When the Legends Die Chapter Summary & Analysis | Introduction Poem

Introduction Poem Summary

When the legends die, the dreams end.
When the dreams end, there is no more greatness.

Introduction Poem Analysis

This poem summarizes the pathos of the demise of the American Indian way in this country and the specific path of the main character in this story. Our story is centered on a young Ute Indian boy and it follows him through his growing to a man, while he finds his own identity. This Ute Indian lives for several years as a young boy in the Ute Indian 'old way', living the legends, keeping them alive, making them a part of him. The man later lives with the white man and the 'old way' is driven from his life. Twisted in spirit by the experience, he spends his young adulthood trying to kill all memories and influences from his past, building his own false legends as he goes. Haunted by dreams of all he has...
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