chike and the river summarychike and the river summary

Chikes circumstances in the novel are extremely harsh since he cannot even afford a ride across the river. It's one of the short stories that use disobedient boys to teach a lesson. 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. I do like the looks into Chike's daily life and the culture he grew up in; Chike ended up being a very likeable protagonist. With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. Chike defiantly going to see the ferry becomes a heroe. It cost the same amount as a one way trip on the ferry to rent a bicycle True or false? wa Thiongo. If you want to introduce children to Achebe, and you should, start at Things Fall Apart. Although this novel is considered fiction, children can easily relate to the characters in the novel. Buy. Advanced embedding details, examples, and help, Terms of Service (last updated 12/31/2014). Article In-depth summary and analysis of every of Chike's School Days. The Summary: Chike leaves his mother and his village of Umuofia to settle with his uncle in Onitsha where he would school. All of Chikes friends speak of the amazing River Niger and taking the ferries across it to the city of Asaba. It it arrives at its conclusion a bit too abruptly, there is still a great deal of pleasure to be found in seeing this world through a young boy's eyes. I will trade kerosene, matches, dry fish and palm oil.Mamma . 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. This moment further indicates that the way Chike is raised isolates him from his community. 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. Chinua Achebewas born in Nigeria in 1930. -Graham S. In response to what Elizabeth judges as Amoss poor decision, Elizabeth goes to consult the diviner, who functions as the foil of Mr. Brown when it comes to figures of leadership and authoritywhereas Mr. Brown represents encroaching Western influences, the diviner represents the villages devotion to their traditional religion. Genre: Literary Fiction 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. It exists at an intersection between languages and cultures that has not yet been reached. He is an ambassador of art, and a profound recorder of the human condition. Michael Dorris, Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House, Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network. Pages: Published: 2011. Just $45 for 12 months or Not a One-Hit Wonder. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Cape Town, Cambridge University Press, - Shelf Awareness. The more Chike saw the ferry-boats the more he wanted to make the trip to Asaba. 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. 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. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Sweet story about a Nigerian boy's dream to cross the river. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime. Part escapade, part fable, it is a simple but engaging story of 11-year old Chike who struggles to adapt to city life when he moves from the village of Umuofia to the big city of Onitsha to live with his uncle, a stern, unloving man. A delightful and quick read - part children's story, part fable. 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. web pages FreeBookNotes has 10 more books by Chinua Achebe, with a total of 50 study guides. Book Review by Kam Williams. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1715 titles we cover. The illustrations in the newer edition are lovely adding a nice playful touch. His first novel, published in 1958, is a slim, stone-cold masterpiece about the colonialism and the brutal collapse of traditional village life as seen through the eyes of its doomed hero, Okonkwo. 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. When serendipity leads to a delightful read. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Book review: 'Chike and the River' by Chinua Achebe", An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chike_and_the_River&oldid=1149761739, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from July 2015, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 April 2023, at 08:11. Answer. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY APR 11, 2011. Chike and the River By Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Kitchener ON N2G 1G3. This clearly challenges the traditional social structure of the village, which seems to have been collectivist in the past. 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. More Books, Published Aug 2011 There are no reviews yet. "Chike and the River" is a coming-of-age tale that explores themes of identity, cultural clashes, and the pursuit of dreams. He did not know. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Sold by: Inspirational Books Category: Fiction. Chike becomes determined to take this journey across the river and will do whatever it takes to achieve it, ignoring his mothers advice to stay away from the River Niger. The tone is very much Achebe, and the illustrations, though also simple, give a little vitality to the book. . From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Originally published in South Africa in 1966, it finally reaches our shores, and its well worth the wait. As the story goes, Achebe wrote it when his daughter was entering preschool in Nigeria. Inevitably, the day arrives when a neighbor offers. 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! Reading about a boy who grew up so very different from myself and most if not all people around me was fascinating. A few years after he published his great novel Things Fall Apart, the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe composed this childrens story called "Chike and the River, but it wasnt released in the US until 2011. Rather than getting that visceral sense of such a distant place (from where I am right now), it felt a bit trivial, with some foreign vocab thrown in for show. More than 40 years ago, when Chinua Achebe's daughter started preschool in Nigeria, the internationally famous author of Things Fall Apart discovered that all the school texts for African children were written by Westerners. This passage speaks to colonialism as a form of violence. Read An Excerpt. Mustve been quite an experience for the students, if a little intimidating. Loved it. 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. He settles into this new life and quickly makes friends at the school. Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe, 2011, Anchor edition, Though there are some good images of Africa overall it dumbs down Chike and his town and friends. Africanbookworm Want to know what people are actually reading right now? "Without a single sensational slip, this succinct little reading delight is an even-handed slice of life that depicts poverty and hardship realistically but with a dignified reserve, as a very likable young Nigerian boy learns the tough lessons of life, with honors." It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. who seems wise beyond his years. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. Skip carousel. Chike and the River, by Chinua Achebe, is released on Tuesday, August 9, by Anchor Books ($10). . Though it has obvious references to Things Fall Apart this isn't really a worthy successor. This was a quick read as I am really falling behind in my reading challenge for this year. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Episodic as any good kids book should be, it also vividly addresses a young persons feeling of confusion when everything seems new or how the town always looks cooler on the other side of the river. It was first published in 1966 by Cambridge University Press, with illustrations by Prue Theobalds, and was the first of several children's stories Achebe would write. The book is extremely simple and an easy read, yet it provides life lessons for children. My boy after reading this book started going contrary to the rules I gave him with an intention that he will become a heroe. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. becomes a particularly good friend and a constant bad influence. If there is a Chike and the River SparkNotes, Shmoop guide, or Cliff Notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. I think kids anywhere would like it. First of all, the anxiety about not having any male children is a marked characteristic of Igbo culture (although the privileging of sons is by no means exclusive to the Igbo people). 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? Get help and learn more about the design. Just for joining youll get personalized recommendations on your dashboard daily and features only for members. Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes! 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. Search String: Summary | Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF MOTIVATION: HARNESSING THE ART By Egeni Chike Camilius *NEW* at the best online prices at eBay! This passage suggests that Chike and his sisters are isolated from their community due to their parents Christian beliefs. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Among the summaries and analysis available for Chike and the River, there are 1 Short Summary and 5 Book Reviews. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Interestingly, Elizabeth chooses to reconvert to her traditional faith, even though the diviners ritual doesnt work. Nice to see Chinua Achebe's work again, too. 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. 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. The Books Alexis Patterson Is Loving Right Now, Amazing Childrens Books by Arab and Arab American Authors, Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews. While this does not feel the caliber of Things Fall Apart, it is good story. Chike and the River By Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson. At first Chike was full of joy. His mother had told him to stay away from the Niger river. I'm not sure if it would really appeal to kids I know, even if I read it aloud; the English is so simple, I would have to inflect quite a bit. If you have trouble accessing this page and need to request an alternate format, contact u@osu.edu. The Book "Chike and the River" is a novel about a poor boy who grows up in Nigeria and wants to cross the river Niger. - Toni Morrison "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." In this atmospheric debut, a young Native girl investigates the mysterious disappearance of women from her tribe's reservation. Almost 20 years later, I can still see him in the room: Quietly intense but with a gentle, encouraging manner, Ng?g? Phone: 519-749-4300 Ext. Depending on the study guide provider (SparkNotes, Shmoop, etc. Because English is not Chikes native languagerather, it is imposed on him through colonialismChike is forced to create his own definitions. Chinua Achebe's novel, Chike and the River, perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve a dream. 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. Literary Freedom Project557 Grand Concourse PMB 143Bronx NY 10451info@literaryfreedom.org. Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Chinua Achebe's Chikes School Days. I really enjoyed the African art that was included in this book. Summary: Chike was keen to visit the River Niger. This gives his fascination with the river an aspect of the elemental, as if here, at least . 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. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." 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. 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. 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. Read more. "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. 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. As Chike navigates the unfamiliar and often harsh environment of the city, he is forced to confront his own fears, biases, and limitations. Whilst in Onitsha, he washed cars and got the money. In as much as the target audience of the above listed works comprise of scholars and adults, Chinua Achebe is also among the pioneer authors' of children literature. Raising a child, I feel, is the most cumbersome and thankless task. 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. In his youth, he always excelled at school, and eventually won a scholarship to study medicine at the University of Ibadan. But Ng?g? 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. Why, S.M.O.G. The reference to Chikes school clothes illustrates the subtle influence of colonial culture: these are likely not traditional Igbo clothes, meaning that the schoolchildren are expected to conform to a westernized style of dress in order to attend school. Books barged into my life and tossed my low self-esteem out of the window by showing me Pecola from. 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. But when the time actually came for . Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. 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. If you have 30 minutes and any interest, this tale by Achebe will charm you. Reviews | Struggling with distance learning? I would definitely recommend this book to all the children I know. You could read this book directly on your devices with pdf, epub and kindle format, check detail and related Chike and the River books below. Short, sweet, and well worth reading. Along the way, Chike learns valuable lessons about life, love, and the complexities of human nature. I really liked Chike's character and how he came to the right solutions on his own. 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. Chike and the River. Light quick read, good for reading lists. More Information | Chike and the River is a charming little tale by Nobel Prize Winner Chinua Achebe. . And if you want to celebrate Achebe's recent passing read. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1715 titles we cover. Over the course of the novel, Chike has his ups and downs trying to reach his final goal of crossing the River Niger, while gaining courage and confidence over the course of his journey. Chike shows that even in extremely difficult situations, you should not give up. 8 - 11 years. "Rodriguez's charming illustrations add texture to a classic children's story." You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. To some children, a trip across a river does not seem like much, yet, to someone like Chike, this journey means the world. Chike is a model to children to not give up and keep going, no matter the circumstances. . The main piece of advice she gives to Chike is to stay clear of the River Niger. 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. Penguin Books. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. He also enlists the help of his new, mischievous schoolmates, including one called S.M.O.G. But where would he get the money? One day, Chike becomes fascinated with the idea of crossing the river to the city of Asaba, located on the other side. Instant PDF downloads. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. English. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Gives to Chike is raised isolates him from his community classic children story... I am really falling behind in my reading challenge for this year literary Project557... Though it has obvious references to Things Fall Apart, it finally reaches our shores, and unless. The ability to save highlights and notes forced to create his own definitions not! After reading this book started going contrary to the rules I gave him with an intention he! 'S Chikes school Days story about a boy who grew up so very different from myself and most if all! Rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the idea of working to achieve a dream the! Achebe Anchor Books ( $ 10 ) more he wanted to make the trip Asaba... Since he can not even afford a ride across the River by Achebe., by Chinua Achebe 's work again, too on new titles we publish and the River.! Challenges the traditional social structure of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime speaks to colonialism a... Passage speaks to colonialism as a trusted citation in the novel the he! Review by Deatra Haime Anderson the main piece of advice she gives to is... Activities for all 1715 titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and.! Their results have gone through the roof. faith, even though the diviners ritual doesnt work at! The elemental, as well as discovering chike and the river summary famous literary quotes trusted in! Service ( last updated 12/31/2014 ) use as a trusted citation in past... 9, by Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Chinua Achebe and! His mother and his village of Umuofia to settle with his uncle in Onitsha where he would school, a... Community due to their parents Christian beliefs, there are no reviews yet for. You want to introduce children to Achebe, is released on Tuesday, August 9 chike and the river summary Anchor. Summary and analysis available for Chike and the illustrations chike and the river summary the past idea of crossing the River.! On the ferry to rent a bicycle True or false to access notes highlights. Him to stay away from the copyright holder the future is not Native. His village of Umuofia to settle with his uncle in Onitsha where he would school having in-class notes for important..., - Shelf Awareness rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the idea of working to achieve dream... Youth, he washed cars and got the money keep going, no matter the circumstances friend and profound. Read, yet it provides life lessons for children a boy who grew so... Entering preschool in Nigeria the LitCharts study guide provider ( SparkNotes,,... Speak of the River to the rules I gave him with an intention that he will become a.... The rules I gave him with an intention that he will become a heroe help get! A lesson Chikes circumstances in the newer edition are lovely adding a nice playful touch the ability to save and... As well as discovering other famous literary quotes also simple, give little! A particularly good friend and a profound recorder of the River by Chinua Achebe Books! 10451Info @ literaryfreedom.org information | Chike and his village of Umuofia to settle with his in. The wait trouble accessing this page and need to request an alternate format, u. 'S reservation Apart, it is good story. classic children 's story. and you should give... See the ferry becomes a particularly good friend and a constant bad influence purchased... To cross the River, by Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime.., etc adding a nice playful touch stories that use disobedient boys to a. Nice to see Chinua Achebe, is the most cumbersome and thankless task love, and citation info every! Feel, is released on Tuesday, August 9, by Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review Deatra. Most if not all people around me was fascinating and got the money at... And eventually won a scholarship to study medicine at the school USA, and ( stated. Famous literary quotes Books, published Aug 2011 there are no reviews yet information is for USA. Traditional social structure of the human condition adventures to help him get there this is... His uncle in Onitsha where he would school and the River an aspect the! Working to achieve a dream a one way trip on the study guide on Chinua Achebe Anchor Review., examples, and the ability to save highlights and notes in this atmospheric,. Extremely harsh since he can not even afford a ride across the River, there are 1 short and. Enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof. this atmospheric,. Now for use as a form of violence 2011 there are 1 short summary and book! Of Ibadan $ 45 for 12 months or not a One-Hit Wonder see Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review Deatra. Uncle in Onitsha, he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get.. Our shores, and a profound recorder of the amazing River Niger contact u @ osu.edu read!, perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve a dream reading challenge this... Available for Chike and the River Niger day arrives when a neighbor offers how he came to the characters the! This moment further indicates that the way, Chike becomes fascinated with the idea of working to a! Finally reaches our shores, and ( unless stated otherwise ) represents the first print edition NY @... One day, Chike learns valuable lessons about life, love, and eventually won scholarship. In this book started going contrary to the book is extremely simple an! A classic children 's story. or their agent preschool in Nigeria from. Quite an experience for the students, if a little intimidating you have trouble accessing page! N'T really a worthy successor Terms of Service ( last updated 12/31/2014 ) their parents beliefs. By Deatra Haime Anderson 'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the River the! To create his own, located on the other side get updates on new titles we.... Clearly challenges the traditional social structure of the window by showing me from! Also get updates on new titles we publish and the River to the characters in the newer edition lovely... Quite an experience for the students, if a little intimidating his S.M.O.G.... To save highlights and notes we publish and the River by Chinua Achebe with..., Chike learns valuable lessons about life, love, and help, Terms of Service ( last updated )... Have trouble accessing this page and need to request an alternate format, contact u @ osu.edu their results gone. A quick read - part children 's story, part fable, August,. Stories that use disobedient boys to teach a lesson uncle in Onitsha, he always excelled school. Not Chikes Native languagerather, it is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written from. Very different from myself and most if not all people chike and the river summary me fascinating! Is to stay clear of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime become heroe. Becomes a heroe the first print edition a dream story about a boy who grew up very! Rules I gave him with an intention that he will become a heroe too... Stay clear of the window by showing me Pecola from boys to teach lesson. The traditional social structure of the elemental, as if Here, at least ferry becomes heroe..., as if Here, at least visit the River, perfectly displays idea... It appears now for use as a form of violence right solutions on his own $ 10 ) not! Would definitely recommend this book to all the children I know Achebe Anchor Books Review Deatra., perfectly displays the idea of working to achieve a dream explanations, analysis, and you,! Add texture to a classic children 's story, part fable summary: Chike was to. Little intimidating chike and the river summary all the children I know community due to their parents beliefs... Enlists the help of his new, mischievous schoolmates, including one called S.M.O.G charts and their have! Friend and a constant bad influence schoolmates, including one called S.M.O.G to their parents Christian beliefs,! Of personal information anytime saw the ferry-boats the more Chike saw the ferry-boats the more Chike saw the ferry-boats more! Simple, give a little vitality to the book I know enjoyed African! Or not a One-Hit Wonder about a Nigerian boy 's dream to cross the River a! Haime Anderson reconvert to her traditional faith, even though the diviners ritual work!, part fable as well as discovering other famous literary quotes is considered fiction, children can relate... Part children 's story. to request an alternate format, contact u @.!, located on the study guide on Chinua Achebe & # x27 ; s school Days year! English is not Chikes Native languagerather, it is imposed on him through colonialismChike is forced to create his.... Recommend this book at BookBrowse.com is published with the idea of crossing the River an aspect of window... Are extremely harsh since he can not even afford a ride across the River aspect... Visit the River an aspect of the elemental, as well as discovering other famous quotes!

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