Literature Central Message
Grade 3 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the answer.
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Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom
Long ago in West Africa, people say, all the wisdom in the world was kept in one clay pot. Nyame, the sky god, gave the pot to Anansi the spider. "Share it with everyone," Nyame said.
Anansi looked inside the pot. He saw ideas about planting, building, cooking, and healing. Every time he peeked, he learned something new. He learned how to find water in dry places. He learned how to build a roof that kept out the rain.
"Why should I share this?" Anansi thought. "If I keep it all, I will be the wisest one of all. Everyone will have to come to me for answers."
So Anansi decided to hide the pot. He would place it at the very top of the tallest silk-cotton tree, where no one could reach it.
Anansi tied the heavy pot to the front of his body with a vine. Then he began to climb. But the pot bumped against the tree trunk. It got in the way of his legs. He slipped down again and again. Anansi grew tired and cross, but he would not stop.
Anansi's young son, Ntikuma, was watching from below. "Father," he called, "why not tie the pot on your back? Then you could hold the tree with all your legs."
Anansi stopped. His face grew hot. He had all the wisdom in the world, yet a small child had thought of a better plan.
In that moment, Anansi understood something new. No one, not even a clever spider, can hold all the wisdom alone. Good ideas can come from anyone.
Anansi was so surprised that he let go of the pot. It fell to the ground and broke into many pieces. A strong wind blew the wisdom across the land. A little landed in every village and in every home.
That is why, the story says, everyone has a little bit of wisdom today. And when people share their ideas, they all grow wiser together.
What is the central message of this folktale?
- Children should always do what parents say.
- Good ideas can come from anyone.
- Tall trees are the best places to hide things.
- Spiders are the cleverest animals of all.
Why did Anansi want to hide the pot?
- He was afraid the pot would break.
- Nyame told him to keep it safe.
- He wanted to save it for his son.
- He wanted to be the only wise one.
Which detail first shows that Anansi was being selfish?
- He slipped down the tree again and again.
- He looked inside and saw ideas about planting.
- He asked himself why he should share the pot.
- He tied the pot to the front of his body.
What problem did Anansi have while he climbed?
- The pot on his front got in his way.
- The vine was too short to hold the pot.
- Ntikuma kept pulling on his legs.
- The tree was too wide to wrap his legs around.
How does Anansi change in the story?
- He becomes afraid of climbing trees.
- He decides to keep the pot forever.
- He stops thinking he is the only wise one.
- He stops trusting his son's ideas.
Which event shows the central message most clearly?
- A small child thinks of a better plan than Anansi.
- Anansi peeks inside and learns something new.
- Nyame gives the pot to Anansi to share.
- Anansi ties the heavy pot on with a vine.
What does the word wisdom mean in this folktale?
- knowing what is true and what is best to do
- gold and other shiny treasure
- the power to climb very fast
- a kind of strong, heavy clay
If Ntikuma had not spoken up, what would most likely have happened?
- The wind would have carried Anansi away.
- Anansi would have kept slipping down the tree.
- Anansi would have shared the pot right away.
- Nyame would have come to take the pot back.
How does the folktale explain why everyone has some wisdom today?
- The pot broke, and the wind spread the wisdom.
- Anansi went from village to village teaching.
- Ntikuma climbed the tree and shared the pot.
- Nyame made a new pot for every single home.
Which advice fits the lesson of this folktale?
- Keep important things in a safe, high place.
- Listen to ideas from others, even small children.
- Always tie a heavy load onto your back.
- Climb carefully when you carry something heavy.