TFA+Reflections+Joon

After each literature circle discussion, please complete the following reflection in complete sentences on your page. (Clearly label each discussion reflection.) **What were the two most interesting ideas or insights that were discussed in your group meeting today?** Describe the ideas and insights in as much detail as you can, noting the ideas and connections various members came up with as well as any follow-up questions that were asked. (This reflection needs to be a paragraph in length.)

Discussion 1 One very interesting idea that came upon the group was that the terms of the book are very misleading and come really from different cultures. Such as chi, a proverb that states "If a man says yes then his chi says yes also". It really showed the difference of societies. We first thought that chi was energy but we found out later that chi is actually your personal god which is very different for the society we came from. Also we discussed Okonkwo's cold heart and how he refuses to show compassion. He believes showing compassion is unmanly and you are weak if you show your compassion, for Okonkwo, manliness is showing no emotion but anger. Also, we discussed why Okonkwo did not show his real emotions because it is very different where we come from, being a man is to show your emotions bravely and support others around you.

Discussion 2 This discussion was very productive and very intriguing. We talked about many interesting points in which really helped me understand the book and it's proverbs, folk stories, etc. We made many connections in of ideas and we brought up quite few off topic things to relate and prove our points such as other types of literature we read before. Okonkwo especially, we figured out who he was and he's not actually a manly man because inside, he has feelings of sorrow, confusion, and things that do not have to do with being manly. The proverbs such as if one finger has oil, it will give other fingers oil which helped me understand and argue my point better.

Discussion 3 This discussion was very fruitful because we talked about proverbs a lot and more about the idea of Okonkwo changing more besides understanding him, we thought about his changes a lot more. Also, since we could talk about the church and the colonizers more we had a very interesting conversation on the opposing sides of the church and Igbo society. The contrast also helped us see similarities better and understand the true motives of both sides. What also was interesting was that we talked about more in depth on the white society.

Discussion 4

I think this was the most pondering subject in the whole book: why did Okonkwo kill himself? Also, we had many subjects that were interesting as well such as more cultural differences and the reactions of both sides of this conflict. Back and forth they attack each other. Everyone did quite well in the discussion and everyone participated which was great cause this chapter was full of things to talk about and we spent a lot of time just trying to figure out what had happened mentally between the two factions: Igbo society, and the white people. This section was a lot more like the first section: mainly about feelings and especially Okonkwo's feelings.