Last of the Mohican's #6: Independent Projects

Choose one of the below projects to demonstrate your understanding.

1.  Mathematical/Logical

Prepare and display a timeline showing the key facts about the novel.  It must include at least fifteen facts and must include illustrations that coincide with the facts.

2.  Naturalistic

Last of the Mohicans takes place in the wild frontier of what was to become upper New York State.  Research the natural habitat and landscape of the Finger Lakes region of New York.  Create a landscape painting or drawing of the natural flora (plants) and fauna (animals) found there.  

3.  Linguistic

Write a five paragraph essay summarizing one of the following themes found in the novel Last of the Mohicans: 

• The consequences of interracial love and friendship
•  Literal and metaphorical nature 
•  The role of religion in the wilderness
•  The changing idea of family

Be sure to cite examples and/or quotes from the book. 

4.  Musical

Music from the Romantic period broke all the rules of classical music.  Some famous Romantic composers include Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Franz Schubert, Hector Berlioz, Frederic Chopin, Robert Schumann, Giuseppe Verde, and American, John Philip Sousa.  Chose three composers to listen to and create a PowerPoint which briefly details the lives the composers and highlights their music.  

5.  Kinesthetic

Prepare and bring in foods from the following cultures of this time period: Indian, English, and French.  Students should not only bring in the food items, but be prepared to discuss how they were prepared, as well as why they were relevant to the society at the time.

6.  Intrapersonal

Dress as one of the characters in The Last of the Mohicans.  Give an oral presentation of the time, setting, and important facts of the book from the character's point of view. 

7.  Interpersonal

Imagine you are the host of a dinner party with 3 characters from Last of the Mohicans.  Who would you invite?  With three other classmates, reenact the dinner party, with dialog about their characters.  Dialog must last at least 5 minutes. 

8.  Visual/Spatial

Using a video camera, reenact your favorite scene from the novel.  Students should be dressed in character, and should include scenery that is pertinent to the story.  Reenactment should be at least seven minutes in length.

The Last of Mohican's #5: Watch the movie!

The 1992 version of Last of the Mohicans starred Daniel Day Lewis and Madeleine Stowe.  Watch the film and complete the following the tasks on the accompany study guide. 

•  Make a list of as many discrepancies between film and text that you can find. 
• Write a three paragraph essay on the discrepancies and why you think Hollywood chose to make these changes.

Last of the Mohican's #4: Time to Read

As you read, please complete the following study guides by chapter.  You may type your responses in the Word documents.  When you've completed each study guide, please print them and turn them in to Mr. Shelby.

Chapters 2 & 3
Chapters 4 & 5
Chapters 6, 7, 8

Chapters 9 & 10
Chapters 11& 12
Chapters 13 & 14
Chapters 15 & 16
Chapters 17 & 18
Chapters 19 & 20


Chapters 21 & 22
Chapters 23 & 24
Chapters 27 & 28
Chapters 29 & 30
Chapter 31
Chapters 32 & 33
(Thanks to Jason Smith of Lancaster School District)

Last of the Mohicans #3: Romanticisim and Nature

Early American settlers saw the wilderness as something wild that had to be “conquered and civilized in the name of Christianity and progress” (Roderick Nash, "The Cultural Significance of the American Wilderness").

1.  Visit the National Endowment for the Humanities art gallery, called Picturing America.

2.  Enter the gallery and go to the second page.  On the top left hand corner, you will see two pictures.  Click on the picture of the first picture, a landscape by Thomas Cole (1801-1848).  This is a landscape from a valley in Connecticut.

• Read the paragraph titled “Inspiration”.  Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) on what you see in this picture and how it makes you feel.  Why is this described as a ‘split’ representation of the valley?

3.  Go back to the gallery.  Now click on the picture of the Native American.  This painting by N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945) was actually the cover of James Fenimore Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans. 

•  Looking at this painting, how would you describe this man?  What kinds of inferences can you make regarding his character and personality?  What do you think is important to him? 

Last of the Mohicans #2: Historican Context

In order to understand the story of the Last of the Mohicans, it is important to understand the historical context in which it is written.  

1. Complete the French and Indian Ware Newspaper Article webquest. 
2. After conducting your research, you will turn in a newspaper article and a PowerPoint  or a Prezi presentation depicting a battle fought during the French and Indian War.  There is a rubric found under the rubric tab which you will use to make sure your work is complete. 

Last of the Mohicans #1: Who was James Fenimore Cooper?

James Fenimore Cooper is from the school of writing known as American Romanticism.  In this case, the term “romantic” is not about love, but rather on the ideals that came after the European Enlightenment which focused on logic and reason.  Romantic authors used themes such as individuality, freedom from rules, life in solitude rather than society, non-conformity, the power of the imagination, beauty, nature, and the rebirth of mythological themes.  Sometimes known as the first great American author, Cooper wrote stories centered on nature, heroism, pioneer life, and the American frontier.  Last of the Mohicans is the second in a 5-novel series about pioneer life during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), and is often considered his greatest work.

Before beginning your study of James Fenimore Cooper’s novel, Last of the Mohicans, decide whether you agree or disagree with each statement.   Copy and paste the following questions into a Word document.  State your reasons why you agree or disagree with the following statements. 

1. “Great art speaks powerfully, inspires fresh thinking, and connects us to our past.” “Might versus right” - the strongest will rule others and have the power to determine right and wrong.
2. Man must tame and dominate the natural world.
3. It is up to the current generation to leave the world a better place for future generations.
4. Darwin’s theory of “Survival of the Fittest” is a universal truth.
5. A real family consists of a mom, dad, and their biological children.
6. There is peace and spirituality in nature.
7. People of other races should not inter marry.