HI 258 American Indian History
John G. Neihardt, Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux. New York: State University of New York Press, 2008.
This is an American classic. It is the story of an Oglala Lakota wicaša wakan (“Holy Man”) as dictated to Nebraskan poet John G. Neihardt.
write a six-page report (
Discuss Black Elk’s vision. What do the six grandfathers represent? What kind of other symbols have you discovered (list a few)? What does the vision tell you about Lakota cosmology?
How did Lakota fighters view mutilation of enemies? What role did women play during and after battle?
Why was Crazy Horse killed?
In one chapter Black Elk describes a type of doctor who engages in strange behavior. What are they called and how does Black Elk explain their apparent “sacrilegious” character?
Can you find examples of Christian influences in Black Elk’s life? If so, what were they?
Black Elk claims that he has failed his vision. Explain why you (dis)agree?
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