Quaritch sends ex-Marine Jake Sully out into the wild piloting an Avatar- a remote control alien body that will allow Jake to breath the air on Pandora- to gain the Na'vi's trust and get them to relocate. But then...

Final assignment

1. Watch the film (or read a summary online of) Avatar.
2. Write an essay in which you compare and contrast the film with Things Fall Apart. What similarities are there in these stories? Did either of the parties (Things Fall Apart: local tribes/Westerners; Avatar: humans/Na'vi) gain something from their encounter with one-another?

CRITERIA:

• Write 300-500 words
• Answer both questions. Use fragments from the film and excerpts from the book to support your arguments.

EXTRA ASSIGNMENT:

In groups of 4, go over the assignment above, and talk about the questions posed.