Summary Private Experience

SHORT STORY SUMMARY STORY TITLE: A Private Experience by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Plot: In "A Private Experience," Chika, an Igbo Christian, hides from the violence of a riot in an abandoned shop with a Hausa woman. Chika’s sister Nnedi is lost in the riot as well as the Hausa woman’s children. When Chika mentions that she attends University as a medical student, and the woman asks Chika to examine her burning nipples, which are cracked and dry from nursing her baby. Chika and the woman share a night in the store and part ways in the morning, each telling the other to greet their loved ones. Chika knows that she will not find her sister Nnedi. Introduction: The story begins when a riot outraged in the city of Kano in Nigeria, involving Muslims and Christians. An Igbo Christian, Chika, meets a Muslim woman during evacuation, and spends time with her in a small empty store. Setting: Physical: The reference to “the government of General Abacha” suggests the events could take place in the 1990s (General Abacha ruled Nigeria between 1993 and 1998) - Day & night City of Kano in Nigeria, Africa In an abandoned store Emotional: - Tense Anxious Fearful Connection Human bond Character Protagonist: Chika Antagonist: Riots Type of Character Type of Character - Round Static Educated Wealthy Igbo Christian - Flat Static Violent Hausa Muslims against Igbo Christians Conflict: Person vs. Society Initiating Incident: The riots in the market begin. Chika loses Nnedi, while a Hausa woman leads Chika to safety in an abandoned store. Rising Action: 1. The two women begin to talk about their lives. Chika mentions she is in medical school and attempts to understand the women who saved her. 2. The women asks for her medical advice, as her nipples are dried and cracked. Chika says to moisturize them after breastfeeding and invents a lie saying the same thing happened to her mother. 3. Chika believes the riots are over and suggests going outside, though the woman disagreed and said outside is danger. Climax: Chika goes outside, against the woman’s advice. As she sees all the charred bodies, she runs back to the store and cuts her leg in the process. Falling Action: The woman offers her scarf to Chika to wrap around her leg and stop the bleeding. The two stay overnight in the store, and when they wake up the riots are over. Conclusion: In the morning before they part ways, Chika asks to keep the scarf and realizes she will never see her sister again. The two women exchange wishes and leave the store to find their family. Type of ending: Expository sad Irony: 1. Chika thinks about how stupid the woman is and then asks a clearly dumb question about if her young child works at the market. (Situational) 2. The woman was Hausa and Chika was Igbo, but they had no desire to harm one another. (Situational) Foreshadowing: 1. All the talking about Nnedi foreshadows how she never comes back 2. The title refers to the way the main character, Chika (who is Igbo) perceives the tears and prayers of a Hausa woman she spends the night with, hiding from street riots between the Igbo (who are Christians) and the Hausa (who are Muslim) Symbol: 1. The scarf is a symbol of unity between the 2 women and how despite their cultural differences they can find peace 2. Chika's rosary ring symbolizes her desire for faith and her identity as an Igbo Christian. Although Chika states that she has never really believed in any God. Through her trauma, she begins playing with the rosary beads, longing for some safety and to return to her sister. Point of View: 3rd person limited omniscient - narration only follows her perspective and the events she experiences (past, present, and future). Theme: Cultural differences may not define individual morals, in the big picture we are all human. Core Competency: This story demonstrates positive personal & cultural identity. Despite many cultural differences between the two, the women prioritize caring for one another in a time of need, over their misguided belief systems.