Anansi Boys Reflection

Mary Charlotte Cannon

1. Myths in regard to literature have the tendency to be confusing. Myths normally
have a specific history involving particular thoughts. The myth of the Anasi
was hard to interpret and understand in the beginning. I had a hard time wrapping
my mind around the supernatural powers and who had the capability to do what.
Once I dove into the book, I learned who had which powers and I read with ease.
I enjoyed this myth and the more I read, the more interested I became.
2. The characters portrayed in this book had very realistic struggles while having the
basis of something supernatural. For example, when Fat Charlies fianc cheated
on him, many people can relate to that. On the other hand, one may have a
difficult time trying to fathom supernatural powers and whispering wishes to
spiders. I enjoy the realistic aspect of the characters; it helps in staying with the
book.
3. I enjoyed the in class activity of making resumes for the characters. Personally, I
struggle with keeping who is who in pieces of literature. I pay little attention to
names and once I am too far into the book, I cannot keep everyone straight and
correct. By individually making a name and product for a character, I could sort
them in my head and grasp a better understanding of their each specific role in the
novel.
4. By having the assignment of writing a sarcastic letter, little to no information was
uncovered. The letter was not effective in digging deeper into the characters
profiles or depicting who they were.
5. In total, I liked the novel more than I initially thought I would. I am the dreaded
person in the library and bookstore who judges every book by its cover and will
not even look at a book if it has anything to do with supernatural or fantasy. The
book had an interesting way of developing the plot and keeping readers engaged.

Anansi Boys Essay

Mary Charlotte Cannon
The piece of literature, Anansi Boys, is one that may come across as strange or
obscure when first picked off the bookshelf. A quick skim of the back cover may entail
spider gods, supernatural powers, and trips to Florida. Between the pages, myths are
interpreted in current ways, characters have been depicted in college writing classes and
the characters are similar to everyday civilians. Anansi Boys seems to be the novel that is
the gateway into readers looking more into scientific and fantasy based books.
Myths are beliefs and stories that have been passed down through word of mouth,
or physically on paper. In this particular piece of literature, the myth is the basis of the
plot line. It is told to readers that a man named Fat Charlie has powers inherited by his
father that he is unaware of. Through a series of events, Fat Charlie becomes aware of his
ways and makes a wish to a spider for his brother. Low and behold, his brother Spider
comes knocking the very next day. As previously stated, one may have a difficult time
grasping the foundation of the myth and how to follow fluently while reading. This
modern interpretation of a myth wove through the novel effectively by gifting uncommon
powers to characters that first are portrayed as ordinary. For the current audience, it may
have only taken a fourth of the novel to fully grasp and relate back to the myth for a
reference. Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a
trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social
order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even
Death himself.
While students in UWRT 1101 were still reading and shuffling through the pages
of Anansi Boys an in class activity took place, asking students to create resumes of the
characters in the novel. Personally, I was given the obligation to develop a background
and profile for Mrs. Higgler. The individual details of her history, skills, references,
and information were asked of students. Once the assignment was given, immediate panic
set in. Mrs. Higgler does not play the biggest, most important role while the plot
develops. However once the resume began, Mrs. Higgler seemed to have more to do then
expected. She is a family friend of Charlie and lived in the neighborhood along with
Charlie. She was a mentor for Charlie and has been more knowledge than most would
believe. The resume assignment helped to dive deeper into characters.
Along with the resume assignment, came the author making the decision to have
the characters extremely relatable and easy to understand. Fat Charlie throughout the first
few pages is told be a normal man who is about to become engaged, working a normal 95 job and carrying on with life. However, as the story unfolds Fat Charlie inevitably
learns that he has supernatural powers not common to many. By initially showing readers
that characters are normal, one can read with ease and not stress about which mystical
creature is who.
Anansi Boys in total was a novel like no other. The immediate judgment was
nothing like the end result. Anansi Boys is a novel with an interesting plot line that has
characters and scenarios both appealing and teasing. With the aspects of realistic

characters, modern interpretations of myths and helpful class assignments, one can
guarantee this novel was loved by more than one.