Response # 4 Style of the book

            The last of the Mohicans is written like a story as opposed to some of the more modern novels that I have read which are only told from one person’s point of view. The last of the Mohicans has many different characters telling the story. It is written very formally for example they say things like “presented to the reader” or “when, therefore intelligence was received”. It also has illustrations with a list of illustrations and table of contents in the front. It has fancy lettering, artistic mortifies and short quotes at the beginning of each chapter.  The illustrations and the factual writing make the book seem like the story is fact in history rather then a fictional novel.

Response # 3 Inter racial themes

            There is both positive and negative inter racial themes explored in this book. The positive side of inter racial love is with Uncas and Cora, who fall in love. Cora herself is the product of an inter racial marriage. Exploring inter racial love and friendship in a different way Uncas is like a son to Hawkeye. In contrast Magua’s use of inter racial threats towards marrying Cora which is partially enabled by existing morals of the time.

Response # 2 Conflict Reflected in Nature

            Each time there is a major conflict there is different scenery. The first fight scene the Mohicans, Major Duncan Heyward, Cora and Alice and David Gamut are all under a waterfall hiding and the Mohicans leave to go fight in the river. There are Indians in the trees and fighting waist deep in a fast flowing river. The water itself is a conflict dragging the Indians downstream as they fight.

            Another scene in the book Chingachgook, Uncas and Hawkeye are tracking the Hurons using there “native skills” like they are hunting them through the woods. The last fight scene in this book they are fighting on a cliff. Gamut is saved by grabbing a branch while Magua plummets to his death by falling off the cliff. The conflict in the story is reflected in nature in many scenes like the violence of the river and the danger of the cliffs.  

Response # 1 Character Contrast

Hawkeye is one of the main characters in the book The Last of the Mohicans. He is a white man but was basically adopted into Chingachgook’s family. He has inner conflict about not having any Indian blood in him even though he acts more Indian than any of the Indians in his love for nature and comfort in the woods. In contrast Magua is an Indian who is a traitor to his heritage, kicked out of his tribe for drunkenness he is completely driven by revenge. Magua is willing to torture the Colonel by abducting his daughters and threatening to marry one of them.