In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human, or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and defy conventional behavior .
What is the purpose of a trickster?
A trickster is a character in folktales that usually appears as an animal who has human traits — like being able to talk. Trickster tales are used to entertain and often to teach lessons about how to behave and treat other people . First Nations people have used trickster stories to teach their children for many years.
What is an example of a trickster?
The trickster-tale genre of folklore appears in some form in every culture, and many examples are available. The Chaco people of Colombia and Panama tell tales of Fox ; like Coyote, he is always bested. ... Japan’s Kitsune is a trickster fox renowned for his mischievous metamorphic abilities.
What are the six traits of a trickster?
- fundamentally ambiguous and anomalous.
- deceiver and trick-player.
- shape-shifter or master of disguise.
- situation-inverter.
- messenger and imitator of the gods.
- sacred and lewd bricoleur.
Is a trickster good or bad?
Tricksters are mischievous characters throughout folklore and myth which have a secret knowledge or power. They use their gifts not for piety, or for kindness, or even for evil. ... Tricksters can be evil by our modern definition, but more often are simply enjoying the chaos they create.
What is a trickster in English?
: one who tricks: such as. a : a dishonest person who defrauds others by trickery. b : a person (such as a stage magician) skilled in the use of tricks and illusion. c : a cunning or deceptive character appearing in various forms in the folklore of many cultures.
What type of God is Loki?
What is Loki the god of? Loki is considered a trickster god , known for being neither fully good nor evil since his main aim was always to create chaos. Despite his father being a giant, he is still counted a member of the Aesir—a tribe of deities including Odin, Frigg, Tyr, and Thor.
Is trickster a character trait?
Simply put, a trickster is a character in a story who navigates their way through their wit. They’re highly intelligent, crafty , and possess some kind of secret knowledge which they use to trick other characters.
What animals are tricksters?
They usually take the form of animals, although they also have some human qualities and may appear human if it suits their purposes. The most common trickster figure is Coyote , but Raven, Crow, Bluejay, Rabbit, Spider, Raccoon, Bear, and others appear in the trickster myths of different Native American groups.
What are the features of trickster narratives?
The trickster has a problem or helps someone with a problem . The trickster outwits another character to solve the problem. The trickster may have a flaw. The story is short and usually funny.
Is the Joker a trickster?
In his book Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art, scholar Lewis Hyde describes the archetypal trickster as a “boundary-crosser .” In Persona 5, Joker’s power is directly tied to his ability to permeate unseen and thus mostly impenetrable barriers—specifically, the game’s Metaverse.
Who are some famous tricksters?
- Viola (Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night)
- Loki/Low Key Lyesmith (Neil Gaiman’s American Gods)
- Peeves (J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter)
- Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
- Skeeter (Kathryn Stockett’s The Help)
- Puck (Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Why is Jack Sparrow a trickster?
The legendary pirate Captain Jack Sparrow was known to be the irreverent trickster of the Caribbean, using wit and deceit to attain his goals . Jack was referred to as a trickster by Blackbeard. Hector Barbossa was also a trickster, having matched with Jack Sparrow.
What powers do trickster have?
Tricksters, as gods, are very powerful beings capable of warping reality to an immense degree . However, their power to do so is not on par with an archangel’s. Immortality – Tricksters can live for thousands of years without aging or dying. Invulnerability – Tricksters are invulnerable to most forms of harm.
How do you know if you’re a trickster?
Often, this bending or breaking of rules takes the form of tricks or thievery. Tricksters can be cunning or foolish or both. The trickster openly questions, disrupts or mocks authority. They are often male characters, and are fond of breaking rules, boasting, and playing tricks on both humans and gods.
Is Anansi good or evil?
Despite his small size, Anansi often gets the better of those bigger and stronger than him by relying on his wits. He often uses his intelligence to avoid certain death, and take revenge on those who slight him, however, unlike the trickster figure Loki in Norse Mythology, Anansi is largely benevolent .
