Literature with a Purpose

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Nov 24, 2024

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1 Literature Student Full Name Institutional Affiliation Course Full Title Instructor Full Name Due date

2 Black Hawk’s Surrender Speech The core theme of “Black Hawk’s Surrender Speech 1832” is Black Hawk’s reflection on his defeat, the cause that led to the war, and his mourning on behalf of his people. First, Black Hawk admits his feeling of disappointment from his capture and recognizes the success of the opponent’s strategy and the ineffectiveness of his efforts. The theme of the speech emerges as Black Hawk traces the list of grievances that eventually culminated into the war. He argues that the war was the result of the invasion of white settlers who defrauded, disrespected, and displaced Native Americans. Black Hawk illustrates the process of disintegration of their civilization, focusing on the perjury by the white men, who negatively affected their livelihood. He depicts the whites as dishonest, unreliable, and the ones that tarnished the moral character of his country. The theme deepens as Black Hawk contemplates the aftermaths of the war, troubled by the fear that even though his people are not physically scalped as in white settlements, they will be metaphorically poisoned by losing their traditional values and becoming distrusted. In general, the main idea focuses on Black Hawk’s justification for his actions, sheds light on his people’s grievances, and shares his grief for the inevitable changes and difficulties that his nation will encounter. The Oilman and His Sons “The Oilman and His Sons” deals with the ramifications of familial unity and division as the theme. The story develops when the daughters-in-law are not happy with the joint family living arrangement, which makes the sons ask to split the property. By literally using a log, the father implies that as a family, they are solid and resilient, like a full log. However, in case they

3 break up, they will be like separated sticks, which are easily snapped. This metaphor introduces the theme of unity and strength in numbers. The riddle of the father’s wells helps to develop the theme even further. The wells symbolize the sons, and the water is interpreted as the benefice or the provision. Together, drawing the water from the full well (the father) and spreading it among the empty ones (the sons) guarantees the disadvantage of no one. Nevertheless, if they split and the one on top is left dry, filling it with fresh water (help) from the other three full ones (the sons) will be impossible. This metaphorical story highlights the significance of family support and the mutual obligations that accompany it. Ultimately, the children, acknowledging their neglect, vow to remain with their father, reaffirming the idea of familial alliance being the source of strength and success.

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4 Reference Tronnes, L. (2022). We have buried our tomahawks very deep in the ground and in the sky: rock river Ho-Chunk peacekeeping in the 1832 “Black Hawk War”. Western Historical Quarterly , 53 (3), 293-314.

Literature with a Purpose

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