Formal elements of TFA

Formal elements of texts, such as genre and structure can not only influence meaning of the text, but can also be influenced by context. For example, the genre of “Things Fall Apart,” by Chinua Achebe is a complication of both historian and realistic fiction. This could be greatly influenced by Achebe’s experience of finding a dominant western perspective on African culture. Historical genre involves the novel being set in the past and paying attention to the social conditions of that period, while realistic fiction consists of stories that could have actually occurred to people in a believable setting. 

As such, Achebe chooses to discuss the historical impact that colonisation has had on his society and additionally, includes incorporates a plausible scenario of events that are a direct result of hegemony. Additionally, Achebe’s choice of utilised a third person omniscient point of view enables no singular perspective on the issue to appear, as both sides of colonisation have been depicted. This reflects Achebe’s distinct African voice, in which he challenges and counteracts  the traditional conventions of western writing. Furthermore, he utilises a circumlocutory narrative first section of the novel have a counterpart in the Igbos' highly prized rhetorical techniques. This is reflected by periphrasis employed by Okoye, a clan elder, who, “was a great talker and he spoke for a long time, skirting round the subject and then hitting it finally'. This is influenced by the cultural context of storytelling in Ibgo culture, which often involves a circular way of talking.