Using Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart in Introductory Geography Courses

Abstract

Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart can be productively used in introductory geography courses at the university or high school level. This paper discusses why and how this novel is used in an introductory course. This discussion includes the use of fiction in the geography classroom, a summary and analysis of Things Fall Apart, and a personal account of how the book is taught. Things Fall Apart tells the story of traditional Igbo life when colonialism and Christianity first penetrated eastern Nigeria at the turn of the century. Classroom discussion of Things Fall Apart centers on an explication of its deep sense of place and on an examination of the book within the context of political geography. A primary goal is to move students toward a deeper understanding and empathy for Third World cultures.

Key Words:

• pedagogy
• fiction
• Chinua Achebe
• Things Fall Apart
• Igbo
• Nigeria
• Third World
• sense of place
• political geography
• colonialism