Black Elk Speaks
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26
Themes
All Themes Nature The Transformative Power of Ceremony The Loss of Culture and Community Alienation Unrealized Dreams
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Black Elk Crazy Horse Red Cloud Black Elk’s father White Cow Sees / Black Elk’s mother Standing Bear John Neihardt The Six Grandfathers Wovoka (“The Wanekia”) General George Custer Parisian girl Grandmother England Sitting Bull Yellow Bird
Terms
All Terms Agency Brules Crow Ghost Dance Heyoka Hunkpapa Lakota Lament Minneconjou Ogalala Sioux Wasichu
Symbols
All Symbols Thunder The Nation’s Hoop and the Blooming Tree Yellow Metal / Gold
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Black Elk Speaks

by

John G. Neihardt
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Wovoka (“The Wanekia”) Character Analysis

Wovoka is a Paiute Indian who pioneers the Ghost Dance movement. Wovoka is called “Jack Wilson” by the Wasichus, and American Indians believe that he is a Wanekia, or messiah. Wovoka’s vision suggests that the apocalypse is approaching and that, by performing the Ghost Dance, American Indians will be able to transport themselves to a better world in which their culture is restored and they are reunited with their deceased relatives.

Wovoka (“The Wanekia”) Quotes in Black Elk Speaks

The Black Elk Speaks quotes below are all either spoken by Wovoka (“The Wanekia”) or refer to Wovoka (“The Wanekia”). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Nature Theme Icon
).
Chapter 22 Quotes

I was in the air, with outstretched arms, and floating fast. There was a fearful dark river that I had to go over, and I was afraid. It rushed and roared and was full of angry foam. Then I looked down and saw many men and women who were trying to cross the dark and fearful river, but they could not. Weeping, they looked up to me and cried: “Help us!” But I could not stop gliding, for it was as though a great wind were under me.

Related Characters: Black Elk (speaker), Wovoka (“The Wanekia”)
The Transformative Power of Ceremony Theme Icon
The Loss of Culture and Community Theme Icon
Unrealized Dreams Theme Icon
Page Number: 154
Explanation and Analysis:
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Wovoka (“The Wanekia”) Quotes in Black Elk Speaks

The Black Elk Speaks quotes below are all either spoken by Wovoka (“The Wanekia”) or refer to Wovoka (“The Wanekia”). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Nature Theme Icon
).
Chapter 22 Quotes

I was in the air, with outstretched arms, and floating fast. There was a fearful dark river that I had to go over, and I was afraid. It rushed and roared and was full of angry foam. Then I looked down and saw many men and women who were trying to cross the dark and fearful river, but they could not. Weeping, they looked up to me and cried: “Help us!” But I could not stop gliding, for it was as though a great wind were under me.

Related Characters: Black Elk (speaker), Wovoka (“The Wanekia”)
The Transformative Power of Ceremony Theme Icon
The Loss of Culture and Community Theme Icon
Unrealized Dreams Theme Icon
Page Number: 154
Explanation and Analysis:
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