"Song of Hiawatha." Summary of the chapters

In this article, we will consider one of G. Longfellow's most famous words, "The Song of Hiawatha." The brief content and analysis of the poem will be of interest to us in the first place.

About the work

Epic poem "Song of Hiawatha" is a classic monument of American literature. Its structure and the size of the verse were borrowed by the author from the Karelian epic, or rather from the work of Kalevala.

The poem was published in November 1855 in the US and was immediately appreciated by readers and critics. Over the next few years, the book was repeatedly reprinted in English and was translated into many languages of the world.

In Russia, the work was translated by IA Bunin. This translation is still unsurpassed.

History of creation

It is based on the Indian folklore "Song of Hiawatha" (for a brief discussion, see below). Longfellow engaged in a serious study of the works of historians dedicated to the culture and life of the Indians. Moreover, the author communicated with representatives of various tribes. In 1849, there was a significant meeting with the leader of the Ojibuyev tribe, who told him many legends of his people. It is these legends that formed the basis of the poem.

Longfellow's aim was to try to convert American literature to its origins, to teach American readers to feel pride and national respect for those who originally lived on their lands.

There are also historical facts in the "Song of Hiawatha". In particular, this is the history of the creation of the League of Remembrance in 1570, which included the Iroquois tribes. Initially, the League was considered a military alliance, but later turned into a council of collective government, which put an end to the hostility between the tribes.

Henry Longfellow, "The Song of Hiawatha": a summary

The poem begins with memories of a famous Indian musician named Navadagh who, in ancient times, sang a song about Hiawatha - about birth, "great life", but most importantly, about the exploits he performed, that his people were happy and lived in kindness and Truth.

However, the narrator then takes us completely to another time and place. Now before the reader appears the Lord of Life, Gitchi Manito, the supreme Indian deity. He created all nations, traced valleys and rivers with his own hands and made a pipe from clay, and then lit it. When the smoke that rose to the sky from the peace tube was seen by the leaders of all the tribes, they gathered around the Lord of Life. Then Gitchi Manito began to call the warring tribes to reconcile themselves, to become brothers. Then he predicts the appearance of a prophet, who will show the leaders the true path to salvation. After listening to the Lord of Life and obeying his speeches, the Indians began to enter the waters of the river to wash off the war paint. Then they light a pipe of peace and go back to their tribes.

Like many epic works, "The Song of Hiawatha" (a summary of this confirms) is built into the mythological representation of the Indians about the world and its structure.

Then we talk about how, having overcome a huge bear named Misha-Mokvu, becomes Madjakivis the Lord of the West Wind. He gives his children authority over other winds: Shavandazi - Southern, Vebon - East, and evil Kabibonokke - North.

Now the narrative takes us back in time. In the distant times, from the month in the blossoming valley, the beautiful daughter of the night lights Nokomis fell. In this valley she gave birth to a daughter and gave her the name Venona. When the girl grew up, her mother began to warn her, so that she feared the magic of Majakivis. However, Venona did not heed the advice of her mother. The Lord of the West Wind fascinated her, and then she gave birth to Venon's son "tender passion and sadness" and gave him the name of Hiawatha.

Father's Quest

As in any epic, the main character of the poem "The Song of Hiawatha" has a divine origin. The summary further tells of the sad fate that befell his mother. Shortly after the birth of his son, Madjakivis tossed Venona, and from grief she died. Grown up and brought up a young Hiawatha grandmother Nokomis.

Angered, Hiawatha takes the magic mittens, puts on magical moccasins and goes to look for her father in order to avenge the death of her mother. Soon the hero finds Majakivis and enters into battle with him. Three days the battle continues, and then the father asks his son to stop the fight. Madjakivisa can not be defeated: he is immortal. He asks Hiawatha to return to his tribe, start cultivating the land, clearing the rivers, expelling the monsters. For this, after death, he promises to make him the ruler of the north-west wind.

He goes to the forest of Hiawatha and fasts for 7 nights. He addresses with prayer to Gitchi Manito and asks for happiness for his people. In response to this, a young man named Mondamin appears in his wigwam. Hiawatha engages him, kills and bury him. The hero visits the grave of the dead, and gradually it is sprouted with green stems. This is another embodiment of the young man - corn, which was sent to people by the Lord of Life.

The exploits of Hiawatha

The Song of Hiawatha continues. The summary tells how Hiawatha, together with Kvazind, his friend and strong man, cleared the river Takvamino from snags. In the Gatchi-Gyumi Bay, the hero catches the Great Sturgeon named Mishe-Namu, who swallows it with the boat. But Gaiyavata squeezes the heart of the fish, and she dies. Then the hero defeats the terrible sorceress Megisogvon.

Hiawatha marries a girl from the Dakota tribe called Minnegaga. To protect the sown fields from damage, the hero tells his wife to bypass them naked at night. And Minnegaga fulfills her husband's request. At this time, Hiawatha himself succeeds in catching the Czar-Raven Kagaga, who led his flock to peck crops.

Death of friends

It depicts the hero who freed people from monsters and gave them food, Longfellow ("Song of Hiawatha"). The summary also describes how Hiawatha invents writing.

Evil spirits, fearing Hiawatha, conclude an alliance against him and stoke a friend and musician named Chaybaiabas. Upon learning of this, Hiawatha becomes ill and is miraculously cured.

In his absence, Po-Pok-Kivis comes to the tribe and ravages the Haghavata wigwam. Returning, the hero goes after him in pursuit. Trying to hide, Po Pok-Kivis turns first into a beaver, then into a goose. But Hiawatha calls to the aid of thunder and lightning and conquers it.

Another hero's friend, the strongman Kvazinda, is killing.

Spirits of the dead

There comes a severe winter in the poem "The Song of Hiawatha". A brief retelling depicts the appearance of two ghosts of women in the hero's wigwam. They sit in the corner of the dwelling and silently grab pieces of food. It lasts a few days, until one day Haiwatha wakes up from their crying and sighs. The guests tell the hero that they are the souls of the dead, who came from the island of the Afterlife. Their goal is to ask the living to stop grieving over the dead and invoke them: do not put jewelry, furs, clay bowls in their graves. They need only a little fire and food on the road. 4 days of the soul are on the road in the camp of the Afterlife, and all this time it is necessary to burn the fire so that it will illuminate their path. After that, the ghosts disappear.

A vision of white people

The beginning of the famine among the Indians in the poem "The Song of Hiawatha" is depicted. The summary of the chapters describes the unsuccessful attempts of Hiawatha to hunt. Minnegaga dies.

In the village comes Yaga, who tells that he saw a huge pie in the Great Sea. In it sat warriors with white faces, their chins were covered with hair. First the Indians laugh at Yaga's speeches, but Hiawatha says that he had exactly the same knowledge. And that Gitchi Manito ordered to meet strangers with greetings and caresses.

Decoupling

The work "The Song of Hiawatha" comes to an end. The summary ("brlili.ru" - one of the sites on which it is placed) tells that in its conducts Hiawatha the death of the tribes of Indians opens in the fight against each other.

Meanwhile, the Indians meet pale-faced people who tell them about the Christian religion. Guests fall asleep in the wyhvam of Hiawatha, and the host says goodbye to Nokomis and his people. After that, he sails to the sunset in a pie in the Land of Understanding for "an endless, eternal life." His fellow tribesmen pay attention to the wise instructions of the guests who arrived.

Analysis

Longfellow recreates in his work mythological notions about the structure of the world of North American Indians. For them, the surrounding space was inhabited by gods, spirits and heroes, and the forces of nature were perceived as living.

Noteworthy is the image of Hiawatha himself. Among the Indians, he was considered the strongest and most powerful, he taught them many things. The main feature of his character is devotion to his people. Longfellow builds his poem as a fairytale biography of the hero. The author on the basis of the epic creates a hymn to a man endowed with physical strength and high moral qualities. Hiawatha appears a wise, just and brave warrior who cares only to provide his people with a happy and peaceful life.

Thus, we considered the poem "The Song of Hiawatha". The summary, analysis and history of the creation were set out in great detail.