Anansi and five Question Answer - Class 4 English

Anansi and Five - Class 4 English (CBSE)

Anansi is a beloved character from African folklore, known for his cunning and trickery. In Class 4 English, students may encounter Anansi and his adventures through reading various stories. These stories often teach important moral lessons, such as the value of being clever and resourceful. Themes found in Anansi stories include trickery, cleverness, and the consequences of one's actions. Through learning about Anansi, students can gain a deeper understanding of African culture and folklore, while also improving their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Overall, Anansi stories are a fun and engaging way for students to learn about an important part of African culture and history.

Questions & Answers

What was the witch’s name and why didn’t she like it?

The witch’s name was Five. All through her life people had laughed or looked surprised when they heard what her name was. Hence, she never liked her name.

What was the witch doing in her garden?

The witch was stirring her big cooking pot and muttering and mumbling a magic spell.

Why was Anansi pleased?

Anansi heard the witch saying that anyone who said the word five would be cursed. Anansi thought this would be a great opportunity for him to trick people and make them disappear. So that he could get some food and money for himself and his family.

What was the first animal that Anansi tricked?

The first animal that Anansi tricked was Mrs. Rabbit.

Which animals were not fooled by Anansi?

Miss Frog and Mrs. Shrew were not fooled by Anansi.

What things could you buy in the market?

yams, beets, pulses, grains and pies etc. could be brought in the market.

Why was Mrs. Shrew going to the market and what was she going to do there?

Mrs. Shrew was taking a huge load of freshly made pies to the market. She was hoping to sell them there.

Why did Anansi get angry with Mrs. Shrew?

Anansi got angry with Mrs. Shrew because she counted only till four, and would not say the number five.

How many characters are there in the story? Make a list.

There are six characters in the story: the witch, Anansi, Mrs. Rabbit, Mr. Duck, Miss Frog, and Mrs. Shrew. The families of Mrs. Shrew and Anansi are also mentioned.

What clues are there in the story which tell us that Anansi was not a nice spider?

The range of clues which tell us that Anansi was not a nice spider are: he is a trickster; he scowls; his first thoughts upon hearing the witch are that he can use it to his advantage; he is dishonest; he tricks nice characters; he does not share his food; he does not think about his family, and he gets angry when things do not go the way he wants them to.

What is the moral of the story?

The moral of the story is that we can be the victim of our own tricks which we play with other people.

Fill in the blanks:

Anansi was a trickster and he was having a difficult time.
Anansi peeked through a gap in the witch’s fence.
He imagined what delicious foods he would find.
A scurrying sound pulled Anansi from his daydream.
She walked to the nearest mound and stood on it.
Anansi grinned and showed all his sharp teeth.

Read the line and answer the questions:

'1. 2. 3. 4, and this one that I am sitting on.'
(a) Who says these words?
Mrs. Shrew says these words.
(b) What is the speaker counting?
The speaker is counting mounds of earth/soil.
(c) Why does the speaker say, ‘and this one that I am sitting on’?
Mrs. Shrew avoids saying the number 5. She was not a fool. She guesses that Anansi is trying to trick her. She knows, he wants her to say all the numbers, so she does not do it.
(d) What happens after this?
Anansi gets so cross that he says the number and disappears.