Quote + page number Which Analysis of quote
characters
/themes it
links to
“He hardly spoke Igbo, and although Jaja Papa/Jaja/ ● Papa believes English
and I spoke it with Mama at home, he did Kambili/Mama is superior to Igbo
Colonialism
not like us to speak it in public. We had to ● Papa even controls the
Freedom v
sound civilized in public, he told us; we Oppression language his children
had to speak English.” Page 13 Family speak
Control ● Papa wants to put on a
different face in public
● Adichie exploring idea
that even Nigerians felt
their own language and
culture is less civilised.l
“It burned Papa’s love into me” page 8 Family This quote shows that Kambili
Love is living in denial, she
Violence considers love something that
is painful. Her concept of love
involves a harmful
comparison.
“Although I tried to concentrate on Mass, I Oppression The lipstick is a symbol that
kept thinking of Amaka’s lipstick, wondering Coming of age keeps appearing/ a motif that
what it felt like to run colour over your lips.” Freedom represents freedom
(Pg 89) Family
“Papa changed his accent when he Colonisation Papa is a product of theBritish
spoke, sounding British, just as he did Opresion colonisation and he does
when he spoke to Father Benedict” Control everything so that the town
Papa, Kambilli feels as if he is a British man.
“I haven’t seen you laugh or smile Love Father Amadi is such a caring
today, Kambili” Freedom person that he puts his
-Father Amadi Coming of age/ attention on Kambili to make
growing sure she is having fun,
Page 139 Father Amadi something that Father
Benedict would never do
Violence Blown up for telling a story that
‘Ade coker was blown up when he Nigerian when against the state
opened the package’ politics
Pg 206 State’s cold/violence
responses to people who go
against the state
, ”There was so much that she did not Violence, links Kambili suggests that her
mind” pg. 19 to Mama mother doesn’t mind being
beaten up by her husband.
Fear predominates in the
household and Kambili and
Mama have never had the
courage to speak up.
Everyone is so used to the
domestic violence
“Where the air was free for you to breathe Oppression of Air is a basic need and
as you wished” (120) (Kambili’s talking freedom represents the lack of freedom
about Nsukka) Family Kambili has in her house
Violence compared to when she’s at
Abuse Ifeoma’s.
“I’m sure that back home you flush Family Amaka feels ashamed and as
every hour just to keep the water fresh Jealousy a defense mechanism she
but we don’t do that here” Comparison says something before Kambili
between
-Amaka families can.
Page 122
(
“Being defiant can be good sometimes” Freedom vs This lets the reader know that
-Aunty Ifeoma oppression Aunt Ifeoma sometimes
Page 144 Change in associates defiance/ rebellion
( Kambili with good.
Coming of age
”Swift heavy thuds on my parents’ hand Domestic ● Kambili knows that
carved bedroom door. I imagined the Violence Papa is abusing Mama
door had gotten stuck and Papa was but tries to ignore it by
trying to open it. If I imagined it hard thinking about
enough, then it would be true. () p.32 something else.
● This shows the fear
that the kids have
towards Papa at the
beginning of the book
“I knew that when the tea burned my Domestic This shows that Kambili is
abuse living in denial, she’s
tongue, it burned Papa's love into me. ” considering love something
that is painful. Her concept of
Page 8 love involves a harmful
comparison.
“My body does not feel right…I’ll come mama - Even though Mama is having
with you. It’s really not that bad.” control a sick pregnancy and does not
Papa has feel good she has to obey
, Chapter 3, p.29 control over Papa and follow what he
them wants.
Oppression
characters
/themes it
links to
“He hardly spoke Igbo, and although Jaja Papa/Jaja/ ● Papa believes English
and I spoke it with Mama at home, he did Kambili/Mama is superior to Igbo
Colonialism
not like us to speak it in public. We had to ● Papa even controls the
Freedom v
sound civilized in public, he told us; we Oppression language his children
had to speak English.” Page 13 Family speak
Control ● Papa wants to put on a
different face in public
● Adichie exploring idea
that even Nigerians felt
their own language and
culture is less civilised.l
“It burned Papa’s love into me” page 8 Family This quote shows that Kambili
Love is living in denial, she
Violence considers love something that
is painful. Her concept of love
involves a harmful
comparison.
“Although I tried to concentrate on Mass, I Oppression The lipstick is a symbol that
kept thinking of Amaka’s lipstick, wondering Coming of age keeps appearing/ a motif that
what it felt like to run colour over your lips.” Freedom represents freedom
(Pg 89) Family
“Papa changed his accent when he Colonisation Papa is a product of theBritish
spoke, sounding British, just as he did Opresion colonisation and he does
when he spoke to Father Benedict” Control everything so that the town
Papa, Kambilli feels as if he is a British man.
“I haven’t seen you laugh or smile Love Father Amadi is such a caring
today, Kambili” Freedom person that he puts his
-Father Amadi Coming of age/ attention on Kambili to make
growing sure she is having fun,
Page 139 Father Amadi something that Father
Benedict would never do
Violence Blown up for telling a story that
‘Ade coker was blown up when he Nigerian when against the state
opened the package’ politics
Pg 206 State’s cold/violence
responses to people who go
against the state
, ”There was so much that she did not Violence, links Kambili suggests that her
mind” pg. 19 to Mama mother doesn’t mind being
beaten up by her husband.
Fear predominates in the
household and Kambili and
Mama have never had the
courage to speak up.
Everyone is so used to the
domestic violence
“Where the air was free for you to breathe Oppression of Air is a basic need and
as you wished” (120) (Kambili’s talking freedom represents the lack of freedom
about Nsukka) Family Kambili has in her house
Violence compared to when she’s at
Abuse Ifeoma’s.
“I’m sure that back home you flush Family Amaka feels ashamed and as
every hour just to keep the water fresh Jealousy a defense mechanism she
but we don’t do that here” Comparison says something before Kambili
between
-Amaka families can.
Page 122
(
“Being defiant can be good sometimes” Freedom vs This lets the reader know that
-Aunty Ifeoma oppression Aunt Ifeoma sometimes
Page 144 Change in associates defiance/ rebellion
( Kambili with good.
Coming of age
”Swift heavy thuds on my parents’ hand Domestic ● Kambili knows that
carved bedroom door. I imagined the Violence Papa is abusing Mama
door had gotten stuck and Papa was but tries to ignore it by
trying to open it. If I imagined it hard thinking about
enough, then it would be true. () p.32 something else.
● This shows the fear
that the kids have
towards Papa at the
beginning of the book
“I knew that when the tea burned my Domestic This shows that Kambili is
abuse living in denial, she’s
tongue, it burned Papa's love into me. ” considering love something
that is painful. Her concept of
Page 8 love involves a harmful
comparison.
“My body does not feel right…I’ll come mama - Even though Mama is having
with you. It’s really not that bad.” control a sick pregnancy and does not
Papa has feel good she has to obey
, Chapter 3, p.29 control over Papa and follow what he
them wants.
Oppression
