1
General Information.
A. Book Title.
“Empire of the Summer Moon”
B. Author.
S.C. Gwynne
C. Publisher and first year published.
Scribner, 2011
D. General content. (3-5 sentences)
The novel, Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne, as published by Scribner in
May of 2011, enshrines the ascension and desolation of the Comanche empire. Empire
of the Summer Moon captures and lays out the brutality of the Comanches and their
dominant reign across the country. Gwynne showcases the evolution of the warlike
tribe as it advances further with its’ tactical warfare, torture, and overall brutality. As
the story progresses, more people begin to play a crucial part in the history of the
Comanche and the American Old West. One of these people was Cynthia Ann Parker.
The Comanches captured Cynthia Ann at the age of 9, and she became integrated into
their culture. As an adult, she was ripped from the tribe with only her infant daughter
by white settlers against her will. Her son Quanah, who’s location to Cynthia was
unknown, grew with a terrible hatred for white people. Quanah became one of the most
important people for the Comanche tribe.
1. Preface or introduction.
2
The introduction of the book summarizes settlers’ end of tolerance for Native Americans.
The whites wanted revenge for their losses and the only way to achieve this was the
complete annihilation of the Comanche Indians.
2. Thesis.
In this novel, the author tries to show that the Comanches were, without a doubt, the most
powerful and aggressive tribe to roam the Americas and that morals, right from wrong,
good or evil, are entirely idiosyncratic. Wrongs were committed by both the Indians and
the settlers; both saw the other as an evil.
3. Analysis of Individual Chapters. (3)
A. State the chapter number and “title.”
Chapter 2: “A Lethal Paradise.”
B. In one short paragraph, summarize the chapter. (the 5 W’s)
In “A Lethal Paradise,” Quanah Parkers’ legacy is revealed, and his mother, Cynthia
Ann Parker, makes her first appearance. It took more men to take down Quanah’s’ tribe
than any other Indian group. Parkers fort is the focus of this chapter and its destruction
by an Indian raid one late morning. Cynthia, along with many of her cousins and her
brother, were taken prisoner and treated terribly. They were forced to watch horrific
events, scalping’s, beatings, mutilations, and the murders of their loved ones. This level
of brutality was common practice amongst Indians, and it was nothing new for captives
to encounter treatment of such manner.
C. State the main idea the author is trying to get across in the chapter.
In this chapter, the author’s main idea is that the raid on the Parker Fort played a very
significant part in Comanche’s history in the long run.
D. In your own words, restate the facts or argument the author uses to prove or
support the main idea.
It was at the beginning of the chapter that the author stated the raid became famous as
it represented for many, the trepidation all felt about living on the frontier. Additionally,
Gwynne writes that Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Quanah Parker were the rise and
the fall of the Comanche tribe.
E. What conceivable primary source other than the ones used by the author would
make the authors argument or main idea more convincing.
If the author had any writings from one of the Indians present the day of the raid, and
present when Quanah came to power, it would make his argument of the importance of
the Parker Raid stronger.
F. State one primary source described in a footnote from the chapter.
