25th Annual Student Research Conference
Panther In The Sky: American "Hero-Making" Through a Study of Tecumseh
Justin L. Shank
Dr. Kathryn Brammall, Faculty Mentor
The story of Tecumseh, the renowned Shawnee chief who led a Pan-Indian resistance movement against the westward expansion of the new American nation, has been immortalized in American history and folklore. The emphasis of this paper is the examination of this story and of Tecumseh's transformation from an enemy of America to an enshrined American hero. More than just a look at the man himself, it is an exploration of American culture, in particular, the process of "hero-making" within that culture. This study will be further focused by the examination of the concepts of the "noble savage" and the "white man's Indian," and the role these play in Native American representation in American culture and history.
Keywords: Tecumseh, Native American, American Legends, American History, The Noble Savage, Hero-Making
Topic(s):History Senior Seminar
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 201-3
Location: VH 1236
Time: 10:00