Chinua Achebe · English Literature

In 'Arrow of God', why does Ezeulu refuse to name the day for the New Yam Festival?

  1. He had forgotten the correct sequence of the traditional Igbo harvest calendar
  2. He wants to punish the village for failing to support him against the British
  3. He is awaiting divine instruction before he will sanction any public celebration
  4. The British District Commissioner ordered him to delay the harvest indefinitely
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Correct answer: He wants to punish the village for failing to support him against the British

Ezeulu's refusal to eat the sacred yams during his British imprisonment delays the New Yam Festival and the harvest. This act, combining religious principle with personal spite, eventually drives the starving villagers toward the Christian church — the final defeat of his religious authority.

Difficulty: Medium Question 14 of 20

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