Azaro wandered into the city one day and was shocked to see his father working under backbreaking conditions. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Madame Koto became much richer while many of the villagers suffered, including Azaro's family. They demanded Azaro and a fight broke out between the thugs and the beggars. After the distraction is removed, Black Tyger fights valiantly, defeating his opponent. When the van returned later, the villagers attacked it and beat the men inside. The novel explores the strong familial connections that are prevalent in the Nigerian community and Okri has also been noted for his allusions to the belief in another world after death. Azaro's mother was harassed at the marketplace because she supported the "wrong" political party. Okri's The Famished Road is full of references to mythology, as we can see in the very first couple of sentences of the novel: "In the beginning there was a river. Meanwhile, Azaro's father was prodded to fight by five thugs in the bar and he managed to beat them all, but told Azaro that they would never return to Madame Koto's. Azaro's father somehow kept the spirits away when they were together. One night while Azaro's father was arguing about politics with some prostitutes, Azaro was visited by a three-headed spirit. It also made him a target of the politicians. Azaro spent much time with Madame Koto at the bar. The Famished Road by Ben Okri. Since his birth, he has seen visions of spirits who beckon him into their world, but he always refuses because he loves his family and wishes to remain with them. Azaro's parents struggled to make ends meet; the family didn't eat well. The Famished Road Summary. Copyright © 1999 - 2020 GradeSaver LLC. His father shamed them into returning the furniture, before finally paying them off. Azaro spends much of his time in Madame Koto's bar. Azaro's father sent him to bet all their money on himself and then he came out for the fight. A midget woman asked Azaro to marry her. Anonymous "The Famished Road Background". He became more popular; villagers would follow to watch him shadowbox around the town. help you understand the book. GradeSaver, 14 October 2019 Web. This Study Guide consists of approximately 50 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Famished Road. Azaro had a vision that the five-headed spirit was coming. The photographer returned to Azaro's house beaten, but otherwise unhurt. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. This Study Guide consists of approximately 50 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Famished Road. Then the Green Leopard returned the beating. Azaro's father went on to fight the forces of evil in his dreams and eventually he defeated them. Print Word PDF. His mother became very sick and almost died from fever; a local bar owner, Madame Koto, helped revive her. Menu . After so many experiences in the living world, ”the great cycles of time” had finally tightened around his neck. Death and Violence. GradeSaver, 30 September 2015 Web. Writing. On the Road: Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis Next. He carried huge bags of salt and cement and was shamed when he saw his son watching him. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating She grew detached from the community and grew in size as well. A man in the crowd kept distracting him until Azaro and Ade pushed him away. The Road Summary Next. He had been a ghost from the spirit world. He ... Critical Review by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Society, Norms, and Counterculture. Familial Love. He also saw his parents try and wake him, but he was too angry to care. He escaped by cutting a hole and running away. In their new compound, Azaro's parents threw a feast to celebrate his return. She considered him lucky because of his spirit connection. The Famished Road Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to He scares them all off, but not before his dad suffers some serious injuries. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Famished Road. Azaro went to visit Madame Koto less and less. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Around the village, he becomes known as the Black Tyger. His nickname was Black Tyger. He stays with Azaro's family for some time. In the morning he found his way home and was beaten by his angry father. Finally, the Black Tyger prevailed and the Green Leopard was carried away. He desperately called out (psychically) to his mother, who rescued him. Powerful men of the party arrived and Madame Koto hired prostitutes to appease them. Azaro's father had a final fight at Madame Koto's with a spirit man in a white suit. The neighborhood was getting violent again. Azaro grew and learned more about his "gift." He trains obsessively; meanwhile his family slips into debt. The Famished Road study guide contains a biography of Ben Okri, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Shortly after birth, it became clear that Azaro was a spirit child. Azaro came down with malaria and it took him several days to recover. After a long and grueling fight, in which Azaro's father had to change his tactics many times (and take a severe beating in the process), the Yellow Jaguar fell back in defeat and disappeared into the ground. He had vivid dreams, which foretold the future and he could see spirits interacting with the living. In this landscape everything is dead and burnt, the sun is blotted out by ash, all plants and animals are extinct, and most humans are either lone travelers or members of cannibalistic communes. Priestesses who saw his true power abducted him. Print Word PDF. The Road: Pages 1-29 Summary & Analysis Next. by Ben Okri The novel follows the life of Azaro, a spirit child, travelling in Nigeria. Ben Okri. On the way back, he was plagued by visions and became lost. She wore a wig and asked him to help with drinks. Azaro's father told him the story of the "King of the Road." He realized that the fetish above the door was attracting them. The novel was also the basis for the famous song by the music group Radiohead, "Street Spirit (Fade Out).". The Famished Road essays are academic essays for citation. Azaro felt peace for the first time in months. Madame Koto updated her bar and became a supporter of the party of the rich. He awoke three days later and spoke of a new day beginning. The Road Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis by Cormac McCarthy. "The Famished Road Summary". He pulls off the man in the white suit's mask to reveal a ghostly, inhuman countenance which scares the entire crowd. will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback. His parents couldn't afford the costly ceremony which would free him from this gift, but he learns to control it better. And the river became a road and branched out to the whole world." You can help us out by revising, improving and updating Friendship. Herbalists eventually brought him back to his relieved parents, who tried to be more optimistic. Published in London in 1991 by Jonathan Cape , [1] the story of The Famished Road follows Azaro, an abiku or spirit child, living in an unnamed, most likely Nigerian, city. Azaro was frightened when he noticed the gramophone machine, as he saw it as a spirit box. The Famished Road - Book 4 Summary & Analysis. She's an enterprising woman who continually updates her place in order to appeal to more and more wealthy clients, eventually aligning herself entirely with the political party of the rich. He ran to the door, where he finally saw Madame Koto. Start Your Free Trial. He had vivid dreams, which foretold the future and he could see spirits interacting with the living. Azaro made a narrow escape, only to end up in the house of a police officer whose dead son tried to take over his body. Always prone to violence, he realized that he just enjoys fighting. Azaro's father became obsessed and worked less and less.