AAS 100 1nd EditionExam # 1 Study Guide Lectures: 1 - 7Lecture 1 (August 28)Contemporary AfricaThings to Know:- Africa makes up 15% of the world’s population – 1.1 billion people- Youngest continent because of high death rates due to poor health care- 2000 languages spoken in Africa- East Africa is said to be the birth place of civilizationo Lucy – oldest skeleton found in Ethiopia that resembles a species similar to that of the modern human race- Berlin Conference – the reason Africa is split into so many different countries and regions.o Determined political boundaries (19th century) that are present todayo Scramble for Africa – convened by King Leopold II- King Leopold II – King of Belgium that invaded Congo in search of rubber- Force Publique – Police force that was used to enforce policies (reaching the quota for rubber produced by each citizen) under King Leopold IIo Broken laws were punishable by death- The Advent of Independence o Beginning after 1945, independence movement began across Africa because Europe was weak from WWII and easily let their colonies go.o Over the next decade, after 1957, all the colonies in Africa won independence- Egungun ceremonies- Vodun Day – new year celebration- Threats to African Progresso Disease/ poor healthcare (HIV/AIDS, Ebola)o Educationo Lack of technologyo Lack of material resourceso Corruption of the governmentLecture 2 (September 2) Chinua Achebe- “grandfather of African literature”- Best known for Things Fall Aparto Inspiration = Joyce Cary’s Mister Johnson (1939)o Thought it was superficial and wrote his story on the same issue from a different view point- Achebe’s Preoccupations and Writing Styleo Themes: Christianity, Africans values, oral tradition, Igbo traditions- Characters to know:o Okonkwoo Unofao Ikemefumao Nwoyeo Ezinmao Ekwefio Obierika- Themes to Consider: ** indicate key themeso Fate vs. Freewill**o Memory/Documentaryo Social Disintegrationo Masculinity/Patriarchy vs. Feminism**o Fear**o Beliefo Justice- Know what a proverb is and be able to recognize them and decipher it’s meaningo Ex. “Looking at a king’s mouth one would think he never sucked at his mother’s breast” p. 26, Things Fall Aparto In reference to Okonkwo, this means that he thinks he is better than everyone else because he is successful and has little tolerance for people who are not as successful/ lazy.- Know what Chi is and how it can be related to the characters:o Chi = personal god (chapter 4)o “If you say yes, your chi says yes also”- Know traditional Ibo culture based on examples offered in the booko Ex. Ceremonies, laws, marriage, etc.Discussion Questions to Consider:1. What do the constant references to gender say about Okonkwo? What does it say about Igbo culture?2. There is an issue here of fate versus personal control over destiny. For example, Okonkwo's father is sometimes held responsible for his own actions, while at other times he is referred to as ill-fated and a victim of evil-fortune. Which do you think Okonkwo believes is true? What do you think Achebe believes is true? What do you believe?3. Of Ezinma, Okonkwo thinks: "She should have been a boy" (p. 64). Why is it necessary tothe story that Okonkwo's most favored child be a girl?4. In another introduction to the major rituals of Ibo life, Achebe depicts a funeral scene. What are some other scenes that he includes to give the reader a sense of traditional Igbo society?5. How is the accident at the funeral related to the infiltration of Western technology into atraditional culture? 6. Okonkwo has killed people before this. What makes this incident so serious?7. How does the story of the destruction of Abame summarize the experience of colonization?8. Make some general observations about the coming of the white man to the area.9. Why do you think Nwoye has become a Christian? Why does the new religion appeal to