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.
Hawkeye
An expert marksman- Is called “La
Longue Carabine” by the Hurons
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Renard Subtil
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 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 group’s 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 collapses 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