Review of John G. Neihardt's "Black Elks speaks"
- Date: December 03, 1996
- Level: University, Bachelor's
- Grade: B+
- Length: 5 pages (1303 words)
- Essay rating:
- Keywords:
black elk speaks, infor mation, collection of poems, likewise, john g neihardt, poetry collection, ...medicine man, religious movement, crazy horse, author john, 19th century, interviewing, narrative, native american, cousin, priest, tribes, initially
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Subject > Literature Research Papers > North American
The book Black Elk Speaks was written in the early 1930's by author John G.
Neihardt, after interviewing the medicine man named Black Elk. Neihardt was already
a published writer, and prior to this particular narrative he was at work publishing a
collection of poems titled Cycle of the West. Although he was initially seeking infor-
mation about a peculiar Native American religious movement that occurred at the end
of the 19th century for the conclusion his poetry collection, Neihardt was instead gifted
with the story of Black Elk's life. Black Elk's words would explain much about the na-
ture of wisdom as well as the lives of the Sioux and other tribes of that period.
The priest or ...
... tell his tale to Mr. Neihardt, because it is not just his story, it is the wisdom of
his people and of his vision.
The lessons gained in Black Elk Speaks are some that are as relevant today as
they were almost two-hundred years ago. The lessons on bravery and wisdom would
benefit a child today just as in previous times. Even more poignant is the correlation
between the wise posture of the Ogalala towards the land and its peoples, contrasted
with the scheming, greedy advancements of the Americans. The Ogalala and the tribes
alongside them walked these same lands for possibly thousands of years before the
introduction of the white man. In all
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