This question is rather old but I always make up a new answer when I scroll by it >w<
Animals can in fact understand us humans and other animals. They show this by reactin to us with body movements and sounds. I don’t believe that they understand our language, but they understand our tone of voice and behavior. Aka, why we are able to train animals :)
Things Fall Apart illustrates many different aspects of Igbo culture. For one, it shows us on may occasions they way they view religion. They are polytheistic, which means they worship many gods. Their gods and goddesses govern different aspects of the world and daily life, such as the earth goddess, Ani.
Different rituals and customs go along with each god. We can see this in the week of peace, which is observed to honor Ani so she will bless the crops. In addition, some of the gods have Oracles. These are basically their mouthpiece on earth. The Oracles will sometimes be possessed by their god, and the god will speak through them and tell the clan what they need to do.
The novel also explores non-religious aspects of Igbo culture. For example, we see and hear about the different ceremonies and rituals that surround courtship and marriage. Men almost always have more than one wife, an important cultural aspect. We also see how the clan conducts aspects of war, and some of how they keep and enforce law and order. Over the course of the novel we get to see a wide array of different aspects of Igbo life and culture. Not sure if this is at least two hundred words but hope it helps.
"Life for me ain't been no crystal stair" shows that the mother didn't have an easy life and had to work hard at everything.
Hope this helped! Let me know if there is anything I need to clarify or explain more in depth
