Leiningen Versus the Ants Flashcards

Author and Setting

• Carl Stephenson is the author of "Leiningen Versus the Ants".
• The story is set in Brazil during the early twentieth century, specifically on a plantation near a river.

Ants and Their Behavior

• The ant colony covers a vast area of two by ten miles, totaling twenty square miles.
• Ants attempt multiple strategies to cross defenses, including:
  • Finding alternate routes around the moat.
  • Forming bridges by throwing themselves into the water.
  • Utilizing leaves, bark, and twigs as rafts.

Defenses Against the Ants

• Leiningen employs several defenses against the ant invasion:
  • A moat surrounding the plantation.
  • Cutting branches over the moat and river to prevent easy access.
  • Creating a second ditch filled with petrol.
  • Using petrol sprinklers as an additional deterrent.
  • Throwing sand and dirt to disrupt the ants.

Impact of Ants

• Ants are capable of consuming a stag in just six minutes.
• The first part of the stag that the ants target is the eyes.

Medical Assistance

• A medicine man provides workers with medicine to alleviate pain and counteract venom from the ants.

Ant Attacks and Strategies

• Attacks by ants typically cease at night, providing a temporary reprieve for Leiningen and his workers.
• Leiningen draws an analogy between his situation and "Macbeth", highlighting a struggle against overwhelming odds.

Leiningen's Strategy

• Leiningen's final strategy to defeat the ants involves:
  • Running two miles through the ant-infested area to reach the dam.
  • Activating the dam to flood the area, effectively drowning the ants.

Leiningen’s Philosophy

• Leiningen's motto emphasizes the potential of the human brain, stating that awareness of its powers can help conquer even nature's fiercest challenges.

Retaliation Plans

• After the ants temporarily retreat, Leiningen orders to refrain from disturbing them, planning to ignite them when conditions are optimal.