The Last of the Mohicans Book Summary

A Brief Overview:

• The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper follows the journey of Hawkeye and the members of a dying tribe – the Mohicans as they go on to rescue the daughters of a British colonel through terrains of the traitors and face a gruesome ending.

Familiarise with the Settings and Characters

• Attack on the Fort

The novel starts by familiarizing us with the setting of the wild woodland frontier of colonial America amidst the French and Indian War in the late 1750s. A little into the novel we witness the French army bombarding the British Fort of William Henry – a stronghold under Colonel Munro's command.

• Alice and Cora Set Out to Meet their Father

On the other side, Alice and Cora – the daughter of Munro are on their way to the fort to meet their father. Both of them are accompanied by Major Duncan Heyward and an Indian – Magua. Later, they are joined by David Gamut – a Calvinism follower.

• Hawkeye and His Companion Meets Alice and Cora

As they pave their way carefully through the wilderness, Hawkeye (Natty Bumppo), Chingachgook (Hawkeye’s Mohican friend) and Uncas (Chingachgook's son) – who are known as the last of the Mohicans (a tribe) encounter Alice and Cora.

Hawkeye tells them that Magua, a Huron, has betrayed the group and therefore, the Mohicans seek to catch him, but he flees. Then, they join the Munro sisters to protect them from French soldiers and American tribes.

Entrapment of Cora and Alice

Hawkeye and the Mohicans securely guide the company to take shelter in a cave. But, everything takes a different turn the next morning – Magua with his Huron allies attacks the group. Although Hawkeye and the Mohicans manage to flee, they kidnap Alice, Cora, Heyward, and Gamut.

Huron reveals his intention and proposes to Cora for marriage to liberate Alice. However, Cora refuses the deal as she has developed romantic affection for Uncas.

Rescue of Cora and Alice

Unexpectedly, Hawkeye and the Mohicans arrive at the scene. They rescue the hostages and finish the Huron, except Magua – who flees again.

After overcoming the Indian attacks, the group arrives at the fort, and the Munro sisters finally reunite with their father.

Battle of William Henry Fort 

A few days later, despite their efforts to defend the fort – the English forces announced a truce. Munro realises, he will not receive reinforcements for the fort and must surrender. 

During their withdrawal from the fort, the French's Indian allies re-attacked them. Amidst all the chaos of the battle, Magua recaptures Cora, Alice, and Gamut.

Another Rescue Mission Unfolds:

Three days later, Heyward, Hawkeye, Munro, and the Mohicans track down Magua and start their mission. Gamut reappears and reveals that Magua has separated the sisters –Alice in a Huron camp and Cora in a Delaware camp. 

Using a variety of disguises, the party successfully rescues Alice from the Hurons. Meanwhile, Magua persuades the Delaware tribe that Hawkeye and his allies are racist adversaries. 

A Tragic Ending

A chase and a battle occur – Magua and his Hurons are defeated. But, Cora is killed by a Huron. Uncas infuriated, attacks the Huron who killed Cora, but Magua stabs him in the back. 

Magua attempts to leap across a split but falls short and clings to a plant. Hawkeye shoots him, and he meets his demise.

Cora and Uncas are properly buried the next morning. Chingachgook mourns the death of his son, while Tamenund – Delaware sage, laments that he has lived to see the last warrior of the Mohican race.

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