Act 2 — The Forest of Stories
Scene 1: Naming The Stories p. 14
1. Complete the following: “In the forest of stories, there is no such thing as ________.”
2. Comment on the significance of the question at the end of the opening stage directions.
3. Complete the following: “The smartest plan and the cleverest head/Is how I keep from
getting ______.”
4. According to Anansi, what dangers lurk in the forest and why are they a danger to him?
5. What does Anansi use his many legs to do?
6. What sound device is significant in this scene?
7. Describe briefly the relationship between Tiger and Anansi.
8. What has Tiger been thinking about?
9. Why does Anansi assert that the stories of the lives of the forest creatures should be
named after him instead of Tiger?
10. What does Tiger dare Anansi to do to prove that he is worthy of having the stories
named after him?
Scene 2: Tricking Snake p. 16
1. What has Anansi managed to put in place to attract Snake?
2. How does Snake evade Anansi’s trap and still get his reward?
3. What is amazing about the traps that Anansi manages to set?
4. What is the second trap that Anansi sets for Snake?
5. Anansi comes out and admits that he has been the one setting the traps for Snake.
What reason does he give Snake as to why he was trying to trap him?
6. How does Anansi attempt to insult Snake? Does it work?
7. What superlative adjectives does Snake use to describe himself?
8. What solution does Snake give to regain his reputation?
9. Surprised that Anansi has brought Snake to him, Tiger says he suspects that Anansi’s
“methods are not quite _______.”
10. Comment on the significance of beginning and ending the act in a rhyming verse.