the opening two chapters the historical and physical setting for the first half of the novel. what do we learn about both?

Cooper sets the scene in this short chapter (1). It is important to realize, however, that he does this in a very untraditional way. Instead of simply stating the situation, which would take at most a few paragraphs, and moving into the main story line, he provides us with a wealth of description that substitutes for simple facts. Most of the initial observation of the detached, third-person narrative voice is rooted in the harsh nature of the surroundings. We are told that wilderness of the continent confronts armies before they can face one another. The "toils and dangers" of nature waste time and energy of colonists who might otherwise be considered "hardy."

The outlining of biased European sentiments continues in chapter 2. The use of the word "spectre" to describe the Indian runner demonstrates that to a woman like Alice, he is not only foreign but ghostly and frightening. She asks to hear his voice; it seems that she expects to hear something that resembles an animal sound as opposed to a human one. The idea is insulting. It is important to note that Cooper sets up the character of Alice as the anti-Indian: not only is she a soft woman, but she has golden hair, light eyes, and a chattering personality. She is everything that an Indian should not be. In this way she contrasts strongly with her dark-haired, less bubbly sister. The author uses Cora to blur the lines between Europeans and Indians.