Theory question 103
Set Text: The Marriage of AnansewaLiterature 2, Section A. Efua T. Sutherland: The Marriage of Anansewa
Give an account of the mock funeral of Anansewa, pointing out its relevance to the play.
Show the model answer
Ananse has collected gifts from four chiefs who all want to marry Anansewa; two announce they will come for the marriage the same day.
To escape, Ananse makes Anansewa pretend to be dead; he announces her 'death'.
Mourning: Ananse wails, relatives and the storyteller help; messengers of the chiefs arrive.
Each chief's messenger reacts: some only want gifts back or offer small sympathy; Chief-Who-Is-Chief's messenger brings rich funeral gifts and says the chief regarded her as his wife.
Ananse 'calls back' her spirit; Anansewa 'revives' because of the love of Chief-Who-Is-Chief.
Relevance: climax of the plot; resolves Ananse's dilemma; exposes the true lover; shows Ananse's cunning; satire on greed and on marriage customs; leads to the happy ending.
Narrate the event, then show what it does for plot, character and theme.