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.