Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom Se An African Trickster Tale ‘Long ago, at che beginning of the wold, people could not solve ther protlems. Nyarre, the scy god, looked down and felt sorry for humans. He said, “I will send wisdom to the people. Ther, they can solve problems, ‘rans, the spider man, overheard Nyame's plan. He said, ‘Thetis a good idea Give the wisdorr wo me, and I will ake it down to the people.” [Nyame trusted the selfish ti and gave it to Anansi. "This wis said. “Take tris to the people so that they can solve cheir probl ‘Arans took the pot down to t ‘Then, ne locked inside. te was full of wonderful ideas and skills. "I will use this wisdom first” he said te himself. "Ther, will give it to the people” Imuse ofa tall tree where ne heavy pot up she tree? ‘Anansi had an idea. He gathered some st-ong vines and tied them round the pot. Then, he tied the ather end around his waist He started co limo, bur the dangling pot kept getting caught in the branches, ‘Anans'’s young son saw his fathers sc-uggle. “Father,” the boy sad, “ YOU sie the pot to your back, t wil be much easier for you to hold on to the tree and cmb” ‘Anansi followed his so advice and tied the pat to his back. The rest of the climb wes easier. When he got to the to2, he looked ¢own at his son and ‘thought, What a foo! | am! I have the pot of wisdom, yet alittle boy had more ‘common sense than \ aid, What us is all ofthis wizdarn to me? si angrily threw che pot to the ground, where it smashed int millions of pieces. The wisdom scattered all over the world. People found bits of the wisslom and zook them heme to theit families. That is why no ‘one person has all of the wisdom in the werld and why we share wisdom ‘with each other when we exchange ideas oo Sisoeaenocne, Teanrsonprnenen Reading Comprehension 9 1. Number she followir events inthe order that they happened. Anansi bought the poe of wisdem to the earth ____ Nysme decided to give wisdom :0 human beings. _____ Anansi decdee to keep the wisdom for himself Human beings collected the wistlom and segan to share i Anansi threw the por of wisdorn to the earts son :old his father t9 carry the pet on his back. 2. How s Anansi described in the story? Which of the following worcs best descrites the stery’s genre? 3 A. myth B novel C history D. epic 4. What is the main idea of the selecsion? A. Wisdom belongs ory to sneaky people. B. Wisdom isa heavy burden to carry. No one person hasall of the wisdem in the word. 1D. Parents should always follow their chikiren’s advice. ‘e@pain hursen behavior. The hhurnan characteristics. f problems. Popuar wickster characters include Cayore, Hae, Raven, Spidey, and Tortoise. Choose a character fiom this lst. Then, on a separate piece of papet, write a wickster tle of yout own. Sioevonterhotoe Teng conpenenar roo