Our Mission

Today in class we discussed The Mission and Things Fall Apart, first in small groups, then as a large class. If you were absent, please respond to these questions on a notebook page entitled, "Mission/TFA":

The Mission
1. What is the historical setting of this film? From whose point of view is the film made?
2. What is the role of the Spaniards in this film? the Portuguese? the Church? the Jesuits? the Guaraní? How does this film portray each of these groups of people? Who are the heroes, the villains, the victims? With which group do you sympathize? How accurate do you think the film's portrayal of these groups is?
3. How is life portrayed in the mission? Outside of it? Which is better? safer? What is the role of the mission? How has the mission changed the lives, actions, dress, and thoughts of the Guaraní? Why don't the Guaraní want to go back to the forest?
4. Does this film portray the Guaraní as having an active role in the development of their historical identity?
5. Examine power relations as depicted in this movie. How do the church, state, and Indigenous peoples interact?
6. Compare the actions of religious workers, governmental officials, and others with those in Things Fall Apart.

Comparisons
7. Compare/contrast the final acts of Father Gabriel, Rodrigo, and Okonkwo. Could you call one or all heroic? Were the final acts of the mission priests comparable to Okonkwo’s suicide?
8. Create one meaning field for Things Fall Apart and The Mission. A meaning field is a collection of thematic statements the can be made about a work of literature. In this case, create a meaning field the combines both texts. Therefore, each thematic statement you make should be applicable to both works.

Homework: Lear Extra Credit due tomorrow; summer reading proposal (Edline) due Friday.