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Mr. World (Low Key Lyesmith / Loki)
One of the most important figures in West African and Caribbean folklore, Anansi is a spider god who embodies the spirit of stories, boasts, and trickery. His worship comes mostly through the oral tradition, as the Astante people of Ghana tell many stories of how Anansi’s bravado, cunning, and sly wit help him triumph over stronger animals and people. In the novel, Mr. Nancy is an old friend of Mr. Wednesday’s and brings all the Old Gods together through his stories. He acts as a sort of uncle figure for Shadow, teasing the young man but giving him good advice about how to find his own identity and hold his own among the other gods.
Mr. Nancy (Anansi) Quotes in American Gods
The American Gods quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Nancy (Anansi) or refer to Mr. Nancy (Anansi). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 14
Quotes
Shadow was stretched out full length on the seat in the back. He felt like two people, or more than two. There was part of him that felt gently exhilarated: he had done something. He had moved. It wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't wanted to live, but he did want to live, and that made all the difference. He hoped he would live through this, but he was willing to die, if that was what it took to be alive.
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Chapter 19
Quotes
“Call no man happy until he is dead. Herodotus.” Mr. Nancy raised a white eyebrow, and he said, "I'm not dead yet, and, mostly because I’m not dead yet, I'm happy as a clamboy.”
“The Herodotus thing. It doesn't mean that the dead are happy,” said Shadow. “It means that you can't judge the shape of someone's life until it's over and done.”
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Get the entire American Gods LitChart as a printable PDF.
Mr. Nancy (Anansi) Quotes in American Gods
The American Gods quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Nancy (Anansi) or refer to Mr. Nancy (Anansi). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 14
Quotes
Shadow was stretched out full length on the seat in the back. He felt like two people, or more than two. There was part of him that felt gently exhilarated: he had done something. He had moved. It wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't wanted to live, but he did want to live, and that made all the difference. He hoped he would live through this, but he was willing to die, if that was what it took to be alive.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19
Quotes
“Call no man happy until he is dead. Herodotus.” Mr. Nancy raised a white eyebrow, and he said, "I'm not dead yet, and, mostly because I’m not dead yet, I'm happy as a clamboy.”
“The Herodotus thing. It doesn't mean that the dead are happy,” said Shadow. “It means that you can't judge the shape of someone's life until it's over and done.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
