User:ReigningQueen876/sandbox

Background and History
Anansi or Anancy is known as the trickster and is a staple for Jamaican and African cultures. Stories of Anancy were first told in Ghana by the Ashanti people. These stories were brought to Jamaica and other parts of the World by Ashanti slaves and were handed down orally through generations. Anansi is seen as a man or spider or sometimes a combination of the two. Furthermore in some parts of West Africa Anancy is considered a God and is credited with the creation of the world. In his stories as the spider God, he is said to be the go-between for humans and the other deities, particularly the sky God Nyame which gave people rain and the night. Anancy is known as one of the most powerful animal Gods in West African mythology.

This analysis will look at the Anansi stories specifically “Anansi and Lizard” and “Anansi and Sorrel” by Miss Louise Bennett. Examine the differences found in both stories as well as the language used in both. In an effort to understand how language can be used in a gendered way. Also what these things signify specifically as it relates to how it helps to create and maintain the gender dichotomy.

Who is Anancy
Anancy depending on the region will take on many forms. In West Africa, he is a spider God who is sometimes kind to people. In the Caribbean, he is an old wise and cunning man credited for giving sorrel its name. In parts of North America, Anancy is an old wise woman telling stories. While there are many stories and versions of Anancy is more common and popular tales depict him as a trickster, cunning, selfish, and sometimes cruel. He may help other creatures but only if he can benefit directly from doing so, Anancy is usually very observant taking note of his victim’s habits and quirks to take advantage of them to get what he wants. While his deeds are less than honourable is character and stories are renowned with people usually attributed to the little man overcoming great strength and adversary by using wit and cunning.

Anancy and Lizard Summery
Miss Lou’s Anancy and Lizard tells a story of a King in a faraway land who had a beautiful daughter with a secret name. He decided it was time for her to marry and ingeniously thought that any man that could guess her name would become her husband and eventually King. Anancy and lizard were very good friends and housemates. Each would try to figure out the princess's name. So, they both went to the palace on a mission to discover the princess's secret name. The Lizard hide in the tress, but Anansi outsmarted the lizard and went straight to the source hiding in the princess's room. Then the King came to tuck her in saying “Sleep well, mi lickle Kosuka” hence Anancy caught her name. He sang the name repeatedly as he went home. Lizard caught the name from him, stayed back and he gathered up the courage to approach the King. Lizard announced the princess's name “Kosuka”, and the King rewarded him handsomely and told him to come tomorrow for the wedding.

Anancy dress up and went back to the palace to claim his princess but he was informed that Lizard had beat him to it. Hence Anancy concocted a plan to make some piping hot Cornmeal porridge and challenge lizard to have an eating competition. However, there was a catch as he made it seem like the Cornmeal porridge that just came off the fire was temperate. Thus, if he put it in the Sun it would only get hotter. Lizard did not want to look bad, so he obliged to the challenge. The deal was for Lizard to eat the porridge straight from the pot and anancy eat the porridge that sat under Sun. Anancy poured out the porridge for Lizard and he gobbled it down with the false sense of security that it was not that hot. However poor lizard throat got scorched up and he completely regretted his action. Anancy then capitalizes on this and grab hold of Lizard dragging to the palace before the king. Anancy accused Lizard of being dishonest and it was Anancy that figured out the King's daughter name first. The King commanded Lizard to defend himself however Lizard could not speak in his current state. The only thing he could outer was “crrrrrrk crrrrrk.” The King's anger was kindled against both men chasing them out of the palace. Yet, Anancy grabs all the money that the king had gotten Lizard and took it for himself. Thus, from that day until today all poor Lizard can do is croak courtesy of Anancy.

Jack Mandora me no choose none.