Black Elk Speaks

by

John G. Neihardt

Neihardt is the author of Black Elk Speaks. With Ben Black Elk acting as a translator, Black Elk told Neihardt the story of his life. Black Elk Speaks is Black Elk’s life story, as told through Neihardt. When Black Elk addresses an audience (using “you”), he is speaking to Neihardt. The Author’s Postscript at the end of the book is told from Neihardt’s perspective.

John Neihardt Quotes in Black Elk Speaks

The Black Elk Speaks quotes below are all either spoken by John Neihardt or refer to John Neihardt. 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 1 Quotes

It is the story of all life that is holy and good to tell, and of us two-leggeds sharing in it with the four-leggeds and the wings of the air and of green things; for these are children of one mother and their father is one Spirit.

Related Characters: Black Elk (speaker), John Neihardt
Page Number: 1
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Black Elk Speaks LitChart as a printable PDF.
Black Elk Speaks PDF

John Neihardt Quotes in Black Elk Speaks

The Black Elk Speaks quotes below are all either spoken by John Neihardt or refer to John Neihardt. 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 1 Quotes

It is the story of all life that is holy and good to tell, and of us two-leggeds sharing in it with the four-leggeds and the wings of the air and of green things; for these are children of one mother and their father is one Spirit.

Related Characters: Black Elk (speaker), John Neihardt
Page Number: 1
Explanation and Analysis: