Study and Discussion Questions for The Last of the Mohicans
1. The opening two chapters establish the historical and physical setting for the first half of the
novel. What do we learn about both?
2. How does Cooper present Major Heyward and the two Munro sisters? How can we tell they
are out of place in the environment they must traverse? Why does Cooper add David Gamut to
their party? How does he first appear?
3. Magua also makes his first appearance in the opening chapters. What do we learn about him?
What aspects of his behavior foreshadow his emergence as the major antagonist of the narrative?
4. In Ch. 3 and 4, Cooper introduces Natty Bumppo, known in this novel as Hawk-eye, and his
friends Chingachgook and Uncas. What qualities distinguish them? How to they relate to the
environment that surrounds them? How do they read that environment in ways that Heyward
cannot?
5. In these early chapters, how does Cooper introduce the theme of the decline of Native
American culture? How does he continue to build on this as the novel continues?
6. Why does Cooper use the episode of the Indians attacks and the first captivity of the English
party?
7. During this first captivity, Magua offers to free Heyward, Alice, and Gamut if Cora will agree
to be his wife. Why does he ask this? What does taking Cora as a wife represent to him? What
does it represent to her?
8. Hawk-eye, Chingachgook and Uncas save the captives and manage to get them safely to Fort
William Henry. How does Cooper use this portion of their journey to develop more of the
background on the conflict between the French and English for control of portions of North
America?
9. Chapter 16 provides a respite from the journey and the tension that surrounds the fort. What
does Heyward learn in this chapter? How does Cooper use the conversation between Heyward
and Munro to tell the reader more about the differences between Cora and Alice? Why are these
differences significant? Do they introduce problematic elements into Cooper’s narrative?
10. Chapter 17 presents the bloody siege upon the surrendered British troops and civilians. How
does Cooper make use of language from captivity narratives? Why is he doing this? How does
this chapter also continue to build the picture of the French-British conflict?
11. In Chapter 18, Cooper tells the reader that he is now about to leave the historical record for
the rest of his narrative. Why does he do this? How does he begin to develop the elements of an
American myth in the second half of the novel?
12. The second half of the book presents the extended captivity of Cora and Alice. In this
instance, however, it is Uncas who steps forward to lead the quest for their return. What are the
implications of this shift away from Heyward?
13. During the second half of the narrative, Cooper uses a number of scenes that seem to stretch
the credulity of the reader, even if we agree that fiction involves the “willing suspension of
disbelief.” What are the effects of the scenes of Natty dressed as a bear? Of Heyward as a
medicine man?
14. Uncas is captured by the Delawares and Magua discovers that he now has his arch rival in a
position to demand his death. How are his plans frustrated?
15. In Chapter 30, Uncas reveals his true identity. What is the effect of his revelation? How
does Tamenund respond?
16. All of Magua’s prisoners are released, except for Cora, who must follow him into the
wilderness. In the climax of the pursuit that follows, Cooper structures a symbolic drama that
involves Magua, Cora and Uncas. What happens in this scene? What are the implications of
what has occurred?
17. The last chapter presents the funeral for Uncas and Cora, and introduces once again what
Cooper sees as the problematic issue of miscegenation for American culture. What is this so
problematic for Hawk-eye?
18. In the last Chapter, Tamenund also delivers a lament for the fate of Native Americans. What
does his lament reveal? Is it an appropriate closing to this novel? How do you interpret the
implications of the ending for the American culture that will emerge a few decades after the
novel takes place?