THE TRICKSTER Folktales from around the world have wonderful, esting characters, One Common folktale character IS the trickster, The trickster shows good and bad human qualities. In Some stories the trickster is strong, proud,' and Sometimes stupid, like the ugly frightening trolls of Scandinavia. These Characters often have a SCheme. In the Scheme, they make weak animals do something for them. Many other trickster characters are small and not strong, but they are very clever. They carefully use their special abilities to obtain something own they want. Examples ofthese tricksters are Anansithespider from West Africa, andthe rabbit-from the American South. Tricksters often enjoy tricking other characters, but they do not always win in the end.