1. James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) Life and background Major works His contributions to American literature The Last of the Mohicans

2. James Fenimore Cooper 1 ． Life story: 1) Born in a rich family in Burlington, New Jersey,1789. 2) Attended Yale but expelled because of misconduct 3) Five years at sea 4) Inherited fortune and had a wealthy wife and seven children, they lived a comfortable life

3. James Fenimore Cooper Three types of novels he launched: Revolutionary historical novel: The Spy; Frontier novel: The Pioneers; Sea adventure novel: The Pilot. Major themes: Antithesis between nature and civilization; Antithesis between freedom and law; Antithesis between individual and society; Conflict between cultures.

4. James Fenimore Cooper Major works: The Spy (1821) 《间谍》 The Pilot (1824) 《舵手》 Leatherstocking Tales: The Pioneers (1823), 《拓荒者》 The Last of the Mohicans (1826), 《最后的莫西干人》 The Prairie (1827), 《大草原》 The Pathfinder (1840), 《探路人》 The Deerslayer (1841). 《杀鹿者》

5. His Writing Styles 1)Being good at making plots. 2)All his novels were full of myths. 3)Full of imagination. 4)Creativity. 5)The frontier to help to introduce the “Western” tradition into American literature.

6. James Fenimore Cooper Seven “firsts”: 1. The first successful American historical romance (The Spy, 1821). 2. The first sea novel (The Pilot, 1824). 3. The first attempt at a fully researched historical novel (Lionel Lincoln, 1825). 《莱昂内尔 · 林肯》 4. The first full-scale History of the Navy of the United States of America (1839).

7. James Fenimore Cooper Seven “firsts”: 5. The first American international novel of manners (Homeward Bound and Home as Found, 1838). 6. The first trilogy in American fiction (Satanstoe, 1845; The Chainbearer, 1845; and The Redskins, 1846). 7. The first epic romance to carry its mythic hero - Natty Bumppo - from youth to old age. Therefore, we can call Cooper as the “pioneer” of American literature.

8. The Last of the Mohicans The Last of The Mohicans is the universal favorite and best known of the series of Leatherstocking tales. A play based upon the novel was produced as early as 1831, and it has also been adapted as an opera and a ballet. Twenty-four films based on the novel have been produced.

9. The Last of the Mohicans Plot development: Duncan Heyward (Major of Fort Edward) — Cora and Alice (daughters of colonel Munro, commandant of Fort William Henry) — David Gamut (singer) — all of them were ignorant of the wilderness — Magua (Hunron) — Hawkeye (hunter) —Chingachgook and his son Uncas (Mohicans) —cheating and trap —escape — Hawkeye guided the four persons — paddled a canoe to Glenn’s Falls —a band of Iroquois led by Magua captured the four persons—escaped and attempted to rescue —rescued the four persons and pushed onward —drew near Fort William Henry —a French sentinel stopped them —French army under Montcalm lay siege to the fort —

10. allowed to proceed and arrived at —Munro (colonel) sent Hawkeye to seek help from Fort Edward, but they were refused —Munro accepted the terms to leave the fort —disturbed by the Indian allies—a monstrous slaughter began —the sisters and David were captured —Hawkeye and other men tried to look for them —found the trail of Alice and David —Cora was transferred to another tribe — Heyward rescued Alice and David —tried to rescue Cora —Magua Fled with Cora —Uncas was killed by Magua —Magua was killed by Hawkeye —Cora was killed by a Huron —Uncas and Cora were buried in the forest — Colonel Munro and Heyward conducted Alice to English territory —Hawkeye remained in the forest with Chingachgook.