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ANANSI THE SPIDER: THE ORIGINAL SPIDERMAN

3/31/2015

16 Comments

 
Picture
EVERY HERO HAS A STORY: BLOGGING FROM A TO Z APRIL 2015 CHALLENGE

PictureImage by Ben Hodson, Illustrator
WAIT!! Don't step on that spider or scream when its eight legs scamper unknowingly across your arm - not yet! The trickster arachnid is my unlikely hero for our letter A of the A-Z Blog Challenge.  He can certainly be a pest - a bit of a rogue to gather unearthly results in deceiving, yet clever ways, whose goal is to acheive it all for himself, but, in so doing, often triumphs for all over much stronger beings than himself. Why, if it wasn't for Anansi of the Ashanti people/Ghana, West Africa, we wouldn't have stories to storytell or stories to check out of our libraries. The Anansi tale I speak of is "Anansi Brings Stories to the World." Anansi hears that the sky God, Nyame, has a box filled with stories and yet all who attempted to gather these stories failed. It was Anansi who shunned fear, used his abilities and inventive nature to climb up to Nyame by creating a unique web, accepting the 3 challenges of capturing leopard, snake, and hornet in exchange for the stories. Nyame is impressed and feels Anansi is certainly worthy of these stories and hands them over. Unfortunately for Anansi, the bag of stories opens up on a bramble bush on the way down to earth, and the stories blow in every direction across the earth for all to share. I'm guessing Anansi was quite disappointed but perseveres to his next adventure. He is a symbol of brains over brawn and his stories  withstand the test of time reminding us that a balanced society filled with dignity, courage and honor is worth all challenges set before us, at any cost.

Activities and Lesson Links to Anansi the Spider

String figures are fun to use while telling the story of Anansi. It didn't take me long at all to create Anansi - patience is the key. Watch the Youtube below.



Here's a Wonderful Tale of Anansi told by Storyteller Bobby Norfolk
Anansi on Pinterest - Art activities and Lessons
Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott- Lessons and links
Jamaica Anansi Stories - Anansi tales travelled quickly and so we can find him on many continents!
16 Comments
A. Berg
3/31/2015 02:19:41 pm

Great!

Reply
Robin Bady link
4/1/2015 01:17:55 am

I love this blog. Anansi IS a hero! Thanks so much.

Reply
Sue Kuentz link
4/1/2015 01:22:40 am

Thank you Robin - I'm following your blog also! Here we go!

Reply
Carrie Ann Tripp link
4/1/2015 01:41:51 am

Hi, I’m Carrie Ann, a minion for Lauren. I’m stopping in to say welcome to the A-to-Z Challenge and to make sure we’re off to an amazing start! I’ll be checking in frequently throughout the month. Awesome theme for A-to-Z! I love the fact that you've added activity links!!!

Reply
Sue Kuentz link
4/1/2015 02:07:43 am

Thank you Carrie Ann for stopping in! Always the educator when it comes to the links:)

Reply
Tarkabarka
4/1/2015 01:52:46 am

Ananse! I totally have a crush on him. Great first post! :)

@TarkabarkaHolgy from
<a href="http://multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com">Multicolored Diary</a> - Epics from A to Z
<a href="http://hungarykum.blogspot.com">MopDog</a> - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary

Reply
S. L. Hennessy link
4/1/2015 02:01:40 am

I love Anansi! I remember Anansi from last year. Can't wait to read more.

Good luck with the 2015 A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
http://pensuasion.blogspot.com

Reply
Hilary link
4/1/2015 04:31:25 am

Hi Sue - love the Anansi story - another of our blogger buddies has written Anansi's story too .. and no I won't crush him .. cheers Hilary

Reply
Sue link
4/1/2015 10:54:25 am

Aww- wish I knew- I'd mention his/her blog post!

Reply
vinodini link
4/1/2015 06:17:02 am

Anansi sounds interesting! Wish you all the best for the challenge.

Reply
Paula link
4/1/2015 06:39:37 am

A nice story! I dreamed of a spider last night. But it was as big as a chicken....not a good dream!

Reply
Pam Faro link
4/1/2015 09:51:41 am

Ni-i-i-i-ice! Looking forward to B through Z! :-)

Reply
CK3
4/1/2015 10:44:52 am

Great Job! Love the YouTube links!

Reply
Sue link
4/1/2015 02:46:34 pm

Always so nice to meet another Sue and a Texas Gal to boot! How wonderful you are a story telling educator for children. Anansi the spider has a wonderful story to tell...loved that the bag fell into the bramble bush. Reminded me of a story about a Texas pioneer woman who wrote letters and tied them on a Tumbleweed.

Thanks for visiting my Letter A on this first day of the Challenge. I am a new follower and will add you to my Blog Roll. I'll be back for the rest of your story telling.
Sue at <a href="http://collectintexasgal.blogspot.com/">CollectInTexas Gal</a>
AtoZ 2015 Challenge
Minion for AJ's wHooligans

Reply
Tizzy Brown link
4/2/2015 10:17:31 am

I remember reading about Anansi when I was at primary school. Thanks for reminding me of this brilliant character.

Reply
JazzFeathers link
5/4/2015 06:17:08 pm

Hi there :-)

I've just discovered your blog from a shout out by the Multicolored Diary. I know the challenge is over, but the posts are still here, aren't they ;-)

I love triscksters stories, they are so peculiar. Anasi's story was fantastic, and oh my goodness, I loved Bobby Norfolk's video, he's a fantastic storyteller!!

Reply



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