The Last of the Mohicans

The Last of the Mohicans By: James Fennimore Cooper

Setting • 1757 • Up-state New York (before it was a state) • Focuses on the area between Fort William Henry and Fort Ticonderoga during the French and Indian War. • The Book also mentions bodies of water quite frequently, such as Lake George, referred to as the “Horican” because the French is too complicated, the Native American unpronounceable, and the English too plain. • Also, the Hudson River is important to the story as well.

Characters • There are two main groups in the book. “The Party” or protagonists and the antagonists and assorted others. The Party- Duncan, Alice, Cora, Chingachgook, Uncas, Hawkeye, General Munro(later on), and David The Antagonists- Magua and the Huron Tribe, The French Army and Montcalm Others- Tamenund, the Delaware Tribe

Characters Duncan Heyward Brave- Is a Major in the British Army. Protective- Is Alice’s and Cora’s escort to Fort William Henry. Compassionate- Cares for Alice and Cora. Cora Munro Strong-Headed- Comforts her younger sister. Beautiful- Her first description represents her that way. Persistent- Even when faced with the possible marriage of Magua, she still tries to find a way to escape that fate. Alice Munro Delicate- She is young and small and she breaks down when under the pressure of a terrifying situation. Beautiful- Also is described that way in her introduction. Is Duncan’s love interest. Hawkeye An expert marksman- Is called “La Longue Carabine” by the Huron and is feared. “Adopted”-He is a white man who was raised under the care of Chingachgook Intelligent- Pretends to be a bear to the advantage of the party. David Gamut A singer- Always carries a hymn book and iron-rimmed glasses Gentle- When faced with an oncoming battle, the only weapon he has is a slingshot. He is not used to violence. Dedicated- Is dedicated to singing and even though a stranger to Duncan and the Munro sisters, decides to accompany them on their journey. Uncas Stoic- remains calm when faced with death Skilled tracker- Can locate the tracks of the captors of Alice and Cora even when Chingachgook and Hawkeye cannot. One of the last of the Mohicans- In the book, the Mohicans are declining in number. Other important characters are as follows: the short-tempered, vengeful, silver tongued Magua, the old and hardened General Munro (worried father of Alice and Cora), Chingachgook- father of Uncas and an intimidating Mohican, and Tamenund- an ancient and wise Mohican that cannot believe his ears when Uncas declares himself a Mohican.

Characters • In The Last of the Mohicans. There multiple names given to many characters. This may cause the story to become confusing. Some of these other names are listed below. • Magua- Le RenardSubtil • Uncas- Le Cerf Agile • Chingachgook- the “sagamore” or the “woodsman” • Duncan- Duncan or Heyward • Hawkeye- La Longue Carabine and the “scout” or the “woodsman” • David- Gamut or the “master of song” • Also- the Mohicans and Hawkeye usually refer to the Hurons as Maquas or Mingos, these terms are words of contempt from the Delaware language.

Plot Events • The story begins as Duncan, Alice, and Cora make their way through the woods of New York towards the British controlled fort of William Henry with their Native American guide. Suddenly, a stranger approaches, having heard the group’s discussion of their destination, the stranger asks to join the group and is accepted. • Soon, however, the guide becomes lost and the group stumbles upon Chingachgook, Uncas, and Hawkeye, after explaining the importance of returning Alice and Cora to their father in the fort, the group asks for guidance to the fort from the three hunters. Soon they decide to help the group and in doing so, join the party. Hawkeye, however is suspicious of the Huron scout.

Plot Events • After realizing the danger of Iroquois in the area, the mysterious scout claims he knows a secret way through the land to Fort William Henry. However, the rest of the group realizes the the scout has started to lead the group the wrong way. So, Hawkeye tries to shoot the scout, succeeds, but the traitor, Magua gets away. So, fearing the danger of the Iroquois, they flee to a number of secret Mohican hideouts, a series of caves on the Hudson River. • Soon, the Iroquois find the group and David Gamut is injured, so, Cora comes up with a plan to have Hawkeye, Chingachgook and Uncas escape down the river and Cora, Alice, Duncan, and David hide. The plan is followed and soon the three that are meant to leave are gone (Uncas most reluctantly because he begins to love Cora). • However, the hidden members of the group are discovered by Magua and a group of Hurons.

Plot Events • At the Huron group’s base Cora is given an awful choice, marry Magua or Duncan, and Alice die. However, that decision is never made, for Hawkeye and the rest of the group rescues the captives. Eventually, after traveling through dangerous territory, they all arrive at the fort. However, it is sieged by Montcalm and the French. • Eventually, the British surrender and are forced to leave the area. But Montcalm, having no control over the Native Americans allied with him, most of the British are slaughtered by the Hurons and Iroquois, leaving the group and a few others, including Munro. However, Cora and Alice have been taken by the Hurons and Magua. • After tracking them down, the group finds a Huron town where Duncan dresses up as a doctor and accompanies David to try to find the women. The rest of the groups whereabouts are unknown.

Plot Events • Then, a terrible sight, Uncas is captured and Magua has decided to burn him the next morning. • But then as a “doctor”, Duncan is asked to see a women in a cave and remove the evil spirit in her body. So, Duncan enters the cave and finds an ugly and strange looking bear, and David, singing to the Native American woman who is obviously in a coma. • As soon as Duncan decides to pretend to heal the woman, the bear growls and tries to attack the group of Hurons that followed Duncan into the cave. Being superstitious, the Natives decide to leave the cave and let the doctor work alone. Suddenly, the bear frumps to the floor and out comes Hawkeye, and Alice, who was hiding behind a mountain of Native trinkets. Duncan is told to go with Alice and escape, while Hawkeye comes up with a plan to save Uncas from the wrath of Magua. • READ THE BOOK TO KNOW THE REST.

Conflict • The main conflict is the constant struggle between our protagonists and Magua and the Hurons. • This Conflict is resolved when a battle occurs between the Delaware tribe and the Huron tribe. Following this battle, three of the main characters die. Resolving the conflict.

Theme The Possibility of Interracial Relationships Examples: Cora and Uncas- A failed relationship Magua and Cora- A failed relationship Hawkeye and Chingachgook- Their friendship is a success

The End

The Last of the Mohicans