The Last of the Mohicans, or the Narrative of 1757
In the wars between the British and French for the possession of American lands (1755-1763), opponents more than once took advantage of civil strife between Indian tribes. The times were difficult and cruel. Dangers lurked at every step. And it is not surprising that the girls, who were traveling, accompanied by Major Duncan Hayward, to the commander of the besieged fort’s father, were worried. Especially disturbing to Alice and Cora - that was the name of the sisters - was the Indian Magua, nicknamed the Sly Fox. He volunteered to lead them along a supposedly safe forest path. Duncan reassured the girls, although he himself was beginning to worry: were they really lost?
Fortunately, in the evening the travelers met Hawkeye - this name was already firmly attached to St. John's Wort - and not alone, but with Chingachgook and Uncas. An Indian lost in the forest during the day?! Hawkeye was much more wary than Duncan. He invites the major to grab the guide, but the Indian manages to slip away. Now no one doubts the betrayal of the Magua Indian. With the help of Chingachgook and his son Uncas, Hawkeye ferries travelers to a small rocky island.
Continuing the modest dinner, “Uncas renders all the services in his power to Cora and Alice.” It’s noticeable that he pays more attention to Cora than to her sister. However, the danger has not yet passed. Attracted by the loud wheezing of horses frightened by wolves, the Indians find their shelter. Shootout, then hand-to-hand combat. The first onslaught of the Hurons was repulsed, but the besieged ran out of ammunition. Salvation is only in flight - unbearable, alas, for girls. It is necessary to sail at night, along a rapid and cold mountain river. Cora persuades Hawkeye to run away with Chingachgook and bring please help. She takes longer than other hunters to convince Uncas: the Major and sisters end up in the hands of Magua and his friends.
The kidnappers and captives stop on a hill to rest. The cunning Fox reveals to Kora the purpose of the kidnapping. It turns out that her father, Colonel Munro, once cruelly insulted him, ordering him to be whipped for drunkenness. And now, in revenge, he will marry his daughter. Cora indignantly refuses. And then Magua decides to brutally deal with the prisoners. The sisters and the major are tied to trees, and brushwood for the fire is laid out nearby. The Indian persuades Cora to agree, at least to take pity on her sister, who is very young, almost a child. But Alice, having learned about Magua’s intentions, prefers a painful death.
Enraged, Magua throws his tomahawk. The hatchet pierces the tree, pinning the girl's voluminous blond hair. The major breaks free of his bonds and rushes at one of the Indians. Duncan is almost defeated, but a shot is fired and the Indian falls. Hawkeye and his friends arrived in time. After a short battle, the enemies are defeated. Magua, pretending to be dead and seizing the moment, runs again.
The dangerous journeys end happily - the travelers reach the fort. Under the cover of fog, despite the French besieging the fort, they manage to get inside. The father finally saw his daughters, but the joy of the meeting was overshadowed by the fact that the defenders of the fort were forced to surrender, however, on conditions that were honorable for the British: the vanquished retained their banners, weapons and could freely retreat to their own.
At dawn, burdened with the wounded, as well as children and women, the garrison leaves the fort. Nearby, in a narrow wooded gorge, the Indians attack the convoy. Magua kidnaps Alice and Cora again.
On the third day after this tragedy, Colonel Munro, together with Major Duncan, Hawkeye, Chingachgook and Uncas, inspect the scene of the massacre. Based on barely noticeable traces, Uncas concludes: the girls are alive - they are in captivity. Moreover, continuing the inspection, the Mohican reveals the name of their kidnapper - Magua! After consulting, the friends go to extreme dangerous path: to the homeland of the Sly Fox, in areas inhabited mainly by Hurons. With adventures, losing and finding traces again, the pursuers finally find themselves near the Huron village.
Here they meet the psalmist David, who, taking advantage of his reputation for being weak-minded, voluntarily followed the girls. From David, the colonel learns about the situation of his daughters: he kept Alice Magua with him, and sent Cora to the Delawares living next door, on the lands of the Hurons. Duncan, in love with Alice, wants to penetrate the village at any cost. Pretending to be a fool, changing his appearance with the help of Hawkeye and Chingachgook, he goes on reconnaissance. In the Huron camp, he pretends to be a French doctor, and he, like David, is allowed by the Hurons to go everywhere. To Duncan's horror, the captive Uncas is brought to the village. At first, the Hurons take him for an ordinary prisoner, but Magua appears and recognizes Swift Deer. The hated name arouses such anger among the Hurons that, if not for the Cunning Fox, the young man would have been torn to pieces on the spot. Magua convinces his fellow tribesmen to postpone the execution until the morning. Uncas is taken to a separate hut. The father of a sick Indian woman turns to the doctor Duncan for help. He goes to the cave where the sick woman lies, accompanied by the girl’s father and a tame bear. Duncan asks everyone to leave the cave. The Indians obey the “doctor”’s demands and leave, leaving the bear in the cave. The bear is transformed - Hawkeye is hiding under the animal skin! With the help of a hunter, Duncan discovers Alice hidden in a cave - but then Magua appears. The sly Fox triumphs. But not for long.
The “bear” grabs the Indian and squeezes him in an iron embrace, the major ties the villain’s hands. But from the excitement she has experienced, Alice cannot take a single step. The girl is wrapped in Indian clothes, and Duncan - accompanied by the "bear" - carries her outside. Otiu, a sick self-proclaimed “doctor”, referring to the power of the Evil Spirit, orders him to stay and guard the exit from the cave. The trick succeeds - the fugitives safely reach the forest. At the edge of the forest, Hawkeye shows Duncan the path leading to the Delawares and returns to free Uncas. With the help of David, he deceives the warriors guarding the Swift-Footed Deer and hides with the Mohican in the forest. The enraged Magua, who is found in a cave and freed from his bonds, calls on his fellow tribesmen to take revenge.
The next morning, at the head of a strong military detachment, the Sly Fox goes to the Delawares. Having hidden the detachment in the forest, Magua enters the village. He appeals to the Delaware leaders, demanding the surrender of the captives. The leaders, deceived by the eloquence of the Sly Fox, agreed, but after Cora’s intervention it turns out that in reality only she is the captive of Magua - all the others freed themselves. Colonel Munro offers a rich ransom for Cora, but the Indian refuses. Uncas, who unexpectedly became the supreme leader, is forced to release Magua along with the captive. In parting, the Sly Fox is warned: after enough time has passed for them to escape, the Delawares will set foot on the warpath.
Soon military operations, thanks to the skillful leadership of Uncas, bring the Delawares a decisive victory. The Hurons are defeated. Magua, having captured Cora, flees. Swift-footed Deer pursues the enemy. Realizing that they cannot escape, the last of the surviving companions of the Sly Fox raises a knife over Cora. Uncas, seeing that he might not make it in time, throws himself from a cliff between the girl and the Indian, but falls and loses consciousness. Huron kills Cora. The fleet-footed Deer manages to defeat the killer, but Magua, seizing the moment, thrusts a knife into the young man’s back and takes off running. A shot sounds - Hawkeye settles with the villain.
Orphaned people, orphaned fathers, a solemn farewell. The Delawares have just lost a new leader - the last of the Mohicans (Sagamore), but one leader will be replaced by another; the colonel is survived by his youngest daughter; Chingachgook lost everything. And only Hawkeye, turning to the Great Serpent, finds words of consolation: “No, sagamore, you are not alone! We may be different in skin color, but we are destined to follow the same path. I have no relatives and I can say like you, there is no people of your own."
The Last of the Mohicans, or the Narrative of 1757 is a historical novel by American writer James Fenimore Cooper, first published in 1826. You can read on our website summary"The Last of the Mohicans" Cooper tells the story of life on the American frontier and is one of the first to depict the unique spiritual world and customs of the American Indians.
"The Last of the Mohicans" very briefly
James Cooper "The Last of the Mohicans" summary for reader's diary:
The novel takes place in british colony New York in August 1757, at the height of the French and Indian War. It tells about the exciting and dangerous adventures of two sisters, Alice and Cora, on their way to their father.
On the way, they, along with the major accompanying them, are kidnapped by the Indians, whose leader, Sly Fox, wants to take one of the girls as his wife in revenge on their father. But, fortunately, St. John's Wort, Chingachgook and Uncas come to their aid. They help them get to their father. But, unfortunately, Magua kills Swift Deer, the last of the Mohican tribe.
I was very shocked and touched by this book about brave and noble people who fought for their honor and freedom to the last.
Cooper's other novel about brave Indians, Deerslayer, or the First Warpath, was first published in 1841. It was thanks to this work that the name of one of the main characters, Chingachgook, became a household name. for a reader's diary will tell a story full of adventure, war and love about the life of Indian tribes.
A short retelling of "The Last of the Mohicans"
18 century. Fighting over land was common between the French and English. Very often they resorted to extreme measures and started internecine wars among Indian tribes. These territories became places where the blood of innocents was constantly shed and fierce battles were fought. The unfortunate residents, left without family, were ready to do anything to avenge the death of their loved ones.
Two girls, the daughters of a colonel, wanted to visit their father, who was besieged in enemy territory. They were accompanied by Major Duncan Hayward and the Indian Magua. Magua knew the forest well and guaranteed the girls that they would get to the appointed place very quickly. The short path lay through the fatal path, where the heroes turned.
Not far from the river bank, a hunter and the Chingachkug Indian were talking about what happened to the great tribe and how the whitefaces destroyed the Mohican families. The friends decide to go hunting, but the situation is defused by several white people. It was two girls accompanied by Hayward and Magua. It turned out that the travelers were lost and could not find a way out of the forest. This worries Chingachgook very much and he understands that Magua would never have gone astray.
The decision was made to shoot the deceiver, but Hayward stops the hunter. The deceitful traitor runs away and tries to hide in the forest. The travelers assumed that he must have led the girls straight into a trap. Chingachgook and his friend take the girls to safe place where no one can find them. But there they are found by those to whom Magua was supposed to lead his escorts. The heroes still find themselves surrounded by an enemy army of white-faced men.
Hayward and his help managed to escape, but the girls were captured. Magua kidnapped the girls for a reason, it was an old revenge against their father. But soon the major, Chingachkug and the hunter save the colonel's daughters. Magua was killed, so the heroes thought, but this turned out to be untrue. He is again trying to kidnap young girls. Having gathered all their strength, the team is one step ahead and defeats the enemies.
This is interesting: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain was published in 1826. The events of the story take place before Civil War in the USA in the town of St. Petersburg. On our website you can read chapter by chapter. As the author himself points out in the preface to the work, main character– Tom Sawyer, is “a combination of traits taken from three boys.”
The plot of the novel "The Last of the Mohicans"
"The Last of the Mohicans" Cooper summary:
In the wars between the British and French for the possession of American lands (1755–1763), opponents more than once took advantage of civil strife between Indian tribes. The times were difficult and cruel. Dangers lurked at every step.
And it is not surprising that the girls, who were traveling, accompanied by Major Duncan Hayward, to the father of the commander of the besieged fort, were worried. Especially disturbing to Alice and Cora - that was the name of the sisters - was the Indian Magua, nicknamed the Sly Fox. He volunteered to lead them along a supposedly safe forest path. Duncan reassured the girls, although he himself was beginning to worry: were they really lost?
Fortunately, in the evening the travelers met Hawkeye - this name was already firmly attached to St. John's Wort - and not alone, but with Chingachgook and Uncas. An Indian lost in the forest during the day?! Hawkeye was much more wary than Duncan. He invites the major to grab the guide, but the Indian manages to slip away. Now no one doubts the betrayal of the Magua Indian. With the help of Chingachgook and his son Uncas, Hawkeye ferries travelers to a small rocky island.
Continuing the modest dinner, “Uncas renders all the services in his power to Cora and Alice.” It’s noticeable that he pays more attention to Cora than to her sister. However, the danger has not yet passed. Attracted by the loud wheezing of horses frightened by wolves, the Indians find their shelter. Shootout, then hand-to-hand combat. The first onslaught of the Hurons was repulsed, but the besieged ran out of ammunition.
Salvation is only in flight - unbearable, alas, for girls. It is necessary to sail at night, along a rapid and cold mountain river. Cora persuades Hawkeye to run away with Chingachgook and bring help as soon as possible. She takes longer than other hunters to convince Uncas: the Major and sisters end up in the hands of Magua and his friends.
The kidnappers and captives stop on a hill to rest. The cunning Fox reveals to Kora the purpose of the kidnapping. It turns out that her father, Colonel Munro, once cruelly insulted him, ordering him to be whipped for drunkenness. And now, in revenge, he will marry his daughter. Cora indignantly refuses.
And then Magua decides to brutally deal with the prisoners. The sisters and the major are tied to trees, and brushwood for the fire is laid out nearby. The Indian persuades Cora to agree, at least to take pity on her sister, who is very young, almost a child. But Alice, having learned about Magua’s intentions, prefers a painful death.
Enraged, Magua throws his tomahawk. The hatchet pierces the tree, pinning the girl's voluminous blond hair. The major breaks free of his bonds and rushes at one of the Indians. Duncan is almost defeated, but a shot is fired and the Indian falls. Hawkeye and his friends arrived in time. After a short battle, the enemies are defeated. Magua, pretending to be dead and seizing the moment, runs again.
The dangerous journeys end happily - the travelers reach the fort. Under the cover of fog, despite the French besieging the fort, they manage to get inside. The father finally saw his daughters, but the joy of the meeting was overshadowed by the fact that the defenders of the fort were forced to surrender, however, on conditions that were honorable for the British: the vanquished retained their banners, weapons and could freely retreat to their own.
At dawn, burdened with the wounded, as well as children and women, the garrison leaves the fort. Nearby, in a narrow wooded gorge, the Indians attack the convoy. Magua kidnaps Alice and Cora again.
On the third day after this tragedy, Colonel Munro, together with Major Duncan, Hawkeye, Chingachgook and Uncas, inspect the scene of the massacre. Based on barely noticeable traces, Uncas concludes: the girls are alive - they are in captivity. Moreover, continuing the inspection, the Mohican reveals the name of their kidnapper - Magua! After consulting, the friends set off on an extremely dangerous journey: to the homeland of the Sly Fox, to areas inhabited mainly by Hurons. With adventures, losing and finding traces again, the pursuers finally find themselves near the Huron village.
Here they meet the psalmist David, who, taking advantage of his reputation for being weak-minded, voluntarily followed the girls. From David, the colonel learns about the situation of his daughters: he kept Alice Magua with him, and sent Cora to the Delawares living next door, on the lands of the Hurons. Duncan, in love with Alice, wants to penetrate the village at any cost. Pretending to be a fool, changing his appearance with the help of Hawkeye and Chingachgook, he goes on reconnaissance.
In the Huron camp, he pretends to be a French doctor, and he, like David, is allowed by the Hurons to go everywhere. To Duncan's horror, the captive Uncas is brought to the village. At first, the Hurons take him for an ordinary prisoner, but Magua appears and recognizes Swift Deer. The hated name arouses such anger among the Hurons that, if not for the Cunning Fox, the young man would have been torn to pieces on the spot. Magua convinces his fellow tribesmen to postpone the execution until the morning. Uncas is taken to a separate hut.
The father of a sick Indian woman turns to the doctor Duncan for help. He goes to the cave where the sick woman lies, accompanied by the girl’s father and a tame bear. Duncan asks everyone to leave the cave. The Indians obey the “doctor”’s demands and leave, leaving the bear in the cave. The bear is transformed - Hawkeye is hiding under the animal skin! With the help of a hunter, Duncan discovers Alice hidden in a cave - but then Magua appears. The sly Fox triumphs. But not for long.
The “bear” grabs the Indian and squeezes him in an iron embrace, the major ties the villain’s hands. But from the excitement she has experienced, Alice cannot take a single step. The girl is wrapped in Indian clothes, and Duncan - accompanied by a “bear” - carries her outside. The sick self-proclaimed “doctor,” referring to the power of the Evil Spirit, orders the sick father to stay and guard the exit from the cave.
The trick succeeds - the fugitives safely reach the forest. At the edge of the forest, Hawkeye shows Duncan the path leading to the Delawares and returns to free Uncas. With the help of David, he deceives the warriors guarding the Swift-Footed Deer and hides with the Mohican in the forest. The enraged Magua, who is found in a cave and freed from his bonds, calls on his fellow tribesmen for revenge.
The next morning, at the head of a strong military detachment, the Sly Fox goes to the Delawares. Having hidden the detachment in the forest, Magua enters the village. He appeals to the Delaware leaders, demanding the surrender of the captives. The leaders, deceived by the eloquence of the Sly Fox, agreed, but after Cora’s intervention it turns out that in reality only she is the captive of Magua - all the others freed themselves.
Colonel Munro offers a rich ransom for Cora, but the Indian refuses. Uncas, who unexpectedly became the supreme leader, is forced to release Magua along with the captive. In parting, the Sly Fox was warned: after enough time to escape, the Delawares would set foot on the warpath.
Soon military operations, thanks to the skillful leadership of Uncas, bring the Delawares a decisive victory. The Hurons are defeated. Magua, having captured Cora, flees. Swift-footed Deer pursues the enemy. Realizing that they cannot escape, the last of the surviving companions of the Sly Fox raises a knife over Cora.
Uncas, seeing that he might not make it in time, throws himself from a cliff between the girl and the Indian, but falls and loses consciousness. Huron kills Cora. The fleet-footed Deer manages to defeat the killer, but Magua, seizing the moment, thrusts a knife into the young man’s back and takes off running. A shot sounds - Hawkeye settles with the villain.
Orphaned people, orphaned fathers, a solemn farewell. The Delawares have just lost a new leader - the last of the Mohicans (Sagamore), but one leader will be replaced by another; the colonel is survived by his youngest daughter; Chingachgook lost everything.
And only Hawkeye, turning to the Great Serpent, finds words of consolation: “No, sagamore, you are not alone! We may be different in skin color, but we are destined to follow the same path. I have no relatives and I can say, like you, I don’t have my own people.”
In the wars between the British and French for the possession of American lands (1755-1763), opponents more than once took advantage of civil strife between Indian tribes. The times were difficult and cruel. Dangers lurked at every step. And it is not surprising that the girls, who were traveling, accompanied by Major Duncan Hayward, to the commander of the besieged fort’s father, were worried. Alice and Cora - that was the name of the sisters - were especially worried about the Indian Magua, nicknamed the Sly Fox. He volunteered to lead them along a supposedly safe forest path. Duncan reassured the girls, although he himself was beginning to worry: were they really lost?
Fortunately, in the evening the travelers met Hawkeye - this name was already firmly attached to St. John's Wort - and not just one, but with Chingachgook and Uncas. An Indian lost in the forest during the day?! Hawkeye was much more wary than Duncan. He invites the major to grab the guide, but the Indian manages to slip away. Now no one doubts the betrayal of the Magua Indian. With the help of Chingachgook and his son Uncas, Hawkeye ferries travelers to a small rocky island.
During the modest dinner, Uncas “provides all the services in his power to Cora and Alice.” It’s noticeable that he pays more attention to Cora than to her sister. However, the danger has not yet passed. Attracted by the loud snoring of horses frightened by wolves, the Indians find their shelter. A shootout ensues, then it comes to hand-to-hand combat. The first onslaught of the Hurons was repulsed, but the besieged ran out of ammunition. Salvation is only in flight. It is necessary to sail at night, along a rapid and cold mountain river. Cora persuades Hawkeye to run away with Chingachgook and bring help quickly. The major and sisters find themselves in the hands of Magua and the Indians.
The kidnappers and captives stop on a hill to rest. The cunning Fox reveals to Kora the purpose of the kidnapping. It turns out that her father, Colonel Munro, once cruelly insulted him, ordering him to be flogged for drunkenness. And now, in revenge, he will marry his daughter. Cora is outraged. And then Magua decides to brutally deal with the prisoners. The sisters and the major are tied to trees, and brushwood for the fire is laid out nearby. The Indian persuades Cora to agree, to take pity on her sister, who is very young, almost a child. But Alice, having learned about Magua’s intentions, prefers a painful death.
Enraged, Magua throws his tomahawk. The hatchet pierces the tree, pinning the girl's voluminous blond hair. The major breaks free of his bonds and rushes at one of the Indians. Duncan is almost defeated, but a shot is fired and the Indian falls. Hawkeye and his friends arrived in time. After a short battle, the enemies are defeated. Magua, pretending to be dead and seizing the moment, runs again.
The dangerous journey ends happily - the travelers reach the fort. Under the cover of fog, despite the French besieging the fort, they manage to get inside. The father finally saw his daughters, but the joy of the meeting was overshadowed by the fact that the defenders of the fort were forced to surrender, however, on conditions that were honorable for the British: the vanquished retained their banners, weapons and could freely retreat to their own.
At dawn, burdened with the wounded, as well as children and women, the garrison leaves the fort. Nearby, in a narrow wooded gorge, the Indians attack the convoy. Magua kidnaps Alice and Cora again.
On the third day after this tragedy, Colonel Munro, together with Major Duncan, Hawkeye, Chingachgook and Uncas, inspect the scene of the massacre. Based on barely noticeable traces, Uncas concludes: the girls are alive - they are in captivity. Moreover, continuing the inspection, the Mohican reveals the name of their kidnapper - Magua! After consulting, the friends set off on an extremely dangerous journey: to the homeland of the Sly Fox, to the Hurons.
Here they meet the psalmist David, who, taking advantage of his reputation for being weak-minded, voluntarily followed the girls. From David, the colonel learns about the situation of his daughters: he kept Alice Magua with him, and sent Cora to the Delawares. Duncan, in love with Alice, wants to penetrate the village at any cost. Pretending to be a fool, with the help of Hawkeye and Chingachgook, changing his appearance, he goes on reconnaissance. In the Huron camp, he pretends to be a French doctor, and just like David, the Hurons allow him to go everywhere. To Duncan's horror, the captive Uncas is brought to the village. At first, the Hurons take him for an ordinary prisoner, but Magua appears and recognizes Swift Deer. The hated name arouses such anger among the Hurons that if it were not for the Cunning Fox, the young man would have been torn to pieces on the spot. Magua convinces his fellow tribesmen to postpone the execution until the morning. Uncas is taken to a separate hut. The father of a sick Indian woman turns to the doctor Duncan for help. He goes to the cave where the sick woman lies, accompanied by the girl’s father and a tame bear. Duncan asks everyone to leave the cave. The Indians obey the “doctor”’s demands and leave, leaving the bear in the cave. The bear is transformed - Hawkeye is hiding under the animal skin! The trick succeeds - the fugitives safely reach the forest. At the edge of the forest, Hawkeye shows Duncan the path leading to the Delawares and returns to free Uncas. With the help of David, he deceives the warriors guarding the Swift-Footed Deer and hides with the Mohican in the forest. The enraged Magua, who is found in a cave and freed from his bonds, calls on his fellow tribesmen to take revenge.
The next morning, at the head of a strong military detachment, the Sly Fox goes to the Delawares. Having hidden the detachment in the forest, Magua enters the village. He turns to the Avar leaders, demanding to hand over the captives. Deceived by the eloquence of the Sly Fox, the leaders agreed, but after Cora’s intervention it turns out that in reality she is the only captive of Magua - all the others freed themselves. Colonel Munro offers a rich ransom for Cora, but the Indian refuses. Uncas, who unexpectedly became the supreme leader, is forced to release Magua along with the captive. In parting, the Sly Fox is warned: after enough time has passed for them to escape, the Delawares will set foot on the warpath.
Soon military operations, thanks to the skillful leadership of Uncas, bring the Delawares a decisive victory. The Hurons are defeated. Magua, having captured Cora, flees. Swift-footed Deer pursues the enemy. Realizing that they cannot escape, the last of the surviving companions of the Sly Fox raises a knife over Cora. Uncas, seeing that he might not make it in time, throws himself from the cliff between the girl and the Indian, but, stunned by the fall, loses consciousness. Huron kills Cora. The fleet-footed Deer manages to defeat the killer, but Magua, seizing the moment, thrusts a knife into the young man’s back and takes off running. A shot sounds - Hawkeye settles with the villain.
Orphaned people, orphaned fathers, a solemn farewell. The Delawares had just lost the leader they had found - the last of the Mohicans (Sagamore); but one leader will be replaced by another; the colonel is survived by his youngest daughter; Chingachgook lost everything. And only Hawkeye, turning to the Great Serpent, finds words of consolation: “No, sagamore, you are not alone! We may be different in skin color, but we are destined to follow the same path. I have no relatives, and I can say, like you, I don’t have my own people.”
A novel you can't help but admire! He became beloved for entire generations. Young people looked up to the heroes of this work, and people at a more mature age tried to do this. This is an adventure story with a certain adventurous spirit. But there is also a tragedy in it, which you cannot read about without tears in your eyes. The death of Uncas reflects the dramatic fate of the indigenous population of America - the brave Indians who were deprived of not only their shelter, but also their lives.
The novel “The Last of the Mohicans,” a brief summary of which is familiar to everyone from many films and cartoons, is the most popular creation. Written by the author in 1826, it is part of a cycle of five works with a common hero - Natty Bumppo or Leatherstocking. The entire cycle describes the character's life from early youth to old age. And before his eyes, the New World turns from an almost deserted (with the exception of red-skinned tribes) corner of the earth into a lively place. However, this process was not entirely positive: many good people, dying during the battle.
The end of wild, virtually undeveloped America is what The Last of the Mohicans describes. The content of the novel is the brutal deforestation of virgin forests, violence against the rightful owners of the land - people who, ironically, were his fellow tribesmen. And the worst thing is that it was he, Natty, who helped them settle here and gain a foothold.
"The Last of the Mohicans" Summary of the novel
To tell the story briefly, it describes General Munro, who came to the frontier with two beautiful daughters. However, at that time there was a war between the colonialists, into which they dragged the aborigines. It so happens that Cora and Alice are kidnapped by the Hurons, allies of the French, and Hawkeye (that is, Natty Bumppo) and his friends are trying to free them. The hero is helped by the already familiar Indians Chingachgook and his son Uncas, the last representatives of the Mohican tribe remaining alive.
The novel “The Last of the Mohicans,” a brief summary of which cannot convey the entire exciting atmosphere, is filled with events. Fierce fights, traps, and persecutions help reveal the characters’ characters and show their positive and negative traits. All the action takes place in the lap of amazing nature, which can act as an ally to positive characters. The customs of a civilization that is doomed to destruction are also very vividly described. Therefore, it is better to read the entire novel “The Last of the Mohicans.” A summary will not be able to reflect the full depth of feelings that cover Chingachgook and Natty when they see the death of Uncas. The young man, with all his courage and enthusiasm, protects his beloved at the cost of his own life. However, this did not save Cora - the enraged Magua managed to plunge his dagger into the girl’s chest. The work ends with a touching funeral scene, which makes the heart clench with pain.
What is a novel for contemporaries? An ode to courage, bravery, self-sacrifice. It also became the beginning of a new genre in American literature and art - the Western. Therefore, we can safely say that it was Cooper who laid the foundation for the further development of the culture of the American people. “The Last of the Mohicans” is undoubtedly a work that is worthy of your attention.
In 1826, Fenimore Cooper wrote his novel The Last of the Mohicans. A brief summary of it is presented in this article. In his book, the author was one of the first to describe the uniqueness of the customs and spiritual world of the American Indians. The genre of historical novel is "The Last of the Mohicans". Its summary, like the work itself, takes place in the mid-18th century. So, let's start describing the plot of this book.
The author of the work “The Last of the Mohicans,” a brief summary of which we describe, says that in the wars that broke out between the French and the British for the possession of the lands of America (1755-1763), the warring parties more than once took advantage of the feuds of local Indians for their own purposes. tribes It was a very cruel and difficult time. It is not surprising that the girls, traveling to see their father, the commander of the besieged fort, accompanied by Duncan Hayward, a major, were worried. The Indian Magua, nicknamed the Sly Fox, especially worried Cora and Alice (that was the name of the sisters). This man volunteered to lead them along a safe forest path. Hayward reassured his companions, although he too was beginning to worry: maybe they were lost? By continuing to read the summary of the novel "The Last of the Mohicans", you will find out if this is so.
Meeting with Hawkeye, Magua's exposure and escape
In the evening, fortunately, the travelers met Hawkeye (a nickname firmly attached to St. John's wort). Moreover, he was not alone, but with Uncas and Chingachgook. An Indian who got lost in the forest during the day?! Hawkeye was much more alarmed than Duncan. He suggested that he grab the conductor, but he managed to escape. No one doubts anymore that the Magua Indian is a traitor. With the help of Chingachgook, as well as Uncas, his son, Hawkeye transports the arrivals to a small rocky island.
Chingachgook and Hawkeye go for help
Further, the summary of the book “The Last of the Mohicans” describes a modest dinner, during which Uncas provides Alice and Cora with all kinds of services. It is noticeable that he pays more attention to the latter than to her sister. The Indians, attracted by the wheezing of horses frightened by wolves, find their shelter. A shootout ensues, followed by hand-to-hand combat. The first onslaught of the Hurons was repulsed, but the besieged no longer had any ammunition left. All that remains is to run, which, alas, is too much for the girls. You need to swim at night along a cold and rapids mountain river. Cora suggests that Hawkeye go with Chingachgook to bring help. She has to convince Uncas longer than other hunters: the sisters and the major end up in the hands of Magua, negative hero, created by Fenimore Cooper (“The Last of the Mohicans”).
The captives and captors stop to rest on a hill. Sly Fox tells Cora why they were kidnapped. Colonel Munro, her father, as it turned out, once greatly insulted him, ordering him to be flogged for drunkenness. In revenge, he plans to take his daughter as his wife. Cora resolutely refuses. Magua decides to brutally deal with his prisoners. The major and sisters are tied to trees, near which brushwood is laid out to light a fire. The Indian advises Cora to agree at least for the sake of her young sister, who is still practically a child. However, having learned what Magua demands from Cora in exchange for their lives, the brave heroine of the work “The Last of the Mohicans” prefers to die painfully. The summary of the chapters does not describe in detail all the misadventures of the girls. Let's move on to the story of their salvation.
Rescue the girls
The Indian throws his tomahawk. A hatchet pierces the tree, pinning Cora's blond hair. The major breaks free of his bonds and attacks the Indian. Duncan is almost defeated, but a shot is fired and the Indian falls. It was Hawkeye and his friends who arrived. The enemies are defeated after a short battle. Having pretended to be dead, Magua seizes the moment to escape again.
Travelers arrive at the fort
The dangerous journey ends safely - the travelers finally reach the fort. Despite the French besieging it, they manage to get inside under the cover of fog. Finally, the father sees his daughters. The defenders of the fort are forced to accept defeat, however, on conditions that are honorable for the British: the defeated retain their weapons and banners and can retreat unhindered to their own.
New kidnapping of Cora and Alice
However, this is not the end of the misadventures of the main characters in The Last of the Mohicans. A summary of further misfortunes that befell them is as follows. Burdened with wounded women and children, the garrison leaves the fort at dawn. In a narrow wooded gorge located nearby, the Indians attack a convoy. Once again Magua kidnaps Cora and Alice.
Colonel Munro, Major Duncan, Uncas, Chingachgook and Hawkeye inspect the battle site on the 3rd day after the tragedy. Uncas concludes from barely noticeable traces that the girls are alive and that they are being held captive. Continuing to inspect this place, the Mohican even establishes that they were kidnapped by Magua! Friends, after consulting, set off on a very dangerous journey. They decide to make their way to the homeland of the Sly Fox, to the lands inhabited mainly by the Hurons. Losing and finding traces again, experiencing many adventures, the pursuers finally find themselves near the village.
Rescue of Uncas, cunning transformation
Here they meet David, the psalmist, who, taking advantage of his reputation as a weak-minded person, voluntarily followed the girls. From him, the colonel learns about what happened to his daughters: Magua kept Alice with him, and sent Cora to the Delawares living on the Huron lands next door. Duncan, in love with Alice, wants to penetrate the village at any cost. He decides to pretend to be a fool, changing his appearance with the help of Chingachgook and Hawkeye. In this form, Duncan goes on reconnaissance.
You're probably curious to know how "The Last of the Mohicans" continues? Reading the summary, of course, is not as interesting as the novel itself. Nevertheless, its plot, you see, is exciting.
Having reached the Huron camp, Duncan poses as a doctor from France. Just like David, the Hurons allow him to go everywhere. To the horror of Duncan, the captive Uncas is brought to the village. At first he is mistaken for a simple prisoner, but Magua recognizes him as the Swift Deer. This name, hated by the Hurons, causes such anger that if the Cunning Fox had not stood up for him, Uncas would have been torn to pieces. However, Magua convinces his fellow tribesmen to postpone the execution until the morning. Uncas is taken to the hut.
The father of an Indian woman who is sick turns to Duncan as a doctor for help. He comes to the cave in which the sick woman lies, accompanied by a tame bear and the girl’s father. Duncan asks to be left alone with the patient. The Indians obey this demand and leave, leaving the bear in the cave. He transforms - it turns out that Hawkeye is hiding under an animal skin! Duncan, with the help of a hunter, discovers Alice hidden in a cave, but Magua appears. The Sly Fox triumphs. However, not for long. What does Cooper tell the reader about next ("The Last of the Mohicans")? The summary describes in general terms future fate heroes.
Escape from captivity
The “bear” pounces on the Indian and squeezes him in his arms, and the major ties the villain’s hands. Alice cannot take a single step due to the stress she has experienced. The girl is wrapped in Indian clothes, Duncan carries her outside, accompanied by the “bear”. The self-proclaimed “doctor” orders the patient’s father to stay in order to guard the exit from the cave, citing the power of the Evil Spirit. This trick succeeds - the fugitives safely reach the forest. Hawkeye at the edge of the forest shows Duncan the path that leads to the Delawares. He then returns to free Uncas. With the help of David, he deceives the warriors guarding the Swift Deer, and then hides in the forest with the Mohican. Magua is furious. He is discovered in a cave and freed, he calls on his fellow tribesmen to take revenge.
A necessary sacrifice
At the head of a military detachment, the Sly Fox decides to go to the Delawares. Magua, having hidden a detachment in the forest, enters the village and turns to the leaders with a demand to hand over the captives to him. The leaders, deceived by Magua's eloquence, at first agree, but Cora intervenes, who says that in reality only she is the captive of the Sly Fox - the rest have freed themselves. Colonel Munro promises a rich ransom for Cora, but the Indian refuses. Uncas, who unexpectedly became the supreme leader, must release the Cunning Fox along with his captive. Magua partingly warns that after the time necessary to escape, the Delawares will go on the warpath.
Dramatic ending
Let's move on to the description of the ending of the novel, authored by Cooper ("The Last of the Mohicans"). The summary does not convey, unfortunately, all its drama. Military action soon brings a decisive victory to the tribe thanks to the leadership of Uncas. The Hurons are defeated. Having captured Cora, Magua flees. The enemy is pursued by the Swift Deer. Realizing that it will not be possible to leave, the last of Magua’s companions to survive raises a knife over the girl. Seeing that he might be late, Uncas throws himself off the cliff between the Indian and the girl, but falls and loses consciousness. Cora is killed. Swift-footed Deer, however, manages to defeat her killer. Seizing the moment, Magua thrusts a knife into the young man’s back, after which he takes off running. A shot is heard - this is Hawkeye dealing with the villain.
Thus, the fathers were orphaned, and the entire people were orphaned. The Delawares had just lost their newfound leader, who was the last of the Mohicans. However, one leader can be replaced by another. The youngest daughter remained with the colonel. And Chingachgook lost everything. Only Hawkeye finds words of consolation. He turns to the Great Serpent and says that the sagamore is not alone. Perhaps they have different colour skin, but they are destined to follow the same path.
This is how F. Cooper ends his work (“The Last of the Mohicans”). We have described its brief content only in general terms, since the work itself is quite large in volume, like all novels. Its plot, as you can see, is very fascinating. F. Cooper never makes readers bored. “The Last of the Mohicans,” a summary of which we have just described, is just one of the many works of this author. Fenimore Cooper's work brings pleasure to many readers.
