Motifs
This trickster motif, characterized by a love of jokes, is taken on by Anansi when he traps three animals and a fairy in different ways.
What is "Prankster"?
When an enchanted box is placed on his head, Anansi does this to pass his burden to someone else.
What is "Give it to Mr. Ant"?
Anansi does this to explain why ants are sometimes carrying heavy things.
What is "Give one of them an enchanted box"?
In the story where Anansi traps three animals and a fairy, this trickster motif is seen in every character but one.
What is "Personified animals?"
When tasked with trapping Osebo the leopard, Anansi does this using his web and a pit.
What is "Wait until Osebo falls into the pit and tangle him up in the spider web?"
When given the pot of wisdom, Anansi does this to spread wisdom among the people of the world.
What is "Throw the pot from a tree"?
What is "Shapeshifter"?
When a dwarf helps Anansi's son summon rain using two small sticks, Anansi does this in an attempt to summon more rain during a drought.
What is "Beat the dwarf to death with two giant sticks"?
Anansi brings stories to the world by doing this for Nyame in exchange for his box in the sky.
What is "Trap three animals and an invisible fairy"?
Anansi embodies this trickster motif by giving stories to the world when he took them from Nyame's box in the sky.
What is "Agent of Change"?
When faced with the task of trapping Onini the python, Anansi uses rope and a long stick to do this.
What is "Convince Onini to compare himself to the stick and tie him to it"?
Stories of Anansi inspired the creation of this trickster hare.
Who is "Br'er Rabbit"?
Anansi embodies this trickster motif by sometimes both working with his son and sometimes working against his son.
What is "ambiguity"?
When tasked with trapping the invisible fairy Mmoatia, Anansi uses yam paste and a gum baby to do this.
What is "Trap Mmoatia by luring her with yam paste and having her attack the gum baby"?
The name Anansi inspired this word, meaning a story that is too incredible to be true.
What is "Anansesem"?