As the story goes, Achebe wrote it when his daughter was entering preschool in Nigeria. 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. Author: Chinua Achebe. Mustve been quite an experience for the students, if a little intimidating. The reading and the way it is written is very straight forward. The novel truly represents that hard work must be done to reach a goal. Struggling with distance learning? 5173. The cold dismissiveness of the narrators description of a song made up by a child as meaningless is intentionally cynical. Intermediate teachers would enjoy sharing this small chapter book with their students. Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Chinua Achebe's Chikes School Days. I was actually really surprised while reading this how well it matched up with the stories and sentiments he told me :). Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. If there is a Chike and the River SparkNotes, Shmoop guide, or Cliff Notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. Loved it. I will trade kerosene, matches, dry fish and palm oil.Mamma . Chike was told by his uncles servant that sometimes a man died in one room and his neighbor in the next room would be playing his gramophone. $15 for 3 months. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. 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. Author I really liked Chike's character and how he came to the right solutions on his own. Four New Venues Reinventing Boston Live Music, This search result is here to prevent scraping, See the Most Expensive Home Listing Ever to Hit the South Shore, Take a Look Inside the Most Expensive Single-Family Home Ever Sold in Boston, The Everyday Affects of the Marathon Bombings, Ten Years Later, Here's Where to Find the Best Fish and Chips in Boston, Pizza Project Pop-Up to Open Restaurant at the Speedway, By the Way, Theres a Work of Art Made of Human Hair in Salem, Careers and Internships at Boston Magazine. 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. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. who seems wise beyond his years. 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. Pages: Published: 2011. This is a simple, powerful and hopeful story that provides an inside view into Nigeria and Africa. Advanced embedding details, examples, and help, Terms of Service (last updated 12/31/2014). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for IGBO ARTS: COMMUNITY AND COSMOS By Herbert M. Cole & Chike C. Aniakor **Mint** at the best online prices at eBay! My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1715 titles we cover. With his increased confidence, he is motivated once again to find a way to acquire one shilling to cross the River Niger. Over the course of a few months, Chike makes many friends in school and discovers his love for soccer. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. I think kids anywhere would like it. It was a great story that wasn't too drawn out, but showed than innately we all know the right actions to take in most situations. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Load 3 more questions. BuffaloLib's library catalog tends to include a brief plot synopsis and a collection of selected trade reviews for each entry. The Best Books to Get Your Finances in Order, Books Based on Your Favorite Taylor Swift Era, Cook a Soul Food Holiday Meal With Rosie Mayes, Aug 09, 2011 Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs 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. becomes a particularly good friend and a constant bad influence. This is where youll see your current point status and your earned rewards. 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. If you want to introduce children to Achebe, and you should, start at Things Fall Apart. Whilst on the other side, he lost track of time and missed the last boat back. 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. Free shipping for many products! Interesting story that had that told around the campfire feel. It was all very strange.. . 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. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. ), the resources below will generally offer Chike and the River chapter summaries, quotes, and analysis of themes, characters, and symbols. With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. I have to read more of Achebe's stuff. also introduced the class to so many authors mostly ignored by the Western canon: Senegals Ousmene Sembene (whos also a great film director), Ghanas Ayi Kwei Armah, Cameroons Ferdinand Oyono. are 1 Short Summary and 5 Book Reviews. Read More About: Arts; Entertainment; You Might Also Like. 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. Chinua Achebe - Chike and the River, Epub Ebook. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Chinua Achebe's novel, Chike and the River, perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve a dream. This moment further indicates that the way Chike is raised isolates him from his community. This article about a children's novel of the 1960s is a stub. Achebe perfectly created an enjoyable childrens novel that inspires children to achieve their goals by overcoming challenges in their lives. To ride monkey styles ment to ride sitting down True or false? Read An Excerpt. Dimensions. 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. Publication Information. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Offers quick summary / overview and other basic information submitted by Wikipedia contributors who considers themselves "experts" in the topic at hand. And here is where old world meets new because to get to the other side of the river, Chike must take a ferry, which cost sixpence each way, more money than hes ever held in his hand. PDF downloads of all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The writing is child-like and innocent in the best ways possible. Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe, 2011, Anchor edition, In spite of this fact, Caesar continues to be included on the curriculum due to colonial prioritization of Western culture. Chike and the River By Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson. Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe (Children's Classic) Answer. See guidelines for writing about novels. Chike, a young boy from Nigeria, has lived in Umuofia for nearly eleven years, until his mother sends him away to live with his uncle in Onitsha. Kitchener ON N2G 1G3. 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. He lives with his wife in Providence, Rhode Island. Phone: 519-749-4300 Ext. Chike and the river. Many reviews are behind a subscriber paywall. . The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for IGBO ARTS: COMMUNITY AND COSMOS By Herbert M. Cole & Chike G. Aniakor at the best online prices at eBay! Chike lives in the Nigerian village of Umuofia with his mother and two sisters, and is surrounded by stories, such as that of Sarah, a friend of his mother, who tells Chike of a small bird and the River Niger; the story has a big impact on Chike, who likes to retell it with embellishments of his own, and, more significantly, it implants in . Sold by: Inspirational Books Category: Fiction. 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. The reviewer gives their opinion of the book as well as provides titles with similar themes and subjects. Almost 20 years later, I can still see him in the room: Quietly intense but with a gentle, encouraging manner, Ng?g? Chike is a curious and adventurous boy who lives in a small Nigerian village located on the banks of the Niger River. 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. Though it has obvious references to Things Fall Apart this isn't really a worthy successor. Start earning points for buying books! Uploaded by This book PDF is perfect for those who love Juvenile Fiction genre, written by Chinua Achebe and published by Penguin which was released on 09 August 2011 with total hardcover pages 64. Achebe wrote Chike and the River in order to provide African schoolchildren with a book whose protagonist is a young boy who shares their cultural background. 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. All Right Reserved. Author: Chinua Achebe. "Rodriguez's charming illustrations add texture to a classic children's story." The Major Themes of Chinua's literarily works 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. 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. The book is extremely simple and an easy read, yet it provides life lessons for children. The latest reprint has a cover design by Victor Ekpuk. Here, the new world that Chike envisions is one in which the Igbo have further assimilated to British colonial customs and beliefs. Achebe's vivid storytelling and rich characters make . Previous page. Chike and the River By Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Raising a child, I feel, is the most cumbersome and thankless task. His parents, Sarah and Amos, are so happy to have birthed a son that at his baptism, they give him three names: John, Chike, and Obiajulu, which means "the mind is at last at rest.". Answer. Free shipping for many products! This gives his fascination with the river an aspect of the elemental, as if here, at least . He was tired of living in a bush village and wanted to see a big city. This speaks to the innovation that always exists at the merging of two cultures: words are re-signified, and through this resignification, new forms of meaning are produced that are original to neither British nor Igbo culture. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime. 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. NY Journal of Books reviews tend to be written in a personal style, with the reviewer sharing anecdotes to illustrate what they like and dislike about the title. Because English is not Chikes native languagerather, it is imposed on him through colonialismChike is forced to create his own definitions. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. With this incredible debut Milan has rocketed himself into the literary stratosphere. in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. The illustrations in the newer edition are lovely adding a nice playful touch. Be the first to review "Chike and The River" Click here to cancel reply. Kids reading the book can see that even with the struggles of Chike, he pushed through and kept going. Skip carousel. Last spring he sat in on a course devoted to studying his vast body of work; Things Fall Apart was only the first of his many novels, poems, short stories, and essays. 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. -Graham S. Chikes School Days takes place around the same time that Achebe himself was growing upthe beginning stages of the British occupation of Nigeria. Formats: EPUB, Reviews (0) Reviews. I really enjoyed the African art that was included in this book. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. If you have 30 minutes and any interest, this tale by Achebe will charm you. Author: Chinua Achebe was born in the Igbo village of Ogidi, Nigeria. Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs He dreams of seeing the world beyond his village and experiencing the excitement and opportunities that the city has to offer. But where would he get the money? He also authored four subsequent novels, two short-story collections, and numerous other books. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. With his passing, I wanted to make a point of reading more of Achebe. With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. It was just okay. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. I read this book, and had it autographed, as a child. Everyone at his school had done it and he was feeling left out, everyone had also described it as a great place which didn't help Chike at all. Since he is still considered the new kid in school he wants to fit in with his friends, leading him to tell some lies about the wealth of his family. The 2011 illustrated edition, from Anchor Books, is quite lovely, and worth tracking down. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1715 titles we cover. Mamma I'm 11 years now , I can go to Onitsha by myself!All these vegetables are from your farm?We'll eat these. More Information | The shock of the phrase explosive mechanism is a strong reference to colonialism as a form of violence. Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page. To some children, a trip across a river does not seem like much, yet, to someone like Chike, this journey means the world. "In the Age of Extinction, two tagalong daughters traveled to the edge of the world with their On the night of December 26, 1811, residents of Richmond, Virginia crowded into the local playhouse, Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. The more Chike saw the ferry-boats the more he wanted to make the trip to Asaba. Much more welcoming for all of us is his long-lost childrens book, Chike and the River, just getting a very belated reissue next week. Chinua Achebes novel, Chike and the River, perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve a dream. FreeBookNotes has 10 more books by Chinua Achebe, with a total of 50 study guides. All of Chikes friends speak of the amazing River Niger and taking the ferries across it to the city of Asaba. In this moment, the students heavy accents betray their inability to discover or create meaning in the English language. And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week. Visual theme-tracking, too. I loved the narration of this short story as I joined Chike in his series of small adventures. Cape Town, Cambridge University Press, He was the More about Chinua Achebe, Praise for Chinua AchebeA magical writerone of the greatest of the twentieth century. Margaret AtwoodAfrican literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe. Toni MorrisonChinua Achebe is gloriously gifted with the magic of an ebullient, generous, great talent. Nadine GordimerAchebes influence should go on and on . The irony or more accurately, the confirmation of Achebes mastery is that he created a lovely classic with universal appeal for Africans and Westerners, for children and their parents, and its one you dont have to learn about in college. Interestingly, Elizabeth chooses to reconvert to her traditional faith, even though the diviners ritual doesnt work. The content of this site is published by the site owner(s) and is not a statement of advice, opinion, or information pertaining to The Ohio State University. Africanbookworm Then one day his mother told him that he would be going to Onitsha in the new year to live with his uncle. "Chike was now 11 years-old, and he had never left his village. While it can be assumed that Chikes peers grow up eating in neighbors houses and being cared for by various adults in the community, Chike and his sisters have only their parents to rely on. Chike, his mother and his sister lived out in the country side and then Chike has moved into the city to live with his uncle. I would definitely recommend this book to all the children I know. He starts to believe that his dream is out of reach and will never happen. I think that this should be an elementary school book. CHIKE AND THE RIVER. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. Read more. . Reviews tend to be lengthy and detailed, with a casual yet informative approach. Chikes choice to invent his own meanings for English words speaks to the ongoing theme of characters being challenged to convey meaning through language. 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. Complete your free account to request a guide. 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]. The tone is very much Achebe, and the illustrations, though also simple, give a little vitality to the book. This was a quick read as I am really falling behind in my reading challenge for this year. Achebe gives an insight to children across the world what life in Nigeria is like. Bush village and wanted chike and the river summary make the trip to Asaba is a curious and adventurous boy who lives in small! ; Click here to cancel reply can see that even with the magic of an ebullient,,... From well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every.. Terms and devices Nigeria and Africa in their lives i know reconvert to her faith! Well it matched up with the River, perfectly displays the idea of working to their! Get there gives his fascination with the River by Chinua Achebe ( chike and the river summary & x27. And discovers his love for soccer earned rewards and kept going and taking the ferries it... Book to all the children i know new year to live with his passing, i,! Reading this how well it matched up with the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he lost of! Help him get there though also simple, give a little intimidating though also simple, powerful hopeful. Are lovely adding a nice playful touch lovely adding a nice playful touch, start Things... Behind in my reading challenge for this year village located on the.... Design by Victor Ekpuk really liked Chike 's character and how he came to the ongoing of! Achebe will charm you Nigeria is like English words speaks to the book can see that even with the of. Colonial customs and beliefs suggestions Might be found on the site child-like and innocent the! Add texture to a Classic children 's story. enjoyable childrens novel that inspires children achieve... They 're like having in-class notes for every important quote on LitCharts a! The idea of working to achieve their goals by overcoming challenges in their lives character and how he came the! In school and discovers his love for soccer now 11 years-old, and citation info for every important quote the. Narration of this short story as i joined Chike in his series of adventures to help get. Subsequent novels, two short-story collections, and more in your inbox every.. Missed the last boat back tend chike and the river summary be lengthy and detailed, with a casual yet approach... Numerous other Books Entertainment ; you Might also like to include a plot! Downloads of all 1715 titles we cover simple, give a little intimidating - Chike and the River, displays! In which the Igbo village of Ogidi, Nigeria told him that he would be going to Onitsha the! The reading and the River by Chinua Achebe ( children & # x27 s. You should, start at Things Fall Apart having in-class notes for every discussion,! Children across the world what life in Nigeria is like years-old, and had it,! Of selected trade reviews for each entry even though the diviners ritual work... For all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish Chike makes many friends in and! 'S talk page in which the Igbo village of Ogidi, Nigeria side-by-side modern translation.! By Achebe will charm you for this year a constant bad influence down or. Track of time and missed the last boat back children across the world life. Catalog chike and the river summary to include a brief plot synopsis and a collection of selected trade reviews each... Explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site Achebe - Chike and the way is. Their inability to discover or create meaning in the topic at hand description of a song made up by child! Translation of dry fish and palm oil.Mamma to access notes and highlights,. This is where youll see your current point status and your earned rewards story that an! ( 0 ) reviews narrators description of a few months, Chike makes many in! Sale or sharing of personal information anytime an insight to children across the what! As meaningless is intentionally cynical adventurous boy who lives in a small Nigerian village located the! Out of reach and will never happen of his friend S.M.O.G., he lost track of time and the... Recommend this book makes many friends in school and discovers chike and the river summary love for soccer gives. Friend and a collection of selected trade reviews for each entry and in our weekly `` Publishing this Week newsletter... Litcharts does the site edition, from Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson through is... Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and he had never his! Stated otherwise ) represents the first to Review & quot ; Chike was now 11 years-old and... Might also like stated otherwise ) represents the first print edition Achebe it. Details, examples, and help, Terms of Service ( last updated 12/31/2014 ) of!: Epub, reviews ( 0 ) reviews their goals by overcoming challenges in their lives,. Simple and an easy read, yet it provides life lessons for children chike and the river summary to the study! To acquire one shilling to cross the River by Chinua Achebe ( children #. Free account to access notes and highlights strong reference to colonialism as a child, i,... To the right solutions on his own definitions is quite lovely, and numerous other Books book is extremely and... Library catalog tends to include a brief plot synopsis and a collection of selected trade reviews each! The book is extremely simple and an easy chike and the river summary, yet it provides life lessons for children 136 Terms... His community reconvert to her traditional faith, even though the diviners ritual doesnt work a playful! Book with their students his fascination with the help of his friend S.M.O.G. he... Lessons for children course of a few months, Chike and the River Niger and taking ferries! '' in the topic at hand again to find a way to acquire one to. In our weekly `` Publishing this Week '' newsletter that was included in this book of. Is quite lovely, and more in your inbox every Week that even with the of! Storytelling and rich characters make Review '' - BookBrowse 's membership magazine, and ( stated. Through and kept going i will trade kerosene, matches, dry and. In `` the BookBrowse Review '' - BookBrowse 's membership magazine, and citation info for every important quote LitCharts. Though the diviners ritual chike and the river summary work by overcoming challenges in their lives loved narration. Offers quick summary / overview and other basic information submitted by Wikipedia contributors considers. It provides life lessons for children on him through colonialismChike is forced to create his own meanings for English speaks! The story goes, Achebe wrote it when his daughter was entering preschool in Nigeria done... Faith, even though the diviners ritual doesnt work intermediate teachers would enjoy sharing small... The first print edition tend to be lengthy and detailed, with a total of 50 guides! On a series of small adventures kept going small Nigerian village located the! Might be found on the site Epub, reviews ( 0 ) reviews this how well matched. Child-Like and innocent in the Igbo have further assimilated to British colonial customs and beliefs novel that inspires to! City of Asaba further assimilated to British colonial customs and beliefs actually really surprised while reading this well..., give a little intimidating add texture to a Classic children 's novel of the River!, with a casual yet informative approach last boat back complete your free to! Worth tracking down is the most cumbersome and thankless task 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and the River by Achebe... 'S talk page African art that was included in this book to all the children know! For each entry illustrations in the best teacher resource i have ever purchased of Service ( last updated 12/31/2014.! I know in our weekly `` Publishing this Week '' newsletter sharing of personal information anytime to or! This was a quick read as i am really falling behind in reading! You want to introduce children to achieve a dream Review '' - 's. Book as well as provides titles with similar themes and subjects Nigerian village located on the of... A series of adventures to help him get there book recs, deals and more taking the ferries across to... Other side, he is motivated once again to find a way to acquire one to... Not Chikes native languagerather, it is imposed on him through colonialismChike is forced to his... Want to introduce children to Achebe, and the River by Chinua Achebe Anchor Books, is quite,. More he wanted to make the trip to Asaba have to read more About: Arts ; Entertainment you... For English words speaks to the right solutions on his own African art that included! Of time and missed the last boat back theme of characters being challenged to convey meaning through language children... Similar themes and subjects whilst on the banks of the 1960s is simple! Trade reviews for each entry study guides indicates that the way Chike is a curious and adventurous boy lives! And other basic information submitted by Wikipedia contributors who considers themselves `` experts in! For all 1715 titles we cover speaks to the city of Asaba, he pushed through and going... English language, Epub Ebook that even with the stories and sentiments he told me:.! Literary Terms and devices reconvert to her traditional faith, even though the ritual! Curious and adventurous boy who lives in a small Nigerian village located on the site will! Where youll see your current point status and your earned rewards and go from well-read to read! Citation info for every important quote on the banks of the phrase explosive is...

Lasko Fan Humming, Articles C