Tiger is one of the Old Gods in the Anansi Boys novel, and comes from West-African mythology. He is the main antagonist and is the god of all big cats, savagery, and the hunt.
Background[]
Tiger and Anansi lived in pre-historical Africa. Tiger first owned all the stories; sad stories about the hunt, blood, and death. After some time, however, Anansi stole all of Tiger's stories. In these stories based on West African animism, Mr. Nancy plays tricks on the other animals including such characters as Bird and Monkey.
Significance in narrative[]
American Gods[]
At the meeting of the Old Gods at the House on the Rock, Mr. Nancy steps in as the "warm-up" man and and tells the crowd of Old Gods a story about how he stole Tiger's balls and blamed it on Old Monkey, which is why to this day, Tiger chases monkeys.
Anansi Boys[]
Fat Charlie Nancy first meets Tiger when he travels to the end of the world in his search to find a way to get rid of his brother, Spider.
Later in the story, Bird is hunting Charlie Nancy and Spider. When Spider is captured by Bird, it is revealed that Bird has been working for Tiger all along. Tiger wants to reclaim his stories and plunge the world once again in savagery and darkness.
In the end, Spider and Charlie defeat Tiger and capture him in his cave in the end of the world.
Notes and Trivia[]
- Tiger appears in Anansi tales, where Tiger and other animals including Bird and Monkey are frequently tricked and embarrassed by Anansi.