Green Grass, Running Water

1. Green Grass, Running Water The Lone Ranger, Ishmael, Robinson Crusoe, Hawkeye

2. Allusions • An allusion is a reference, within a literary work, to another work of fiction, a film, a piece of art, or even a real event. An allusion serves as a kind of shorthand, drawing on this outside work to provide greater context or meaning to the situation being written about. While allusions can be an economical way of communicating with the reader, they risk alienating readers who do not recognize these references. Strong fiction (or poetry for that matter) will use allusions so that the fiction works on both levels. Readers who get the allusions gain a richer understanding of the work, but those who don't can still follow the story and be entertained or enlightened by it. I often think of allusions as a kind of hypertext, linking the reader to another tradition or literary history. I can also think of poems, like "The Wasteland" (see below), in which the poet was practically sampling other works, the way DJs sample other songs. However, allusions can also be quite subtle. For instance, Shakespeare's influence on literature in English is so strong that we often make allusions to his plays without being aware of it. • From: http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/glossary/g/allusion.htm

3. References to Famous Literary Characters • All four characters are borrowed from white European/early post-colonial North American fiction. • Lone Ranger – First appeared on radio in 1933. Stereotypical hero of the American old-west (19th century American frontier). Featured in a wide variety of media (radio, film, fiction, television). • Ishmael – Narrated Moby Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville (1851). The story is one of revenge as the captain of the ship, Ahab, recently lost a vessel and part of his leg to an encounter with Moby Dick. Moby Dick is considered a ferocious, inherently evil whale. • Robinson Crusoe – Fictional autobiography written by Daniel Defoe (1719). Chronicles 28 years Crusoe spent in isolation on tropical island. • Hawkeye – a.k.a. Natty Bumppo, hero of pentalogy of novels, the Leatherstocking Tales, by James Fenimore Cooper. Takes on Hawkeye in 2nd novel, The Last of the Mohicans.

4. The Lone Ranger • Fictional masked character. • With Native-American companion Tonto, fights injustice across the Old-West. • Horse named Silver. • Origins: Story remains loyal to original: One of six Texas Rangers who were attacked by the outlaws led by Butch Cavendish. Killed 5 Rangers. Survivor found by Native American, Tonto, who nursed back to health. Fashions mask from brother’s vest, sets out with Tonto to avenge brother’s death. Once done, they continue fighting injustice.

5. Ishmael (and Moby Dick) • Moby Dick was published in 1851. it is now considered an American classic, but was received poorly during Herman Melville’s life. • Synopsis: The story is narrated by Ishmael, a former school teacher and merchant marine who joined the whaling crew. Sets sail on Pequod, a ship captained by Ahab. Ahab’s mission, and the central conflict, is to find a white sperm whale that sank his last ship and ate part of his leg. The writing combines descriptions of whaling with life on the crew.

6. Major Characters • Ishmael: Former school teacher, well versed in English literary canon. Sole survivor of the Pequod. Speak opening line of novel, one of the most famous in English Literature: “Call me Ishmael.” • Ahab: Captain of ship. Quaker background, speaks little of past. Violent, sworn to avenge the loss of his last ship and his leg to Moby Dick. Anthropomorphizes Moby Dick, assigning him negative and evil qualities. • Moby Dick: Huge albino sperm whale, the antagonist of the novel. Appears in only 3 of the 159 chapters. Perspective of whale never provided. Whale’s qualities and characteristics given through others. Fought ferociously when life was threatened. • Queequeg: From a fictional island in the South Seas called Kokovoko. Father is chief of a cannibalistic tribe. Meets Ishmael before boarding Pequod. Very close friends with Ishmael. Queequeg left home for more ‘civilized’ western life. He is conflicted between the two.

7. Robinson Crusoe • Written by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1719, Robinson Crusoe is the fictional autobiography of a man who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck in Tobago, a “deserted” island in the Caribbean. During the 28 years on the island, he realizes that the island is sometimes used by a cannibalistic tribe to eat their victims. Crusoe is appalled at the lack of respect for humanity and wishes he could free one or two to be his servants. One of the cannibal’s prisoners conveniently escapes, and is “freed” by Crusoe. Crusoe names the man Friday, after the day of the week. • Crusoe eventually freed by mutineers (pirates) and returned to Spain. Friday goes with him.

8. Natty Bumppo (Hawkeye) • Natty Bumppo is the main character in James Fenimore Cooper’s series the Leatherstocking Tales. Bumppo is the son of white parents but spent most of his life living with Native Americans. The series contains 5 books, written between 1823 and 1841. The books were set in the American west between 1744 and 1804. • Bumppo acquires the pseudonym “Hawkeye" in The Last of The Mohicans, published in 1826. It is the second in the series. Story involves helping the Munro sisters reach a British settlement. Hawkeye and his Mohican allies, Chingachgook and his son Uncas. Chingachgook – last Mohican chief, Uncas – last pure-blood Mohican. • Set during 7 Years War, French and English fought for control of the Americas. Both nations sought support from native tribes. Novel culminates in battle between Huron (French) and Delaware with support of Hawkeye and Mohicans (English). Delaware win battle. Uncas dies.

9. Hawkeye Continued • Cooper named Uncas after well-known Mohegan Chief who was an ally of the British in 17th century Connecticut. Cooper confused the names of two peoples, the Mohegan and the Mohican. Both are federally recognized tribes in Connecticut and New York. Due to the novel and subsequent movie in 1992, many believe both no longer exist. • In French tellings of the story, Chingachgook is often referred to as “Le Grand Serpent” because he understands human nature and can strike a sudden, deadly blow. Why did Thomas King choose to borrow these fictional characters (the Lone Ranger, Ishmael, Robinson Crusoe and Hawkeye)?

10. The Sidekicks What Tonto, Queequeg, Friday and Chingackgook represent

11. Tonto • Tonto first appeared in the 11th episode of the radio show. His main purpose was to give the Lone Ranger someone to talk to. He is an intelligent character who speaks broken English. Together with the Lone Ranger, there is no wrong they cannot right. • Tonto identified as a member of the Potawatomi nation. However, Potawatomi do not live in the South- West, nor do his outfits resemble those worn by the Potawatomi. Name stems from original radio station’s owner, George Trendle. Tonto supposedly translates to wild one in his language. Translates to stupid in Spanish. • Lone Ranger

12. Queequeg • Only character in Moby Dick from fictional place. Ishmael’s good friend. Harpooner on the ship. • From Kokovoko in the South Seas. Father chief of a cannibalistic tribe. Leaves royalty for “civilized” world. Admits to tasting meat of his enemies. Spoke of experience without feeling, saying it gave him indigestion. Ishmael provides descriptions of Queequeg struggling to adjust. Holds religious/spiritual beliefs close. • In the end, responsible for saving Ishmael’s life. As the Pequod is sinking, Ishmael clings to a coffin made for Queequeg when he was ill. Queequeg recovered and his coffin saved Ishmael. • Queequeg meets Ishmael

13. Friday • After finding Friday, Crusoe taught him English and converts him to Christianity. • In the fictional autobiography, Crusoe describes Friday as Native American. • Friday serves Crusoe loyally. The expression “Man Friday”, used to describe a loyal and dedicated male personal assistant, stems from his name. • Man Friday

14. Chingackgook • One of the two last surviving Mohicans. Son, Uncas, reached adulthood but was killed in battle. Chingackgook died an old man. • AKA Le Gros Serpent (The Great Snake) due to crafty intelligence. • Represents the “Noble Savage” (le bon sauvage). White ideal that any indigenous person is inherently wise and good due to connection with nature. Stereotypical role became commonplace in Western literature. These characters were the ideal “other”. • Chingackgook & Hawkeye