Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #36

Page #183

Reflection:

This is a real breakdown for Okonkwo. He really can't take any of this any more. He feels that Umuofia has gone from its tough and strong village to a village that is soft-hearted like a woman. If I were him i would feel the same way. It is just to much change for him right now. But i would just go ahead and learn about the religion so that way i can get along with all the other people and be on there good side. I can understand where Okonkwo is coming from.


Page #207

Reflection:

We have now jumped to the resolution of this magnificent novel, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe. The villagers had been sent to jail and then freed and had a meeting to talk about if they should fight with the white men. A messenger of the white men had come to stop the meeting, but Okonkwo killed him. The next day, men were looking for Okonkwo, but was found hung on a tree dead. He knew that his village was not strong enough to go to war with those men. So he repayed that life he took with his own. I still feel that the tribe will go to war. This was a good story with a sad ending. I would really like to read more from this author. THE END!@!@!@!@!@!@

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #35

Page #178

Reflection:

I have come to realize that these white men have not only come to spread religion, but to also settle here and make a city in this village. For example, they have implanted a store, established a Government, laws, a jail, and most importantly, a church. Now i feel that they are trying to bring the best for these villagers. It may be new to them but it is alot better to see how it is back in the white man's world.


Page #181

Reflection:

I really enjoyed this portion of the novel. The priest of Umuofia, Mr. Brown, goes around to homes and tells the wonders of God. He is a very friendly and nice man to all the village folk. He goes to an old man's house to talk. He sits in the man's obi and they both start to talk about religion. Both argue back and forth about the rights and wrongs and both men learn alot. I learned alot too.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #34

Page #173

Reflection:

Previously in the novel, Things Fall Apart, the protagonist, Okonkwo, made a claim that he wishes that his only daughter, Ezinma, were a boy. He said this because she was wiser and smater than any of his sons. But now he regrets this. He has grown alot of sympathy for her because she is getting older. Many men have come to offer to marry her yet he refuses for her to be married until they return to their old village. He is now becoming a thoughtful father and overal person.


Page #174

Reflection:

Okonkwo has now returned back to his old village and he is shocked. Many of the people in the village have converted the Christian religion. Even his son Nwoye had left the last village to come here to practice Christianity. I would be shocked if i were him too. He thought he was leaving all that stuff but now has come back to it. I had just laughed when i had read this portion of the novel.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #33

Page #165

Reflection:

During my reading through this novel, i found that Okonkwo is going back to his old village after being absent for 7 years. Okonkwo repays his family for taking care of his mother way back when, and now taking care of him and his family. He prepares them a feast before he leaves. I like Okonkwo for this. He is just so thoughtful and caring. Okonkwo is just like a story book version of myself. haha


Page #166

Quote: "I have only called together because it is good for kinsmen to meet."

Reflection:

I have realized that the main reason that Okonkwo prepared this feast for his kinfolk, was to make sure that this family would stay together. He is a family man. He knows that if this family were to seperate, they would be headed into the wrong direction. He cares and want to make sure that this family stays strong. Okonkwo continues to appear more and more like me because i am a family man myself. I would have done the same thing.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #32

Page #160

Reflection:

For Easter, during this portion of the novel, they woman who volunteered had to scrub the church with red dirt. This was supposed to be like painting for them. But when the women went to the river for dirt or water, the clan had men who would beat them if they went there. I guess they were trying to prevent from Easter even happening. This is what i hate about Okonkwo. He can't accept the fact that his is not always right.


Page #161

Reflection:

Now this is just a weird thing that is going on in this village. A lot of the villagers still believe in their own religion. A man had died and they thought he died because he called a sacred snake. If the snake dies, the person who killed it will die too. The missionaries though, told them that this is just foolish. No one can die for killing a snake. The clan still laughed at those missionaries. This just really got me mad.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #31

Page #156

Reflection:

During this large portion of the story, the author just continues to talk about the missionaries teaching the Christianity religion. I love how these men are coming to teach these people about it. I like how they are not forcing them to learn it, but many are starting to come in and learn. This is just like the Samoan church here in Patterson. At first, it just started out with mostly my family and 2 other families, but now there is approximately 12 families now. That is just so great.


Page #159

Reflection:

During this portion of the story, some people of the village have had enough of the missionaries that have come and had a meeting about them. They decidcd that they were going to go and ostracize the white men. I thought that this was just so mean. These villagers just can't accept the fact that everything that they want and don't want just can't go thier way. I hate those villagers there.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #30

Page #150

Reflection:

During my reading throughout the novel, Things Fall Apart, I've come across a portion that has it's good and it's bad turns. The missionaries are now in the village and are spreading the word of Christianity. Okonkwo does not accept this and he is one of the ones who makes fun of this yet he just does not understand it. Yet, his eldest son, Nwoye, has been listening and wants to convert to a Christian. I feel happy for him. I like to see those that get converted and changes their life around. But once Okonkwo finds out about this, his beatings and punishment can be very brutal. I will feel bad if something happens to him.


Page #152

Reflection:

I am a very great predictor. I had guessed correctly again. Nwoye had been caught inside the Christian church and the person who had caught him told Okonkwo. When Nwoye had returned home, he was beat bad. He was lucky though because his uncle had stopped Okonkwo from beating him even more. I do feel bad because he just wants to be a man and do his own things but his father is always in the way of that. Man i feel good when i guess these pointless things correctly.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #29

Page #145

Reflection:

During my reading, i came across a portion of the novel that really touched me and interested me more into reading it. Those white men that were told of burning villages down, were actually missionaries that had come to spread the word of Christianity. I like this well because i am part of a Christian religion myself and i like it how it is being spread throughout the world. I dont know how people would say that they are very dangerous people.


Page #146

Reflection:

These men have come to the villages to spread the word of Jesus and the villagers take them as a joke. When the men preach, they just laugh and make fun of their ways. I understand where they are coming from because they have been practicing their own religion for a long time and when someone brings something new, you can't except those ways. This still sort of bothers me because this is my religion and i hate it when others disrespect it .

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #28

Page #140

Reflection:

During this portion of the story, stories go aroung about these light skinned men coming and destroying villages. I think that these are caucasian people. I also think that this is the time of slavery and they are going to take these villagers back to their homeland. This is just so mean. I just got to keep reading so that i can see what will really happen to these very innocent villagers and their families.


Page #142

Quote: "Kill one of your sons for me."

Reflection:

When Okonkwo's friend comes to see him, he gives him so food and other things too help out his Okonkwo. Okonkwo is very shocked and does not know any way to repay him or thank him. But when he askes how he can thank him, his friend tells him that he will have to kill one of his sons. I did not get this. I dont know if they were playing around or what, but no friend would ever tell a friend to do that to their kid. This is just cruel and disrespectful. I would someone who would tell me to do that. What kind of friend was he?

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #27

Page #136

Quote: "It was the second year of Okonkwo's exile that his friend, Obierika, came to visit him.

Reflection:

When i had read this portion of the story, i just thought to myself that this is so dumb. I don't even know why he had come to visit. If a person took part in burning or torturing my property, i wouldn't want that person to be anywhere near me, even if he was my friend. This friend just comes up to his new home as if nothing had happened. I would really beat this person up if i ever saw him again.


Page #137

Reflection:

Now this is the part of the story that amuses me. Throughout the novel, the author portrays Okonkwo as a men that is emotionless. Yet, when his friend shows up, he is so forgiving and so happy that he takes the friend and shows him around. The other just proves his own statements wrong. I like this author yet he must make everything come together if he wants an amazing story.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #26

Page #130

Quote: "All the grass had long been scorched brown, and the sands felt like live coals on the feet"

Reflection:

This author hands down is the best author that i have seen so far. I just love how he is so creative with his words and as shown in this quote, he makes these simple scenes feel so lively. I makes a reader feel as if they are in this world. He has a magnificent imagination. That is just what i like about him. I would really go and read another book by this author.


Page #131

Reflection:

I have to say that in this story, i can really compare myself with alot of characteristics of Okonkwo. During this portion of the novel, Okonkwo is starting to really regret about what he has done during his lifetime. He always wanted to be a Lord of his clan, yet he made a wrong decision that messed his life up for good. This happens to me too. We are just human. We make wrong decisions sometimes yet we always got to pay for those wrongdoings.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #25

Page #124

Reflection:

This was an uncalled moment and very shocking moment in this story. Many people are letting off cannons and fireworks in respect of Ezeudu. But something goes terribly wrong. Okonkwo uses his gun to make noise and when he fires, he accidently fires a shot into the back of Ezeudu's oldest son. He did not shoot him on purpose. Okonkwo is finally scared and does not know what to do. He was as shocked as i am right now. Then it says he will have to flee the village for 7 years to pay for what he has done. I would feel foolish if i was him.


Page #125

Reflection:

During this part of the story, men in a big crowd had made their way to Okonkwo's property to destroy it. It is bad enough he has to leave, but they have to destroy his things too? These are some really mean people. Okonkwo's friend was in that crowd. He felt so betrayed. I would be too. All those men that had came were told to be messengers for the earth goddess, so they had no choice but to destroy his property. This is some weird stuff right here.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #24

Page #118

Reflection:

After the meal, all the men of the village are sitting down in what seems to be like a bon fire. They are all sitting in a circle. Then the tradition they have is that everyone in the circle has to say one good thing about each other person in the circle. I thought that this was just too weird. It's very interesting though. Then after this is done, the men sing song while girls go and dance in the middle of the circle. This is also part of their weird tradition. Yet it is very good to read about.


Page #121

Reflection:

This is a very sad time of the story and a breakdown even more for Okonkwo. The oldest man of the village and great friend of Okonkwo's, Ezoudu, had passed away. This was one of the ment that had came to tell Okonkwo that the village was going to put Ikemefuna to rest. He was a very great and knowledgable man. The last thought that Okonkwo had of Ezoudu was the night before Ikemefuna died when he told him to not be involved in the death of the boy. This is a sad time just like any other one in this story.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #23

Page #113

Reflection:

This is just another pointless observation of my reading through the novel, Things Fall Apart. The village is just preparing a random meal and the men are making soup. They have to kill the fattest goat that they can cut up to make the soup. I thought that this was just nasty and sad. They are just going to kill an innocent animal and then they are going to eat a soup full of goat fat. This is just too gross. I dont see how people can do that.

Page #114

Quote: "The one that uses its tail to drive flies away"

Reflection:

During the course of making the meal, a wife of the village crys out this quote as shown here. At first i did not understand it at all. I was wondering what animal that can fly, also has a tail. But later on, i read that she meant that a cow had gotten out of the gates from where they were locked up. This was so foolish. I still dont see how they can use this quote to tell that. This author is surely unique.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #22

Page #108

Reflection:

During this portion of my reading, Ekwefi is still following behind the Agbala messenger. This messenger has taken her daughter Ezinma who claims she will bring her back in a little while. While following slightly behind, Ekwefi sees a man. This man is carrying a machete. Right at this moment, i thought she was either going to die or the man was Okonkwo. I was right, it was Okonkwo. He had come to help. But it was pointless because the lady just turned right back around.


Page #111

Reflection:

Now this little scene is just getting too confusing. We just found out that the messenger did not take Ezinma to the godly person. But now she snuck back into the village and put the child safely back into her hut. She was trying to pretend this whole time that she took the girl to the god yet Ekwefi and Okonkwo knows she didn't. This part still to this day, i don't know the point of this or else i read the story weird or something of that nature. Yes my observations are weird, but they're observations.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #21

Page #103

Reflection:

A messenger of Agbala had come to the village to take Ezinma away for a while. Ezinma is the only child of Ekwefi. She says that the god person or whatever wants her to come to him. I feel this is just wrong. This is just kind of mean. But i love Ekwefi in this moment. She is going to follow the messenger. I feel that she is a great mother. I would do the same thing too. I just love this part. This is one of my favorite parts of the novel.

Page #107

Reflection:

Now this part of the story is just dumb. Ekwefi followed her daughter calmly and nicely. But when they arrived there, the messenger just turned right back around. I just didnt get this part. I just dont get it . This was just sort of pointless. But i was happy when Okonkwo showed up after when they were heading back. how late! These dumb things just love to catch my eye.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #20

Page #98

Reflection:

During this portion of the story, Okonkwo's family is telling folk stories. This reminds me alot of my family. When my dad gets home from work we always tell these stories of what happened throughout the day. I like to compare what i read to my own life and this is a perfect example of that. I can really compare my life to alot of qualities of Okonkwo. That is just what stood out to me during that time.

Page #100

Reflection:

The story i liked the most during this time was when they told the story of the tortoise. The tortoise was not like with all the birds. The birds were having a dinner only for them and the tortoise wanted to go. He told all of them that he was nice now and had changed and they allowed him to come. In the end he twisted on them and made them give him all the food. He had fell from the sky when he jumped and landed hard enough but not to break but that is why their shell is hard and rough. This is just about karma. This is what i can really compare my life too. This happens to me all the time.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #19

Page #93

Reflection:

I have read alot during my reading. During this portion of the novel, Evil Forest is telling a story of a man that always beat his wife for no reason. His wife was pregnant and she lost the baby because he beat her. This was jsut sad to me. I dont know how anyone in there right mind could just do that to a woman. That is just disrespect. I hate those types of people. Good thing that this is just a story.


Page #96

Quote: "He searched his bag and brought out his snuff bottle."

Reflection:

I had read alot in my reading, but this is really strange. I had a feeling i knew what a snuff bottle was when i read it, but i read on to make sure. It was a bottle to sniff drugs. Stuff like this still goes around today. I hate these types of people. Why can't people live life good without doing those illegal things. Well maybe there in that area, it is okay to do that. We just may never know.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #18

Page #88

Reflection:

The village was having a meeting and it was only for the men and important villagers. It showed that all the woman of the village were to stay outside and just clean and scrub the walls of the building. I just feel that this part of the story is just sort of sexist. But i guess that this is how things were done back then in those days. Men were the most powerful people and must be treated with respect. This just caught my eye.


Page #89

Reflection:

In this meeting, the people are talking about the egwugwue. He is like a god to these people. The egwugwue of their willage is called "evil forest." They are supposibly spirits. Then all of a sudden i read along and they show up. I just did not get this. I dont know if i read weird but that is what i read. This is just what i read. This conspiracy thing i guess is just so wierd and confusing.

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #17

Page #83

Reflection:

This conspiracy deal is still going on. Okonkwo and his friend Okagbue are in the field looking for the stone. They keep asking the child where she put the stone and she just can't remember. But when they finally find it, they go right down to get it. This must be so important to the village that all the people of the village are standing around just watching. This is almost like a world class event. I wish something like this would happen in my neighborhood. This is just too weird.


Page #84

Reflection:

This little story just seems to get better and better. Okagbue tells Okonkwo that he can feel the stone in the ground. He says this loud enough that the crowd starts to jump around and get excited. They act as if they were in war and they just won. I just though it was hilarious that the whole crowd was just buzzed over this. If it were me, i wouldn't even give a care. This is what i had seen during my reading.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Journals

Date: 6 August 2008

Entry #16

Page #78

Reflection:

During my reading, i came across a portion of the story about one of Okonkwo's wives named, Ekwefi. She is a very unlucky and unhappy woman. She is under a conspiracy where she gives birth to children, and then when they die, she gives birth to them again and again and again. This is sort of sad for her. She goes through so much pain and then she can never keep a child for more than a year. But she is also to at least have one child that is about 7 years old. I feel so bad for Ekwefi.


Page #81

Reflection:

This conspiracy just keeps getting more and more weird by the page. It now says that when these children are first born, they have a stone. They must bury this stone in a secret place in order to keep being reborn. But if this stone is found and destroyed before they die, they will only be able to live for that one life. This is just so weird. Now the religions we have, you would not here anything like this. Well I just love these different events that i find in this novel.

Journals

Date: 5 August 2008

Entry #15

Page #73

Reflection:

During my reading in the novel, Things Fall Apart, the characters talk about going in the jungle and "tapping" palm trees. I did not understand this at all. The author had repeatedly used this term and i was continuing to be confused. But then on this page, the young boy talks about "tapping" the palm tree. He says that the men climb the tree and bring down and smash the foo-foo. Foo-foo is a type of fruit from the tree. This is kind of pointless to the story, yet this caught my attention.


Page #75

Reflection:

This was a pointless part of the novel. A mosquito was going on a boys ear and a man told the boy the story of the mosquito. The mosquito asked the ear if she wanted to marry him and the ear just laughed and the mosquito was humiliated. Theat is why from then on that the mosquito always attacks a person's ear. This is so poinless, but this was a cute story that is amuzing and interesting. I like these types of things and thats why i write about it.

Journals

Date: 5 August 2008

Entry #14

Page #68

Reflection:

This is a very interesting portion of the novel, Things Fall Apart. Story is being told of a old man in a nearbye village from where Okonkwo is now living, is dead. He was a very powerful and known man i n that village. Yet, later that day, his wife is found dead too. It was told that they were as one and did everything together. This is very conspiritial and very confusing. I know that this is pointless to this novel yet it is what caught my eye. This is what i had seen from this page.


Page #70

Quote: "When mother-cow is chewing grass its young ones watch it's mouth."

Reflection:

During my reading, i had passed through a saying that one of the mothers had said when talking. I believe that this quote is very true. I relate this mostly toward children. When a child sees thier parent, or even any adult doing something, they watch, and then might try to copy that person. This just caught my eye for no important reason, but during my reading, i like to compare life to what i am reading. This is just a quote that later in my life that i can tell my children.