Exploring the Play 'Anansi' by Alistair Campbell

Oct 9, 2024

Crash Course on the Play "Anansi" by Alistair Campbell

Course Objective

  • Understanding "Anansi" for CSEC English BS exams.
  • Focus on plot, characters, themes, and literary devices.

Background on Anansi

  • Anansi: Part man, part spider; hero and trickster.
  • Represents wit and wisdom over strength.
  • Origin in Ghana; stories arrived in the Caribbean with African slaves.
  • Serves as a symbol of hope and heritage preservation for African slaves.

Origin Story of Anansi

  • Stories were owned by Nayame, the sky god.
  • Anansi completed impossible tasks to earn the stories.
    • Captured Onini the python, the Mubara hornets, Osable the leopard, and Moetia the forest spirit.
  • Became the keeper of stories, embodying storytelling and cleverness.

Play Format

  • No traditional acts; instead, two settings: on board a slave ship and the Forest of Stories.
  • Setting changes indicated by dotted lines and small titles.
  • Onboard: Protagonist is a little girl; Forest: Anansi stories narrated.

Onboard Setting: Key Points

  • Act: The Good Ship Hope, 1791
    • Characters: Captain, Boy
    • Theme: Desire vs Destiny; irony in the ship's name.
    • Boy's innocence vs Captain's ruthlessness.
  • Deck Scene: Girl and Sailor
    • Theme: Dehumanization of slaves.
    • Girl's despair and symbolic language (e.g., blue and water).
    • Sailor's cruel language and foreshadowing.
  • Hold Scene: Girl and Woman
    • Theme: Hope and identity preservation.
    • Woman encourages Girl to embrace African heritage.
  • Cabin Scene: Boy's Diary
    • Boy's inner thoughts and innocence.

Forest of Stories: Key Points

  • Naming the Stories: Anansi vs Tiger
    • Trickery to name stories after Anansi.
  • Tricking Snake: Anansi's cleverness in capturing Snake.
  • The World Blotted Out & The Proclamation: Introduction of Mancrow, a symbol of oppression.
  • Initiation & Battle: Soliday vs Mancrow
    • Arrows symbolize virtues needed for freedom.

Themes and Symbols

  • Power and Powerlessness: Africans' captivity vs inner empowerment through stories.
  • Fantasy vs Reality: Relief and strength from Anansi's tales.
  • Appearance vs Reality: Anansi's underestimated strength.
  • Desire vs Destiny: Characters' wants vs inevitable paths.
  • Light vs Darkness: Hope (light) vs despair (darkness).
  • Prejudice and Racism: Treatment of Africans as less than human.
  • Bondage vs Freedom: Physical imprisonment vs mental freedom.

Character Analysis

  • Captain and Boy: Opposites; boy's innocence vs captain's ruthlessness.
  • Girl and Woman: Girl's growth through Woman's teachings.
  • Sailor and Auctioneer: Reinforce societal norms.
  • Anansi: Symbol of wit, resilience, and African spirit.
  • Tiger and Snake: Represent strength vs Anansi's wit.
  • Soliday: Represents courage and righteousness.

Literary Devices

  • Irony: Good Ship Hope's irony; Boy's connection to Girl despite father's distance.
  • Symbolism: Anansi's web as a symbol of connection.
  • Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the slave ship and the forest.
  • Comedy: Anansi's stories as comic relief.
  • Contrast: Onboard vs Forest narratives.
  • Parallel Narratives: Onboard and forest stories running concurrently.
  • Personification and Metaphors: To express feelings and experiences.

Conclusion

  • Course provides a comprehensive understanding of "Anansi."
  • Encouraged participation for deeper insights.
  • Subscribe for more English B content.

Note: For further understanding, read the full play and engage with further resources such as linked videos and discussions.