10 questions on plot, characters, and themes. Free to take, so you can see exactly what to review before class.
1. What is Ugwu's role at the beginning of the novel, and what does he gain from living in Odenigbo's house?
2. Why does Olanna leave her family in Lagos to live with Odenigbo?
3. How does the novel's structure, alternating between 'The Early Sixties' and 'The Late Sixties,' affect the reader's experience?
4. What happens to Ugwu during the war that marks a permanent change in his character?
5. What role does the manuscript titled 'The World Was Silent When We Died' play in the novel?
6. How does Odenigbo's character change from the early sixties to the late sixties?
7. What is Kainene's most significant contribution during the war, and what happens to her?
8. What does Richard Churchill's journey in the novel reveal about the role of outsider witnesses to war?
9. How does the war affect the relationship between Olanna and Odenigbo?
10. What is the central argument the novel makes about identity and war?
0 of 10 answered
How this guide is built
This guide is built from the original text to help you get oriented fast. It is designed for recall, paper planning, and getting unstuck, but it is still a paraphrased guide, not a substitute for the reading itself. Double-check anything important before you turn in formal work.
