Last of the MohicansBackgroundCharacters

Movie GuideVideo QuestionsWriting Prompts

James Fennimore Cooper wrote the novel The Last of the Mohicans in 1826. It was a story about Native American interactions with English, French and frontier settlers during the French and Indian War. Cooper was born almost thirty years after this war ended, but used the conflict as a backdrop to tell his story.

Last of the Mohicans: background

The French and Indian War was part of a larger global conflict called the Seven Years’ War between France and England (1756-1763). The Seven Years’ War was fought over territorial claims around the world and several other European powers were involved.

Last of the Mohicans: background

Seven Years’ War

French & Indian War

Third Silesian War

Pomeranian War

Spanish-Portuguese War

Third Carnatic War

Anglo-Spanish War

Seven Years’ War: West Africa

Seven Years’ War: West Indies

(planned) French Invasion of England

Last of the Mohicans: background

The Huron people were also known as the Wyandot and resided near Lake Ontario. They first came in contact with French explorers in 1615 (five years prior to the Mayflower). The Huron grew tobacco and traded furs with the French for decades. They were devastated by European diseases in the 1630s. The Huron were on the side of the French in the French and Indian War.

During the French and Indian War, the Mohicans (Mahicans) fought alongside the British while many of their enemies like the Iroquois and Huron fought alongside the French. They again sided with the English during the Revolutionary War. Their Mohican dialect is extinct today but the tribe is not. After Indian Removal of the 1820s and 1830s, most of the Mohican people moved to a reservation in Wisconsin.

Last of the Mohicans: background

James Fennimore Cooper’s novel has been adapted for radio, opera, theater, comic books, television and film. There have been at least seven film adaptations of the story, dating back to 1912. The most recent was the 1992 film starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

Last of the Mohicans: background

The 1992 film adaptation follows the novel to a degree. However, certain characters who survive in the novel die in the film. For example, Colonel Munro survives the novel but is killed in the film. Hawkeye kills Magua in the novel, but Chingachgook kills him in the film. Cora dies in the novel, but Alice dies in the film.

Last of the Mohicans: background

1992 filmOriginal novel

Using the character guide, follow along with various sections of the film to answer a series of questions (divided into four sections). Also, consider the five writing prompt options and respond to one of them as you watch the film in class.

Last of the Mohicans: Main Characters

Hawkeye

ChingachgookUncas

Hawkeye (Nathaniel): white adopted by Mohican father (Chingachgook)

Uncas: the Mohican son of Chingachgook and brother of Hawkeye

Chingachgook: the Mohican father of Hawkeye and Uncas

Colonel Edmund Munro: English Colonel; father of Cora and Alice

Cora Munro: the eldest daughter (brown hair) of Colonel Munro

Alice Munro: the younger daughter (blond hair) of Colonel Munro

Major Duncan Heyward: British officer; suitor of Cora Munro

Magua: Huron warrior; adversary of the English and the Mohican allies

General Montcalm: French war general; Enemy to the English

Last of the Mohicans: Main Characters

4 sections of the film1) 0:00 – 34:00. Introduction of main characters. British-controlled Fort William Henry is under attack2) 34:00-1:08:00 Fighting at Fort William Henry, sedition and loyalties debated (Hawkeye), the group of British soldiers surrender to the French. 3) 1:08:00-1:29:00 The Huron surprise attack on the retreating British, Hawkeye, Cora, Alice and Duncan escape in canoes but are captured by the Hurons4) 1:29:00-1:47:05 Negotiations with the Huron; death of Duncan, Uncas, Alice

Last of the Mohicans: 4 sections of the film

1) 0:00 – 34:00 2) 34:00-1:08:00

3) 1:08:00-1:29:00 4) 1:29:00-1:47:05

1) 0:00 – 34:00. Introduction of main characters. Hawkeye hunting with his family, British-controlled Fort William Henry is under attack1) What is the frontier?2) Who lived on the frontier?3) Why did many choose to live on the frontier?

Last of the Mohicans: Section 1

2) 34:00-1:08:00 Fighting at Fort William Henry, sedition and loyalties debated (Hawkeye), the group of British soldiers surrender to the French. 1) Why might a frontier settler decide to fight for England?2) What is sedition?3) What is Hawkeye’s perspective of the concept of loyalty?

Last of the Mohicans: Section 2

3) 1:08:00-1:29:00 The Huron surprise attack on the retreating British, Hawkeye, Cora, Alice and Duncan escape in canoes but are captured by the Hurons1) According to Hawkeye, what is the difference between savage and civilized?2) According to Cora, what is the difference between savage and civilized?3) During this time, what was the difference between English and American?

Last of the Mohicans: Section 3

4) 1:29:00-1:47:05 Negotiations between the Huron and Hawk-eye; The death of Duncan, Uncas, Alice1) Describe the French and English view of Native Americans?2) (research) Which native tribes allied with France, and which allied

with England?3) (research) What was the eventual outcome of the French and Indian

War (and the larger Seven Years’ War)?

Last of the Mohicans: Section 4

Writing Prompts (choose one to respond to):1) Highlight the ways in which racism appears in this story.

2) Analyze the incentives that native tribes have to fight for either the French or the English.

3) Describe the causes of the French and Indian War.

4) Decide which groups (more than others) have a right to claim the lands of North America.

5) Based on your knowledge and research of the topic, evaluate the historical accuracy of the film.

Last of the Mohicans: Writing Prompts