Discuss corruption in Nigeria. What imperfections does Chinua Achebe illustrate about his home nation in the stories of this collection? How do individuals subvert the ideal standards of democracy? What is Achebe's attitude toward this corruption?

How are women treated in the world of Chinua Achebe's stories? Discuss what restrictions are put upon them and what recourse they have, particularly in times of war. Who are the most resilient female characters of the collection and what actions make them so?

Discuss old and new beliefs in the collection. Which characters from the stories consider themselves modern and secular? What old beliefs do these educated men and women reject? What happens to these characters over the course of the story?

Many characters in the collection's stories face incredible hardships or misfortunes and do not complain. Discuss the notion that good and bad fortune is created...