Anansi

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/anansi

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the cultural origin?Akan peoples of Ghana, West Africa
2. What is the archetypal role?Trickster, culture hero, and storyteller
3. What is Anansi the Spider?Anansi is a clever West African trickster spider who can change between spider and human. He tells stories and plays tricky games, showing wit and intelligence.
4. Why do people tell Anansi stories?Anansi stories teach lessons about cleverness, sharing wisdom, and the importance of being smart. They also help people learn about right and wrong in a fun way.

Archetype: A universal, symbolic character or theme that recurs across cultures and literature.
Liminality: A state of being in between or on the threshold of two different states or phases.
Didactic: Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.