TFA+Journal+-+MJK+4

A.Paragraph of Text-to-Text/Self/World Connection

In the assigned chapters, Ekwefi’s reaction toward her daughter’s ailing reminded of a character from other text. The novel was called, My Sister’s Keeper. It highlights about Mother’s tremendous amount of effort to save her daughter from deadly disease, cancer; she even bear another child as her sick daughter’s donor. Similar to ultimate things that she did for her precious daughter, Ekwefi, Ezinma’s mother as well as Okonkwo’s second wife, has done anything for her daughter (Ezinma) to be safe and pleased. The tangible instance is her continuous action of giving an egg to Ezinma in spite of the fact that it is strictly forbidden in her town. Indeed, her husband scolded due to her illegal deed and even threatened to beat her up for the second time. Thus, she did not halt such wrongdoing,but secretly did it. Another clear example of her extreme affection is shown when Chielo, the oracle of her village, took Ezinma. Worrying her girl, Ekwefi went behind the priestess despite Okonkwo’s obstruction on her following and fear toward the god’s punishment. Such examples depict her overwhelming love toward her daughter, like main character’s mom in the novel. For that reason, I realized the power of mother hood. This meant that mothers are great presence in the world since they could overcome their fear, law, disease for her children and never give up one’s hope on her children.

B.An interpretive or evaluative question stemming from the first paragraph of your journal.

What is the theme of the fable that Ekewfil told to her daughter in chapter 11?
 * I think that the theme of the fable was to always be thankful, especially when times are hard. The tortoise was starving due to the long-lasting famine, and so he was desperate for food and tricked the birds, and he ended up with an uneven shell. If the tortoise had been thankful that he even got to eat some of the food with the birds, he wouldn't have been greedy for more or have had the urge to trick the birds. As a result of his ruthlessness and dishonesty, the tortoise has to live with a bumpy shell.

Do you think that egwugwu’s judgement on Mgbafo and Uzowulu’s trial was fair? Why do you think Ezinma was one who survived among the ogbanje? Was it because of Ekwefi’s earnest caring or simply medicine man’s solution? Do you consider Okonkwo as good father?

C.Respond to someone else's question on his/her journal page. Then write a line on your own page saying, "I responded to _'s question" so I will know where to find your response.

“Since it is unmanly to show any emotion in Things Fall Apart, why do you think Okonkwo showed up at the cave, with his machete, where Chielo, Ezinma, and Ekwefi were and even suggested he'd stay to wait for Ezinma while Ekwefi goes home? (Flores; 4)

Okonkwo gave up being virile for Ezinma and Ekwefi and came to the cave owing to his fondness toward his daughter and second wife. Due to the fact that Okonkwo “was specailly fond of Ezinma (44)”- she was taken by Chielo, the oracle, he could not resist himself of protecting his daughter from any kind of danger; his defensive behavior is depicted with the machete that he brought to the cave. He not only adored his daughter, but also cared very much for his second wife as well. By seeing that she even abandoned his first husband for Okonkowo, he might have felt indebted to her. Indeed, Ekwefi had gone through a lot. She even lost ten children, so he appeared to worry about Ekwefi’s ultimate decision in case of Ekwefi’s death. Beside from his tenderness to family members, he came to the cave because he did not want to resemble any of his father’s presence. His father, the indolent human being, did not do anything for his offsprings. Thus, Okonkwo chose to save her daughter from certain danger.

__I responded to Erika's question!____

Michelle Oh:

__Why do you think Ezinma was one who survived among the ogbanje? Was it because of Ekwefi’s earnest caring or simply medicine man’s solution?__:

I think that Ezinma was the one who survived among the ogbanje not only because of Okonkwo's and Ekwefi's care, but also because it was fate. Speaking of fate, fate is the happenings that are caused by a supernatural power. I believe that fate is planned before a person's life, and I believe that the whole fact that the ogbanje was in every baby Ekwefi gave birth to was a fate that she had to face. Therefore, I think the fact that Ezinma made through the ogbanje was simply fate. If I were to particularly answer the question: __Was it because of Ekwefi’s earnest caring or simply medicine man’s solution?__ I would say that it was because of both Ekwefi's earnest caring and the medicine man's solution. Without any one of them, it would have been hard for Ezinma to survive through it. However, as I said before, I personally belive this was fate. Even though Ekwefi and Okonkwo put the same effort into the child before, Ezinma, they have failed.