The story begins with a conflict in a polygamous family of seven wives, and thirty-three children of which twenty-one are males and females, twelve. Their father, a rich farmer and hunter, was tragically killed in the forest by an elephant during a hunting trip.

The problem of who gets the best part of the inheritance is the cause of the conflict. There are among them characters who want the best portion of the money from the inheritance (gold, copper, brass or cowries) to live extravagant lifestyles; some of the other characters want seed yams to cultivate and build their own barns of yam; some others want the yam and livestock; while two characters are making peace until they're tired of peacemaking and become violent. Being the eldest son of his father, Mmaduneke, the antagonist and villain, (who is also arrogant and over ambitious) wants to manage the inheritance for everyone until he decides it is time to share it. On the other hand, the seventeen-year-old Obuaku, the protagonist (who uses euphemism to talk about his father's death, because he can't bear to accept that his father has really died), does not want to take part in sharing the properties; he simply wishes his father was alive because of the love they shared while he was alive.

The conflict ends when Mmaduneke accidentally kills Obuaku, who is later revealed to be his biological son; and he, Mmaduneke, is forced by the elders of Umudike to die by hanging.

But these are not the best part of the story.

1 What are the moral lessons in the story?

2 What happens in the end?

3 Who gets what from the inheritance and how?

4 How was peace restored in the family?