As a youth in England, Richard is first intrigued by Nigeria when he sees an image of its roped pots. The roped pots were part of ancient Igbo-Ukwu art and artifacts unearthed in Nigeria in 1959-60. They show complex metalworking that existed as early as the 9th century among the Igbo-Ukwu (ancestors of the present-day Igbo). Archeologists now agree that this intricate metalworking developed without foreign influence or aid and was solely invented in the isolated community of the Igbo-Ukwu. In the novel the roped pots represent Richard’s fascination with Nigeria and also his genuine love of its people and culture, unlike the racism of his other white counterparts. When Richard tries to explain his love of Igbo-Ukwu art to his fellow English expatriates, they assume that he just wants to exploit it for money.
Roped Pots Quotes in Half of a Yellow Sun
The Half of a Yellow Sun quotes below all refer to the symbol of Roped Pots. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 4, Chapter 33
Quotes
Richard showed them Kainene’s picture. Sometimes, in his rush, he pulled out the picture of the roped pot instead. Nobody had seen her… On the drive back, Richard began to cry.
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Roped Pots Symbol Timeline in Half of a Yellow Sun
The timeline below shows where the symbol Roped Pots appears in Half of a Yellow Sun. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 3
...tell racist jokes about them. Richard has a real interest in ancient Igbo-Ukwu art, particularly roped pot s, but the other English people all think he just wants to exploit the art...
(full context)
Richard was deeply stirred by seeing an Igbo-Ukwu roped pot in a magazine once, which inspired him to want to come to Africa, but he...
(full context)
...week later Richard leaves for Nsukka, and he stops at Igbo-Ukwu, the place where the roped pot s were excavated. A young man named Emeka Anozie leads him to the patriarch, Pa...
(full context)
During the excavation the men found many things, including the roped pot s and a burial chamber. Richard marvels at the complexity of the Igbo-Ukwu art and...
(full context)
Part 1, Chapter 6
...embarrassed that he has hardly been writing, but he says he wants to put the roped pot s and Igbo-Ukwu art in his book somehow. He describes how marvelous this ancient art...
(full context)
...what’s bothering him. He tells her about Okeoma, and about his first love for the roped pot s he saw in a magazine long ago. Kainene tells him that it is “possible...
(full context)
Part 2, Chapter 14
...awkwardly, and Richard says he has changed his book title to “In the Time of Roped Pots .”
(full context)
Part 4, Chapter 27
...leave with the women and children. Richard asks about his manuscript “In the Time of Roped Pots ,” and Harrison says he buried it in a box in the garden.
(full context)
...heard about Kainene, and Richard shows him a picture of her and then of the roped pot , saying “I fell in love with Igbo-Ukwu art and then fell in love with...
(full context)
Part 4, Chapter 33
...try and jog their memory, but sometimes he accidentally takes out the picture of the roped pot instead. On the drive home Richard starts to cry. Olanna yells at him to stop,...
(full context)
