Story of the Tortoise

Briefly summarize the story of the tortoise. What is the purpose of this folktale about the Tortoise? Why do you think it is inserted at this specific point?

Story Line-

• Tortoise wants food
• Tricks Birds for feathers
• Lies/Tricks Birds "All of You"
• Birds trick in Return
• Cracked shell

• Hungry greedy turtle - wants exclusive access
• Lies about personality 
• Tricks birds
• Birds get angry & punishes him

This could be a foreshadow that Okonkwo is like the tortoise in this story and he will fall from fame and "crack his shell".

Men elders in Umuofia is powerful leader/and/respectable. Women in Umuofia not powerful leader. Women scrubbed and painted. Man fights man, and man beats wives.