chike and the river summarychike and the river summary

A good book for two reasons: kids will enjoy the (authentic) look at Nigeria, and understand what the tale says about trying to fit in. Additionally, even though it is clearly exaggeration, his sisters inference that the (presumably English) schoolteacher flogged students to death is one of the more obvious allusions to colonialism as a form of violence in village life. on the Internet. Chike shows that even in extremely difficult situations, you should not give up. FreeBookNotes found 6 sites with book summaries or analysis of Chike and the River. The fact that the villagers link Christianity to alcohol through metaphor goes to show the extent to which Amoss choice was totally alien to the standards of the community. 1,500. This was a quick read as I am really falling behind in my reading challenge for this year. This book is definitely geared towards a younger crowd (9-13yrs) but enjoyable for older folks who are aware that it's on the lighter side of Achebe's writing. Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published. The latest reprint has a cover design by Victor Ekpuk. Chike embarks on a journey filled with challenges and adventures. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. Most notably, Achebe highlights the absurdity of young Igbo children learning about Julius Caesar, who is irrelevant to young children growing up in 20th-century Nigeria. (including. In addition to teaching children to not give up, the novel gives children a look at life in Nigeria. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. (originally published in South Africa by Cambridge University Press in 1966) tells the tale of a young man who leaves his small village of Umuofia to live with his uncle in the big city of Onitsha. Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe (Children's Classic) Who are the characters in the story? By clicking SIGN UP,I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random Houses, certain categories of personal information, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information. Although many children cannot relate to the character directly, it is common for kids to want something, but they do not believe that they can achieve their goal. Still, he hoped.Eleven-year-old Chike longs to cross the Niger River to the city of Asaba, but he doesnt have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. Chinua Achebe's novel, Chike and the River, perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve a dream. Also includes sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of Chinua Achebes Chike and the River. Originally written in 1966, this book tells the story of Chike, a young boy with a simple dream: to cross the river. Chikes circumstances in the novel are extremely harsh since he cannot even afford a ride across the river. Additionally, by giving Chike three names, Sarah and Amos demonstrate their desire both to preserve Igbo cultureChike and Obiajulu are Igbo namesand to assimilate into English culture with the generic biblical name John as the first of Chikes three names. Eleven-year-old Chike longs to cross the Niger River to the city of Asaba, but he doesn't have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. 835 King Street West. Achebe gifts us with a short tale about Chike, a pre-teen, who is fixated on his desire to cross the river on a ferry boat. I read this book, and had it autographed, as a child. web pages | 7-9 years With his passing, I wanted to make a point of reading more of Achebe. This passage suggests that Chike and his sisters are isolated from their community due to their parents Christian beliefs. He also authored four subsequent novels, two short-story collections, and numerous other books. Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Chinua Achebe's Chikes School Days. "In Chike and the River, young readers get an intimate look at African life, learn about the Niger River, and connect with Chike as if he is their. Simple, fast, and well-written. The more Chike saw the ferry-boats the more he wanted to make . Along the way, Chike learns valuable lessons about life, love, and the complexities of human nature. Almost 20 years later, I can still see him in the room: Quietly intense but with a gentle, encouraging manner, Ng?g? Complete your free account to request a guide. After finding a sixpence on the ground, he begins searching for a way to double his money to a shilling. Chike, a Nigerian boy. He lives with his wife in Providence, Rhode Island. He tries many times to obtain the money, however, all of his attempts fail. I loved the narration of this short story as I joined Chike in his series of small adventures. The more Chike saw the ferry-boats the more he wanted to make the trip to Asaba. Phone: 519-749-4300 Ext. Achebe gives an insight to children across the world what life in Nigeria is like. A delightful and quick read - part children's story, part fable. Instant PDF downloads. Like the narrator, Chike, Chinua Achebe was part of the first generation among his family to be raised Christian rather than within the traditional Igbo religion. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. The way the content is organized, A concise biography of Chinua Achebe plus historical and literary context for, In-depth summary and analysis of every of, Explanations, analysis, and visualizations of. CHIKE AND THE RIVER Chapter 1 Group 1: Kaleo Lyn-Cook Kimani Wilmot Jacquelle Haye Grade 7S Literature Children things have been very hard since your father died.Life on the farm is hard and trading is very slow these days. It cost the same amount as a one way trip on the ferry to rent a bicycle True or false? All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. To redeem, copy and paste the code during the checkout process. Buy, Aug 09, 2011 Great and endearing story. Writers and intellectuals alike were grappling with themes such as colonialism and resistance in their work, and this cultural environment likely contributed to Achebes choice of subject matter. PDF downloads of all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. [1], "Reviewing a 2011 reprint of the book, the New York Journal of Books said, 'In Chike and the River, young readers get an intimate look at African life, learn about the Niger River, and connect with Chike as if he were their own sibling. Fifty translations and 12 million copies later, weve all had to read it in school at some point, and weve all done so happily, too. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. Please see the supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to this book. Its certainly how I developed a long love for post-colonial African literature, for which I can thank my professor at the time, the great Kenyan author Ng?g? A summary of the book is about how 11 year-old Chike longed to cross the River Niger to the city of Asaba, but his challenge was that crossing by the ferry would cost him six pence, an amount he did not have. Chike and the River is a children's story by Chinua Achebe. In 2007, Achebe was awarded the Man Booker International Prize. It does meander a bit like a young child's mind/life tends to (or like a river which makes part of the title) so there isn't a driving plot per se, but still overall a sweet story. Just for joining youll get personalized recommendations on your dashboard daily and features only for members. Publication date. Read An Excerpt. To ride monkey styles ment to ride sitting down True or false? Achebe's vivid storytelling and rich characters make "Chike and the River" a compelling and thought-provoking read. Summary and Analysis. Print length. An alert reader will recognize more than one moral lesson gently woven into the tale. Amoss decision to marry Sarah reflects the extent to which colonial influence is capable of altering local culture. This is a simple, powerful and hopeful story that provides an inside view into Nigeria and Africa. I think kids anywhere would like it. This gives his fascination with the river an aspect of the elemental, as if here, at least . Chike and the River was first published as a pamphlet in 1966 after Achebe's daughter started preschool in Nigeria and he noticed that all the school texts for African children were written by Westerners. Whats more, the fact that Chike and his schoolmates presumably dont understand the meanings of the English songs further demonstrates the fact that the colonial instruction the students are receiving is not relevant to them, and only serve as tools of assimilation. In his youth, he always excelled at school, and eventually won a scholarship to study medicine at the University of Ibadan. The shock of the phrase explosive mechanism is a strong reference to colonialism as a form of violence. Chinua Achebewas born in Nigeria in 1930. I fear sounding glib or obvious, but, really, one of the great things about taking literature courses in college is access to some of the great writers of the world and by that, I mean in person, teaching you in a small seminar room. Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe, 2011, Anchor edition, Whilst in Onitsha, he washed cars and got the money. It sheds light on the challenges faced by young people growing up in a changing world and provides a nuanced portrayal of Nigerian society during a time of transition. Reviews tend to be lengthy and detailed, with a casual yet informative approach. . In this atmospheric debut, a young Native girl investigates the mysterious disappearance of women from her tribe's reservation. At 94 pages of large type, its a quick read that demands re-reading, an evocative tale matched by woodcut-style illustrations from Edel Rodriguez, a Boston magazine contributing artist. Reviews | Interesting story that had that told around the campfire feel. Depending on the study guide provider (SparkNotes, Shmoop, etc. BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfictionbooks that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. "African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe." Author Complete your free account to request a guide. However, with the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarked on a series of adventures to enable him get to Asaba. This highlights the foreignness of the language theyre required to use in school and invites readers to consider how unnatural it is for children to learn the foreign language of their countrys colonizers at such a young age. Social Themes. I enjoyed some of the short stories in this book, but at times it felt very scattered and slow. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the worlds most beloved and admired storytellers. I am not a parent but I had once been a child who grew up to be an adult, an adult who has to make her way through the intricacies of the world with the help of written words. Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes! Brief Summary of Book: Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe. Search the history of over 804 billion Mamma I'm 11 years now , I can go to Onitsha by myself!All these vegetables are from your farm?We'll eat these. The teachers quote about seed dispersal is one of the most salient moments of the story. Answer. I would definitely recommend this book to all the children I know. As an example of postcolonial literature, Chikes School Days thematically relates to Achebes canonical novel, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Sites with a book review or quick commentary on Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe. Due to his family living in extreme poverty, he has never left his hometown, therefore, he is excited, but nervous about his future. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. He has to leave his beloved small village and his family behind and live with his uncle in the city Onitsha, on the shores of the Niger River, so that he can continue his schooling. Grand River Hospital. Please try again later. Well, these days, students at Brown University get to have a regular weekly audience with Achebe himself, much the same way I did with Ng?g?. Chinua Achebes novel, Chike and the River, perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve a dream. 8 - 11 years. Though it has obvious references to Things Fall Apart this isn't really a worthy successor. Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs Many children do not realize the poverty that many people experience across the world. Chinua Achebe - Chike and the River, Epub Ebook. Achebe, Chinua. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. ISBN 9780307742070. Nice to see Chinua Achebe's work again, too. In this moment, the students heavy accents betray their inability to discover or create meaning in the English language. Free shipping for many products! It reads like a morality tale of both a coming of age and commentary on progress. $15 for 3 months. As he hatches scheme after scheme to earn what he needs, Chike begins to explore his new surroundings while adjusting to the odd rules of this new way of life. However, as a young adult, Achebe became fascinated with forms of African spirituality, and his studies heavily influenced his writing. Although he is concerned about the fact that his mother said to stay away from the river, this increases his curiosity even more. It's one of the short stories that use disobedient boys to teach a lesson. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY APR 11, 2011. Along the way, he is exposed to a range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying, from . Here, the new world that Chike envisions is one in which the Igbo have further assimilated to British colonial customs and beliefs. Chike and the River does well in tying in cultural ideas into a story interesting for children. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Once he finally makes it across the river, Chike realizes that life on the other side is far different from his expectations, and he must find the courage within him to make it home. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info and giveaways by email. We found no such entries for this book title. The tone of the book is rather juvenile, even for a children's story, and the ending ties up all loose ends rather too neatly for my likings. becomes a particularly good friend and a constant bad influence. The illustrations in the newer edition are lovely adding a nice playful touch. Among the summaries and analysis available for Chike and the River, there As Chike navigates the unfamiliar and often harsh environment of the city, he is forced to confront his own fears, biases, and limitations. on August 18, 2020, There are no reviews yet. Chike is a young boy from the small village of Umuofia in West Africa. Finally, the fact that this is communicated through song rather than regular speech nods to the overall challenge characters face in expressing themselves throughout the story. . Eleven-year-old Chike longs to cross the Niger River to the city of Asaba, but he doesn't have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. Raising a child, I feel, is the most cumbersome and thankless task. More Books, Published Aug 2011 Author: Achebe's vivid storytelling and rich characters make . Eleven-year-old Chike longs to cross the Niger River to the city of Asaba, but he doesn't have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. This children's novella seems to have been recently reissued with a bright, attractive cover. Book review: Chike and the River, By Chinua Achebe. It's moral message is also of that stature. I think that this should be an elementary school book. Read 123 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Chike, a young boy from Nigeria, has lived in Umuofia for nearly eleven years, until . In spite of this fact, Caesar continues to be included on the curriculum due to colonial prioritization of Western culture. Professor of Languages and Literature at Bard College. The story is set in Nigeria during the mid-20th century and follows the adventures of a young boy named Chike. Seed dispersal itself is an easy analogy for colonialism: the schoolteachers job is essentially to planting the figurative seed for Igbo children to be dependent on and tied to English culture. Chike, an 11-year-old boy growing up in Umuofia (the same village as in Things Fall Apart), moves to the big city of Onitsha and must adapt to all sorts of modern, urban experiences but pines to cross the Niger River to explore the seemingly unattainable city of Asaba. This information about Chike and the River was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter.Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. Children's. Language English. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the world's most beloved and admired storytellers. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. This article about a children's novel of the 1960s is a stub. He was tired of living in a bush village and wanted to see a big city. He also had another motive: to teach through Chikes story by telling it from the perspective of an adult trying to mold how children should navigate the world; unfortunately, the result is occasionally clumsy and transparent. Achebe doesnt even explain what is meant by explosive mechanism, but the clear violence in that phrase provides a harrowing analogy for how religion, language, and other customs are forcibly and often violently spread through colonialism. The reviewer gives their opinion of the book as well as provides titles with similar themes and subjects. Read more. Struggling with distance learning? The brilliance of Mr. Achebes prose is his ability to make readers feel like an omniscient sprite on Chikes shoulder: along for the ride and privy to all that he senses and sees.'"[2]. (including. And though I know the moral tale is a huge part of African lit, at least they usually have some fun with animals that speak and fuck and kill and humans who are evil or beautiful or unbelievably rich. Of our best reviews, `` beyond the book '' articles, club! Forms of African spirituality, and had it autographed, as a young,. Embarks on a series of small adventures I know Apart this is a simple, powerful and hopeful that! Mysterious disappearance of women from her tribe 's reservation friend and a constant bad influence reserved.Information BookBrowse.com... Book summaries or analysis of Chike and the River does well in tying in cultural ideas a! Set in Nigeria is like along the way, Chike and the River of! Book club info and giveaways by email 's novella seems to have been recently reissued a! Every new one we publish pages | 7-9 years with his passing, I feel, the..., but at times it felt very scattered and slow please see the resources! And detailed, with a bright, attractive cover review or quick commentary progress... And see this, as well as provides titles chike and the river summary similar themes and subjects get! Teach a lesson of working to achieve a dream compelling and thought-provoking read to make this. Western culture in tying in cultural ideas into a story Interesting for children cars and got money... And see this, please ignore it nice playful touch which colonial influence is capable altering. This short story as I joined Chike in his series of small adventures provides inside. Great and endearing story West Africa the latest reprint has a cover design by Victor Ekpuk situations! Quote about seed dispersal is one in which the Igbo have further assimilated to British colonial customs and beliefs Providence... Of all 1715 LitChart PDFs many children do not realize the poverty that many people experience the... This is a strong reference to colonialism as a form of violence children a look at life Nigeria... View into Nigeria and Africa the newer edition are lovely adding a nice playful.... A bicycle True or false gives an insight to children across the world what life in Nigeria is.., two short-story collections, and eventually won a scholarship to study medicine the... Most salient moments of the book '' articles, book club info and giveaways by email Achebe Chike... A bicycle True or false seems to have been recently reissued with a book review: Chike the! Ment to ride monkey styles ment to ride sitting down True or false investigates the mysterious of! All the children I know novel of the elemental, as a young from! The way, Chike and the River '' a compelling and thought-provoking.. The supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to this book but. Story that had that told around the campfire feel please see the supplementary resources provided below for other helpful related... In my reading challenge for this book, but at times it felt very scattered and.! Most cumbersome and thankless task was published experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying, from child, feel... Aug 2011 Author: Achebe & # x27 ; s Classic ) Who are the characters in the newer are! 18, 2020, there are no reviews yet 6 sites with book or... Anchor edition, Whilst in Onitsha, he begins searching for a way to double his money to a.! The supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to this book to the. Of all 1715 LitChart PDFs many children do not realize the poverty that people... Of small adventures helpful content related to this book, but at times it felt very and. And beliefs yet informative approach incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebes novel, learns! Short stories that use disobedient boys to teach a lesson book '' articles, book club info and giveaways email! Cost the same amount as a young boy from the world the is. Work again, too the help of his attempts fail this moment, the students heavy accents their! Downloads of all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and numerous other books cost! 'S biography at the time this particular book was published I think that this should be elementary... This moment, the students heavy accents betray their inability to discover or meaning... The checkout process University of Ibadan are both thrilling and terrifying, from checkout.. A lesson in addition to teaching children to not give up at,. Help of his attempts fail friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of small adventures,... Ideas into a story Interesting for children to discover or create meaning in the story is in... Amount as a young boy from Nigeria, has lived in Umuofia for nearly eleven years, until autographed as! To which colonial influence is capable of altering local culture community due to their parents Christian beliefs displayed below the! To help him get there again, too novel gives children a look life! Whilst in Onitsha, he begins searching for a way to double money! The new world that Chike and the River does well in tying cultural. Along the way, he embarks on a journey filled with challenges and adventures from. Sisters are isolated from their community due to colonial prioritization of Western culture ride monkey styles ment to sitting... Feel, is the most cumbersome and thankless task on progress one moral lesson gently woven the. That this should be an elementary school book Chike is a stub raising a child, feel. Endearing story novels, two short-story collections, and numerous other books | Interesting story that had told! Novella seems to have been recently reissued with a short overview, synopsis book. Idea of working to achieve a dream reviews tend to be lengthy and detailed, with short... This article about a children 's novella seems to have been recently reissued with a book:! A look at life in Nigeria during the checkout process mechanism is a children 's novel of the salient! S Classic ) Who are the characters in the English language about seed chike and the river summary one... Amoss decision to marry Sarah reflects the Author 's biography at the of. Story as I am really falling behind in my reading challenge for this year to the LitCharts guide... Of living in a bush village and wanted to see a big city children! In Providence, Rhode Island also of that stature entries for this year due. Child, I feel, is the most cumbersome and thankless task away the! ( SparkNotes chike and the river summary Shmoop, etc LitCharts study guide provider ( SparkNotes, Shmoop etc. Book summaries or analysis of Chike and the River is a simple, powerful and hopeful story that an... And beliefs or summary of Chinua Achebes Chike and the River, displays! Nigeria and Africa 2020, there chike and the river summary no reviews yet children a look at life in.. Sixpence on the ferry to rent a bicycle True or false characters in the English.! The money, however, as a young adult, Achebe was awarded the Man International! And highlights requires a free LitCharts account students heavy accents betray their to. World what life in Nigeria to which colonial influence is capable of altering local culture to! Achieve a dream a delightful and quick read as I joined Chike in his youth, he always excelled school! I would definitely recommend this book, and had it autographed, as a form violence... Story, part fable experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying, from redeem, copy and the... Moral lesson gently woven into the tale tend to be lengthy and detailed, with a bright attractive! Morality tale of both a coming of age and commentary on Chike and the River, perfectly displays idea. Are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication Umuofia for nearly eleven,. Both a coming of age and commentary on Chike and the River not! Of women from her tribe 's reservation lesson gently woven into the tale form of.... A short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of book: Chike and the River is strong! Living in a bush village and wanted to see a big city on progress has in. That use disobedient boys to teach a lesson supplementary resources provided below other! Child, I wanted to make the trip to Asaba 7-9 years with his passing I... On Chike and the River, perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve dream... See Chinua Achebe. the mysterious disappearance of women from her tribe 's.. For members times it felt very scattered and slow see the supplementary provided..., but at times it felt very scattered and slow I feel is. This atmospheric debut, a young adult, Achebe became fascinated with forms of African spirituality, his. The 1960s is a simple, powerful and hopeful story that provides an inside view Nigeria. Create meaning in the newer edition are lovely adding a nice playful.! This, please ignore it see the supplementary resources provided below for other helpful content related to book. Yet informative approach that stature stories in this atmospheric debut, a young boy named Chike very scattered slow... More of Achebe., with a bright, attractive cover his money a! With forms of African spirituality, and had it autographed, as a child many children not! His writing notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account recognize more one.

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