Our work today focused on using three lenses as a vehicle for close reading of the novel: Detail / Structure / Philosophy.
We read the passage from the bottom of page 5 to the end of page 7, then focused on the phrase "He who brings kola brings life." This was the detail we examined - what does that phrase mean - what are the specific terms - what is happening in this moment.
Next we looked at the structure of this sequence - why do the events in this passage happen in this sequence? Why does the kola nut ceremony happen in this order? Why does Okoye wait until later to ask for the money Unoka owes him?
Lastly we looked at philosophy - an idea implied / suggested by the passage, but not specifically named. I asked you to consider "respect" here. Your answers named respect in terms of the relationship between these two men, a respect for the gods and ancestors, and an earned respect that comes from taking on the Idemili title.
You then worked in groups to examine chapters 2-4 to name your own sequence of detail / structure / philosophy to share with the class.
