WIMBA SESSION–NOV. 2, 2010MRS. HILL

Mastery Assignment 1 in Unit 6 6.4.1

What are you to do?

For 6.4.1 you are being asked to read two stories about a spider who is a trickster.

These are called Anansi stories. This might seem strange for

some of us. We don’t always like spiders. But this is a cute spider who you can’t help but like.

More info on the trickster You have grown up watching the

trickster on television as you have watched Saturday morning cartoons.

RoadRunner and Bugs Bunny are the two that come to mind.

So think of Anansi like those two cartoon figures.

All Stories are Anansi's

In the beginning all tales and stories belonged to Nyame, the Sky God.

However the spider Anansi yearned or wanted to be the owner of all the stories known in the world.

The Sky God really did not want to sell his stories.

But…

The price for the stories: He did finally say the following: "My

price is three things," the Sky God said. "I must first have Mmoboro, the hornets. I must then have Onini, the great python. I must then have Osebo, the leopard. For these thing I will sell you the right to tell all the stories."

Please read to see how Anansi is able to procure or get all three so that he will own all of the stories.

“Anansi and the Tug of War.” For the 2nd selection – google

“Anansi and the Tug of War.” There is a great youtube video of

this story that you should watch.

After reading, you are to complete a chart On the chart you are to relate the

characteristics of a Trickster to Anansi.

Please find an example from the story for each example.

What do you learn about trickster characters that is important from this evidence?

So what do we now understand or realize about a Trickster?

Tricksters cross boundaries. When you cross a boundary, you

step over a line that should not have been crossed.

When you cross a boundary, you step over a line that you should not have crossed. And the trickster takes joy in stepping over the boundaries. He laughs at it rather than fretting over hurting someone’s feelings. And he doesn’t care about what happens to the person that gets in his way.

An example

Anansi crosses the boundary as he decides to ask the Sky God if he can have all of the stories.” So he challenges a god and beats the god. Many people would not even want to ask a god and is able to use his tricking qualities to win.

Tricksters break taboos.

So the trickster does things that his society frowns upon.

Taboos are things that society says are improper or unacceptable.

So the trickster does things that his society frowns upon. taboos are things that society says are improper or unacceptable

The Trickster’s conscience does not feel guilty about breaking a taboo as much as society would. He thinks this is ok as long as he gets what he wants out of it.

Tricksters play tricks

…..and are sometimes also tricked themselves.

So they play tricks on people and animals. They are very creative thinkers. They think outside of the box. And they don’t mind hurting others or making people look like a fool when they play tricks on them. They just want to come out on top.

Tricksters invert power relationships. For instance, the little turtle beats

the larger animal or the mouse is able to win or help a large lion. The trickster does not see limitations when there is a problem. So the trickster also does not look at limitations. He does not get intimidated easily.

Tricksters use language to redefine things as opposites.

He uses verbal irony which you studied in units 3 and 4.

He is a smooth talker.