Though often praised for its political and cultural themes, *Things Fall Apart* is also a masterclass in literary technique. Achebe’s storytelling is tightly controlled, vividly poetic, and full of subtle devices that shape the reader’s perception of culture, conflict, and character. The Things Fall Apart Literary Devices Quiz invites you to look beneath the plot and explore how Achebe constructs meaning through craft not just through what is told, but through how it’s told.
This quiz will test your understanding of simile, irony, foreshadowing, symbolism, and narrative perspective, among other key tools. The Things Fall Apart Literary Devices Quiz doesn’t just measure your memory it challenges your reading precision. From the deliberate repetition of proverbs to the tragic irony of Okonkwo’s fate, each question pushes you to examine how Achebe turns language into commentary, and silence into consequence.
Great job exploring the literary techniques in this novel! If you’d like to see how these devices shape the characters, try the Things Fall Apart Character Matching Quiz. Want to take it a step further and find out which character you’re most like? Take the Which Things Fall Apart Character Are You Quiz. And if you’re feeling confident, take on the Things Fall Apart Full Book Quiz to see how much you truly remember.
If you’re preparing for deeper study or simply want to engage with Achebe’s work on a new level, this quiz offers a meaningful way to test your grasp of the book’s technical brilliance. Let’s break down some of the devices featured in the quiz so you’ll be ready for anything.
Proverbs – Wisdom in Economy
One of Achebe’s most consistent techniques is the use of Igbo proverbs. These short, often metaphorical sayings are embedded into dialogue and narration to reflect cultural norms, communal values, and practical wisdom. Phrases like “proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten” reflect how deeply intertwined language and tradition are in the Igbo world.
In the Things Fall Apart Literary Devices Quiz, you’ll be asked to identify the purpose of specific proverbs or match them to the situations they illuminate. Recognizing their double meaning and emotional resonance is key to interpreting their function in the narrative.
Foreshadowing – Warning Bells of Collapse
Achebe gently but repeatedly signals the tragic trajectory of the novel through foreshadowing. From Okonkwo’s early fear of becoming like his father to the appearance of the white man’s bicycle (the “iron horse”), clues accumulate, hinting that cultural upheaval is inevitable. Even the locusts, arriving before the missionaries, act as an omen for colonial invasion.
Expect quiz questions that ask how Achebe foreshadows major events. Understanding these narrative hints adds depth to the pacing and psychological tension that unfolds throughout the novel.
Irony – The Cruel Twist of Meaning
Irony appears across the novel in both subtle and devastating ways. Okonkwo’s attempts to escape his father’s weakness ultimately destroy him, making his story a deeply ironic tragedy. The white missionaries preach peace but bring systemic violence and disintegration. Even the District Commissioner’s closing thoughts—of reducing Okonkwo’s life to a single paragraph serve as a chilling example of narrative erasure.
The quiz will push you to identify examples of dramatic and situational irony, and to consider how these ironic reversals reinforce the novel’s central themes of identity, change, and misunderstanding.
Symbolism – Objects That Carry Legacy
Achebe uses simple objects and customs as powerful symbols. The yam, for instance, symbolizes masculinity, prosperity, and labor. The Week of Peace, disrupted by Okonkwo’s violence, symbolizes the balance between tradition and personal behavior. The title itself *Things Fall Apart* is symbolic of both cultural fragmentation and personal collapse.
The Things Fall Apart Literary Devices Quiz may ask what various symbols represent, or how they change over the course of the story. Knowing the layered meanings of recurring images can sharpen your interpretive skills.
Third-Person Omniscient Narration – Balancing Culture and Critique
Achebe uses a third-person omniscient narrator who maintains a neutral, reflective tone. This narrative voice allows the novel to present Igbo culture from the inside, while still commenting on the broader implications of colonialism and modernity. This technique provides both intimacy and distance readers feel close to the characters while also seeing the historical forces around them.
The quiz may include questions about how the narration shapes tone or how perspective influences reader understanding. Achebe’s restraint is a literary decision worth recognizing.
Simile and Metaphor – Evoking Visual and Cultural Depth
Similes and metaphors are woven throughout Achebe’s prose, often derived from nature and community life. Describing Okonkwo as “slippery as a fish in water” or likening a child to a “twig bent in the fire” evokes vivid imagery while rooting meaning in shared cultural references. These figures of speech enrich the narrative without slowing it down.
Expect the quiz to test your ability to identify literary comparisons and explain their function. Some may appear in dialogue, others in key narrative moments of tension or transition.
Tragic Hero Structure – Classical Form, Indigenous Story
Okonkwo’s arc mirrors the structure of a classical tragic hero: he is respected, he has a fatal flaw (his fear of weakness), and his downfall is brought about by a combination of internal and external forces. Achebe blends this form with the Igbo cultural context, creating a unique blend of African narrative and Western dramatic form.
The Things Fall Apart Literary Devices Quiz may include questions about how Achebe borrows and reshapes classical structures. Recognizing this literary fusion helps reveal the novel’s global literary significance.
Juxtaposition – Clashing Worlds, Contrasting Values
Achebe frequently places traditional Igbo values alongside the rigid doctrines of colonial Christianity to highlight the clash of worldviews. The result is not only a commentary on colonialism, but a nuanced look at belief systems in conflict. Moments of cultural misunderstanding are framed with intentional contrast, inviting the reader to reflect on assumptions.
Quiz questions may ask which passages use juxtaposition and what messages they convey. Recognizing contrast helps bring clarity to the novel’s central tensions.
Take the Things Fall Apart Literary Devices Quiz
Achebe’s craft is deliberate and powerful. Every proverb, every simile, every silent moment carries narrative weight. The Things Fall Apart Literary Devices Quiz is your chance to appreciate how meaning is constructed beneath the surface—how Achebe’s literary choices elevate the novel from political commentary to timeless literature. Mastering this quiz means more than remembering quotes. It means seeing how Achebe moves the story through structure, symbol, irony, and silence.
Click below to take the Things Fall Apart Literary Devices Quiz and test your understanding of Achebe’s brilliant and understated craft.
Things Fall Apart Quizzes: Dive into Igbo culture and colonial impact …
Things Fall Apart Literary Devices – FAQ
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart uses symbolism, irony, and foreshadowing. Symbolism appears with traditional Igbo motifs, like locusts representing colonial invasion. Irony is evident in Okonkwo’s downfall, where his strengths turn into weaknesses. Foreshadowing hints at future events, adding tension and anticipation.
Achebe weaves symbolism throughout the narrative to deepen the story. Yams symbolize wealth, masculinity, and prosperity in Igbo society, while locusts represent European colonizers, hinting at disruption. These symbols convey complex themes and cultural insights.
Irony highlights the clash between tradition and change. Okonkwo’s fear of his father’s failures ironically leads him to a similar tragic end. His strict adherence to traditional values blinds him to change, resulting in his downfall. This irony underscores themes of fate, pride, and cultural conflict.
Foreshadowing builds suspense and hints at key plot developments. Early mentions of locusts and their disruption foreshadow the arrival of missionaries and colonial forces. This device prepares readers for the clash between Igbo society and Western influences, enhancing dramatic tension.
Achebe’s language is simple yet evocative, capturing Igbo culture’s essence. He uses proverbs and idioms, adding authenticity to dialogue and enriching the narrative. This style immerses readers in the cultural setting and underscores themes of identity and cultural change.