# The Tree-Bound explained — Old Indian Legends

> Chapter companion for Old Indian Legends by Zitkála-Šá.

## What happens

Iktomi tricks the young avenger, who possesses a magic arrow, into climbing a tree and then uses a charm to glue him to the bark. Stealing the avenger's arrow and buckskins, Iktomi plans to kill the red eagle and win the chieftain's daughter. A young woman later frees the tree-bound brave, who departs with a gesture of gratitude.

## Themes in this chapter

### Trickery and Consequence

Iktomi's deceitful charm binds the avenger to the tree, leading to theft of the magic arrow and buckskins, but the avenger is eventually freed.

### Transformation and Identity

The avenger is transformed into 'bark of the tree' by Iktomi's magic, and Iktomi impersonates the avenger by wearing his buckskins and carrying his arrow.

### Justice and Retribution

The young woman's act of freeing the tree-bound brave restores justice after Iktomi's trickery, and the avenger's gratitude is shown through a gesture.

## Character check-ins

### Iktomi

Tricks the avenger into climbing a tree, then uses a charm to bind him to the bark and steals his magic arrow and buckskins.

### Manštin

The young avenger with the magic arrow, who is tricked by Iktomi and becomes tree-bound until freed by a young woman.

### The Stranger

The avenger is referred to as a stranger by the hunters and the chieftain's messengers; he is the one with the sacred arrow.

### The Dakotas

The people of the village who live in fear of the red eagle and await the avenger's arrival.

### Dakota

The tree-bound brave is identified as a Dakota; the bird sings 'Koda Ni Dakota!' meaning 'Friend, you're a Dakota!'

## Key lines

> Grow fast, grow fast to the bark of the tree... Before the brave could leap from the tree he became tight-grown to the bark.

Iktomi chants a charm that causes the avenger to become stuck to the tree trunk as if he were part of the bark.

_This is the pivotal moment of Iktomi's trickery, leading to the theft of the magic arrow._

> Oh, Iktomi, set me free!... But Iktomi's ears were like the fungus on a tree. He did not hear with them.

The trapped avenger begs for release, but Iktomi ignores him, pretending not to hear.

_Highlights Iktomi's callousness and the theme of trickery._

> With her stone axe she hurried to the tree. There before her astonished eyes clung a young brave close to the tree... she cut loose the whole bark.

A young woman uses her stone axe to cut the bark free, releasing the avenger from the tree.

_This act of kindness reverses Iktomi's trick and restores the avenger's freedom._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/the-tree-bound
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/old_indian_legends_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters