Free Essay On Black Elks

1. Black Elk was a famous member of the Sioux tribe. Black Elk Speaks is his autobiography which relates to his life experiences during the Reconstruction Era as well as the Progressive Era. Black Elk’s boyhood vision led him to become a medicine man. In 1890, he aided in the rescue of wounded soldiers at Wounded Knee. Black Elk Speaks describes, in great detail, the battles and wars that helped to end Native American culture.
2. Black Elk uses abstract language to connect with the concrete world around him whereas Europeans use concrete language to attempt to describe abstract concepts. Despite the seemingly abstract nature of Black Elk’s words, historians can comb through them to gain a deeper insight into the intricacies of Native American culture. The “square-leggeds” could be referring to horses, which were actually brought to the Americas by European settlers. The spider and web metaphor is discussing how the predatory way in which Europeans built their civilization. A spider builds a web to catch and kill other insect. The European settlers built American civilization upon the bones of Native Americans. The square, gray houses refer to the European architectural style as opposed to the tepees where Native Americans had grown used to dwelling. These uses of metaphor invoke emotion and visualizations that provide a looking glass into the way that Native Americans saw their world changing around them.
3.  a. “I had a six-shooter that I had traded for, and also a bow and arrows.”
The popular image of Native Americans usually includes them fighting with bows and arrows. However, it’s interesting to see a less stereotypical depiction: a resourceful Native American with a six-shooter.
b. “The people were hungry and in despair, and many believed in the good new world that was coming. The Wasichus gave us less than half the beef cattle they promised us in the treaty, and these cattle were very poor.”
This paints a very accurate picture of war. The “good new world” conveys that the people were trying to hold onto hope despite the bleakness of their situation.
c. “We stopped back behind the ridge, and I said to the others: "Take courage. These are our relatives. We will try to get them back." Then we all sang a song which went like this:"A thunder being nation I am, I have said.A thunder being nation I am, I have said.You shall live. You shall live. You shall live. You shall live."
In the midst of a terrifying moment, they chose to unify through song. They refer to themselves as “a thunder being nation”. Thunder usually represents strength. In this case, the song is a chant to persevere.
All three of these quotes show how the Native American people attempted to overcome the circumstances they’d found themselves in. Metaphorical language is used beautifully to depict tragedy. Resourcefulness, perseverance, and hope are the human traits that allowed the lucky few to survive.

Bibliography

Neihardt, John Gneisenau. Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988.
Brown, Joseph Epes. The Sacred Pipe; Black Elk's Account of the Seven Rites of the Oglala Sioux. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1953.