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.
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.
The witch was stirring her big cooking pot and muttering and mumbling a magic spell.
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.
The first animal that Anansi tricked was Mrs. Rabbit.
Miss Frog and Mrs. Shrew were not fooled by Anansi.
yams, beets, pulses, grains and pies etc. could be brought in the market.
Mrs. Shrew was taking a huge load of freshly made pies to the market. She was hoping to sell them there.
Anansi got angry with Mrs. Shrew because she counted only till four, and would not say the number five.
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.
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.
The moral of the story is that we can be the victim of our own tricks which we play with other people.