Classics and the Western Canon discussion

This week’s reading includes:
XVIII — The Death of Kwasind
XIX — The Ghosts
XX — The Famine
XXI — The White Man’s Foot
XXII — Hiawatha’s Departure

The Death of Kwasind — The fairies and pygmies called the Little People or Puk-Wudjes decide Kwasind is dangerous to their existence, so they make a plan and kill him by pelting him in his one vulnerable spot (the crown of his head) with the only thing that is dangerous to him (pine-cones).

The Ghosts — One wintery day as Nokomis and Minnehaha are waiting for Hiawatha’s return from hunting, two strange women enter the wigwam without a word and sit in the corner “Trembling, cowering with the shadows.” They eat the choicest portions of the food “without asking, without thanking,” but Hiawatha and his family are silent “That the rights of guest and stranger,/ That the virtue of free-giving,/ By a look might not be lessened,/ By a word might not be broken.” The guests are messengers from the Blessed Islands come to test Hiawatha and to give him a message about the responsibilities of the living to the dead: “Speak of it to all the people,/ That henceforward and forever/ They no more with lamentations/ Sadden the souls of the departed/In the Islands of the Blessed.” After delivering their message, the ghosts disappear and are seen no more.

The Famine —A difficult winter brings sickness and hunger. Minnehaha becomes ill, and Hiawatha desperately hunts for food but finds nothing. Minnehaha dies and is buried in accordance with their ghost guests’ instructions. Hiawatha says his tasks will soon be completed, and then he will follow her to “the Islands of the Blessed.”

The White Man’s Foot — Peboan the Winter is visited in his lodge by Segwun the Spring, and after they smoke the calumet together, Peboan gives way to the spring with its returning warmth, flowers, and birds. Iagoo also returns with stories of the coming of white settlers. His stories are not believed by the people, but Hiawatha says his tales are true, and they should welcome the strangers. He has seen their coming in a vision along with a dark vision of the future of his nation.

Hiawatha’s Departure — The Black-Robe chief priest arrives with his guides and companions and is welcomed by Hiawatha and the people. The priests preach about “the Virgin Mary,/ And her blessed Son, the Savior.” Afterwards, Hiawatha bids Nokomis and the warriors and young men good-bye. “But my guests I leave behind me;/ Listen to their words of wisdom,/Listen to the truth they tell you,/ For the Master of Life has sent them/ From the land of light and morning!” Hiawatha then leaves, sailing westward in his canoe to “the Islands of the Blessed,/ To the Kingdom of Ponemah,/ To the Land of the Hereafter!”

Questions:

—Back in Book I, Gitche Manito, the Great Spirit, promised the tribes that he would “send a Prophet to you,/A Deliverer of the nations/Who shall guide you and shall teach you,/Who shall toil and suffer with you.” The Prophet, of course, is Hiawatha. Did he accomplish his mission? Is Gitche Manito’s promise fulfilled by the end of the book?

—What do you think the poetic form and language contributed to the story? Did you have any favorite lines or sections?

Susan wrote: "Did you have any favorite lines or sections?.."

This was my first reading of the poem. I enjoyed it. I loved the rhythm and how the words sounded when read aloud.

I think the parts I enjoyed the most were the parts that illustrated the personifications of nature--the flora, fauna, natural elements, etc. and their interactions with humans. There were no barriers separating the different entities. Movements and transformations from one entity to another were fluid. Even communication between humans and animals was easy--we could speak to them and they could speak to us.

I guess this was done to suggest there was a time when humans were at one with their natural environment. We saw ourselves as one entity among many and not superior to or alienated from our natural surroundings.

Hiawatha sailing into the sunset reminded me of Frodo and Bilbo sailing off in the elven ship at the end of The Lord of the Rings.

Roger wrote: "Hiawatha sailing into the sunset reminded me of Frodo and Bilbo sailing off in the elven ship at the end of The Lord of the Rings."

Nice comparison!

I felt this last section that we read was the one of the most moving of the entire poem except Hiawatha's Departure. I had a hard time with Hiawatha telling his people to follow the Priest, most likely because we know now that instead of this symbol of hope and love through religious conversion, turned out to be a factor in the decimation of Native American culture.

I felt these sections highlighted the spiritual nature of the culture the most since the beginning of the poem; whereas prior to this I was struck by the emphasis of the interconnectedness of Native American life with the natural world.

The manner of Kwasind's death was reminiscent of the mythology of Achilles. Did Longfellow steal the idea of a small vulnerable part of the human anatomy as the means to kill the person from this myth or was Kwasind part of Native American folklore that he used in the poem?
I have enjoyed all the Remington illustrations and small pen & ink sketches throughout my edition but found the illustration of Kwasind lying on his side sliding into the water in death particularly moving.

Another great illustration was the one with the spirits of Famine and Fever as they hovered over Minnehaha.

So, Hiawatha leaves for the next life but Nokomis still remains?

Chris wrote: "The manner of Kwasind's death was reminiscent of the mythology of Achilles. Did Longfellow steal the idea of a small vulnerable part of the human anatomy as the means to kill the person from this myth or was Kwasind part of Native American folklore that he used in the poem?"

The concept that an otherwise invincible hero/villain/character has one vulnerable part of the body is found in old stories all over the world. Earlier we had Hiawatha striking the tuft of hair with Pearl-Feather in order to defeat him, otherwise he was invincible. Other examples:
In the Bible we have Samson and his long hair. Once cut he can be defeated.
In fairy tales you often have a dragon that has one inaccessible spot on the underside the hero has to pierce. We also had this in Beowulf
In the Nordic/Germanic traditions you have Siegfried, who slew a dragon and the blood of the dragon dowsed him and made his skin un-pierceable safe for one spot on his shoulder where a leaf happened to be. His rival Hagen slays him with an arrow.

I was expecting more of an epic, with one connected story from beginning to end. Instead we have Hiawatha as a culture hero, establishing the key features of the world and teaching virtuous conduct.

While I really enjoyed this story, like Roger, I had anticipated more of an epic. Now I don't know the material Longfellow worked with and what, if any, parts of the story he left out. Perhaps his Unitarian beliefs played a role here. There is no mention of the warrior culture. There are no raiding parties, no attacks from enemies, no boasting of exploits.

Tamara wrote: "Susan wrote: "Did you have any favorite lines or sections?.."

This was my first reading of the poem. I enjoyed it. I loved the rhythm and how the words sounded when read aloud.

I think the parts..."

I really enjoyed the rhythms and sounds as well. I tried to imagine Hiawatha told in prose, but it would be lacking an important element without the poetry.

Roger wrote: "Hiawatha sailing into the sunset reminded me of Frodo and Bilbo sailing off in the elven ship at the end of The Lord of the Rings."

Interesting analogy. I suppose what the two endings have in common is an elegiac feeling perhaps.

Chris wrote: "I felt this last section that we read was the one of the most moving of the entire poem except Hiawatha's Departure. I had a hard time with Hiawatha telling his people to follow the Priest, most likely because we know now that instead of this symbol of hope and love through religious conversion, turned out to be a factor in the decimation of Native American culture.

I felt these sections highlighted the spiritual nature of the culture the most since the beginning of the poem; whereas prior to this I was struck by the emphasis of the interconnectedness of Native American life with the natural world."

I found this final reading very moving, too — there is so much loss and grief throughout. And as you point out, it’s difficult to hear Hiawatha’s advice to his people to accept the missionaries’ teachings without thinking of the way events actually played out. I suppose the poem portrays a mythic, golden age, and its ending brings the remaining characters and the reader back to the real world. But the real world here seems like a simpler, “cleaned up” version.

Yes, it seems Nokomis remains, and Hiawatha charges her to watch his guests, the missionaries. The poem doesn’t provide an insight into her reactions/thoughts

Kerstin wrote: "Chris wrote: "The manner of Kwasind's death was reminiscent of the mythology of Achilles. Did Longfellow steal the idea of a small vulnerable part of the human anatomy as the means to kill the pers..."

Nice summary of examples of invincible characters with one vulnerable spot. The characters of Kwasind and the mysterious and malicious Puk-Wudjies are found in the Native American folklore that the poem is drawn from.

Kerstin wrote: "There is no mention of the warrior culture. There are no raiding parties, no attacks from enemies, no boasting of exploits.."

You raise an interesting point. Wars and bloodshed exist between the tribes until Gitche Manito tells them to put aside their war-gear and battles and live in peace with each other. Book I sets up a sort of golden age of relative peace and harmony as the setting for the poem.

I think most people will enjoy Lewis Carroll's addition to the Hiawatha cycle: "Hiawatha's Photographing." Note that even the title is a line of trochaic tetrameter.

https://classic-literature.co.uk/lewi...

Carroll's introductory note should be read aloud.

Roger wrote: "I think most people will enjoy Lewis Carroll's addition to the Hiawatha cycle: "Hiawatha's Photographing." Note that even the title is a line of trochaic tetrameter.

https://classic-literature.co...."

What an absolute delight! I loved it. I read it aloud and bounced along with the lines. And the illustrations were hilarious. Thank you so much for sharing it.

Roger wrote: "I think most people will enjoy Lewis Carroll's addition to the Hiawatha cycle: "Hiawatha's Photographing." Note that even the title is a line of trochaic tetrameter.

https://classic-literature.co...."

This is great fun! Thanks for sharing it!

Roger wrote: "I think most people will enjoy Lewis Carroll's addition to the Hiawatha cycle: "Hiawatha's Photographing." Note that even the title is a line of trochaic tetrameter.

https://classic-literature.co...."

Roger, this is excellent, so very funny! I have just shared with my god-daughter who loves Lewis Carroll and his several styles.