The characteristics of a trickster figure in mythology include cunning intelligence, playfulness, and the ability to challenge norms. Tricksters often transcend societal boundaries, bringing change through deception or clever schemes. They embody dualities, acting as both creator and destroyer while exposing human foibles. Figures like Loki in Norse mythology and Anansi in African folklore exemplify how tricksters complicate narratives, provoke thought, and impart wisdom, often highlighting the fine line between chaos and order.