Hi Everyone!! This article will share The Shell Falls Apart Questions & Answers.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions & answers of The Refugee, Tempest and Refugee Blues so, you can check these posts as well.
The Shell Falls Apart Questions & Answers
Question 1: In the beginning of the story, how does the writer describe the night?
Answer: The narrator describes that the night was impenetrably dark and as black as charcoal.
Question 2: Who is Okonkwo? What was his family doing in the darkness of the night? Do you think the setting is perfect for story telling?
Answer: Okonkwo was Igbo leader and wrestling champion. In the darkness of the night, his family was sitting on a mat on the floor after their supper of yam foo-foo and bitter-leaf soup. Yes, I think the setting is perfect for story-telling.
Question 3: Read and answer the questions:
‘Nothing that happened in the world of the animals ever escaped his notice; he was full of cunning.’
(a) Who was he? Why is he described as ‘full of cunning’?
Answer: He was tortoise. He is described as ‘full of cunning’ because he always begins his mischief.
(b) What did he notice in the world of animals?
Answer: He noticed that nothing that happened in the world of animals ever escaped his notice.
Question 4: Why did the tortoise plan to go to the sky?
Answer: The tortoise planned to go to the sky to attend the great feast.
Question 5: Initially the birds did not want to take tortoise with them to the feast. What was the reason? What made them change their mind?
Answer: Initially, the birds did not want to take tortoise with them to the feast because tortoise was cunning. Birds changed their mind because tortoise told them that now he is a changed man and all birds agreed.
Question 6: Read and answer the questions:
‘Our hosts in the sky will expect us to honour this old-age custom.’
(a) What was the custom?
Answer: The custom was that all the people will take new names for the occasion like great feast.
(b) Why did tortoise talk about the custom?
Answer: Tortoise talked about the custom because he wanted to take his new name as ‘All of You’ so that he could eat the best part of the food first.
Question 7: Why did the hosts consider tortoise to be the king?
Answer: The hosts considered tortoise to be the king as he looked somewhat different from the others with his many-coloured plumage.
Question 8: What kind of food was served to the birds and tortoise? How did tortoise react when one of the men invited the birds to eat?
Answer: Kola nuts, soup full of meat and fish, pounded yam, yam pottage, palm wine were served to the birds and tortoise. When one of the men invited the birds to eat, tortoise said that he will eat first and all the birds will eat later.
Question 9: How did tortoise cheat the birds?
Answer: Tortoise ate the best part of the food first and then drank two pots of palm wine. The birds chose to fly home with an empty stomach.
Question 10: What happened to tortoise’s shell in the end?
Answer: In the end, tortoise’s shell broke into pieces.
Question 11: Read and answer the questions:
‘In the end, parrot who had felt angrier than the other, suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message.’
(a) What did the birds do in anger?
Answer: In anger, the birds took back the feathers lent to the tortoise.
(b) Why do you think the parrot changed his mind?
Answer: I think, the parrot changed his mind because he wanted to teach tortoise a lesson.
(c) What message did parrot give to tortoise’s wife?
Answer: Parrot told tortoise’s wife to bring out all the hard things in the house.
So, these were The Shell Falls Apart Questions & Answers.