Outline

1. Summary 2. Characters 3.1. Micheal Obi 3.2. Nancy 3.3. The Ani 3. Narrative Style and Structure 4. Themes and Symbols 5. Intentions

Summary
Michael Obi becomes the new headmaster of Ndume Central School He discovers that villagers are using a path that goes across the school compound The path is of great importance to the villagers Obi decides to close the path

Summary
He receives a call from the villages priest A young women in the village dies in childbed The Government Education Officers carries out inspection Reports the school as being in a tribal-war situation with the village

Micheal Obi
26 years old ambitious school teacher employed by the mission authorities Western education colonialist mindset His duty: enlighten his fellow Nigerians + establishing a colonial order native beliefs = narrow views and superstition pivotal teacher enforcing his progressive views by referring to the regulations arrogance and intolerance

Nancy Obi
Michael's young wife (married for 2 years) at the beginning: proud of her husband regarding herself as modern eager to set ''the fashion in everything'' (p. 118, l. 22) calling herself ''Queen of the school'' (p. 118, l. 20) supporting her husband as much as possible wants to be admired for her achievements selfcentered, conceited only interested in the outward appearance of things

The Ani
old village priest (Igbo religion) opponent to Michael Obi familiar with the villagers' way of thinking tolerant, interested in dialogue treats other people with respect wants Obi to respect the villagers ready for compromise Let the hawk perch and let the eagle perch(p.121, l.7f.)

Narrator
Omniscient third person Wavering between hope and fear (p.119, l.3) Mainly Obis point of view Ndume School was backward in every sense of the word (p.119, l.16f.) Commentations on the different characters decision and behaviour but it was only for a few minutes (p.119, l.4)

Language and Stylistic Devices

Numerous images taken out of a religious context e.g. let the hawk perch and let the eagle perch (p.121, l.7f.) the golden rule of the Ibo religion demand for more tolerance and peaceful coexistence Obi was admiring his work(p.119, l.25) allusion to the bible: Obi = God, school=world

Language and Stylistic Devices

Exaggerations e.g. We cannot allow people to make a highway of our school compound.(p.120, l.23f.) Irony / Sarcasm e.g. I dont suppose the ancestors will find the little detour too burdensome (p.121, l.12f.)

Irony
Micheal Obi Foundation for irony
Accomplished secondary school student Pivotal teacher should be successful YET, fails. Over-confident in doing a better job than predecessors making a mistake other "old and superannuated" ones wouldn't have YET, fails.

Irony
Micheal Obi Foundation for irony
What he takes pride in downfall
Insistence in closing path to save report nasty report (p.121, l.22) Modernization Backwardization: "tribal-war situation (p.121, l.23)

Themes
Importance of cultural respect and awareness The headmaster ignorance of the local tribes tradition leads to the utter destroy of his career nasty report from the Supervisor. The gap between African and Western Ideologies African values: Our dead relatives depart by it and our ancestors visit us by it. (p.120, l.27f.) Western values: Dead men do not require footpaths.(p.121, l.2)

Themes
The consequences of modernization The headmasters attempt to rid the village of superstitious beliefs tribal-war situation(p.121, l.22)

Symbols
The Path connection between the village shrine [and] their place of burial (p.120, l.2f.) tradition and religion of the tribe spiritual support

Symbols
Barbed wire the modern societys refusal to accept traditional culture. stamping out of superstitious beliefs difficulty of coexistence between modern and tradition

Symbols
Flowers beautifying the new school system frailty of the roadblock trampled by the long-held animist beliefs

Intentions
Progress the develuation of old and traditional things

Missing of tolerance (!)

Thank you for your attention!