Phoenix Allegory
One of the most important Cherokee legends is that of the Great Phoenix, who rises out of the ashes to attain legendary importance and eternal life. Maritole's life, and journey along the Trail of Tears, is allegorical of the legend. Maritole's life is reduced to ashes; she has no land anymore, and feels that her heritage, identity and links to her family have also been taken away. However, she arrives in Oklahoma one of the small percentage of survivors of the Trail, and builds a new life, also building a new life for two orphaned children who have also lost everything. She builds something out of the ashes of her life, just like the Phoenix.
Musket Symbol
Knowbowtie entered his marriage with nothing but his musket. It is a symbol of his masculinity, and he feels it embodies his own value, and is instrumental to his self-image. When he does not have it anymore he feels as though he has also lost his masculinity. The musket enables him to take care of his family. Without it he is unable to provide for them and so this also makes him feel less of a man. The fact that Maritole forgot to bring the musket with her from the cabin is a sign to Knowbowtie that she has no regard for his masculinity and has lost respect for him as a man.
Corn Motif
Cherokee people are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood but the importance of corn is a constant motif. One of their ancient myths tells that the Cherokee were born out of corn, that corn stalks were their grandmothers. The myth goes on to describe how a woman called Selu was murdered by her sons, and where her blood fell, corn grew. Corn is vital to the existence of the Cherokee, and throughout the novel the fact that it is also felt to be the life-blood of each Cherokee is mentioned by many different characters.
White Flour Symbol
The Cherokee are not given corn along the Trail; instead, they have to cook with white flour, something they have not experience of, but something that the white men knew how to use. This is symbolic of the way in which the white men ripped all of the Cherokee traditions away and replaced them with their own, and also how they took away the lands that the Cherokee had owned, and populated them with white families instead.
The Great Bear Symbol
The title of the book refers to the importance of the Great Bear. The Cherokee feel that they are pushing against the strength of the bears as they walk the Trail. In the Cherokee myth, bears cause the Ani-Tsa-gu-hi tribe to become greedy and to think only of themselves and their own avarice. The bear is a symbol of greed and also the urge for self-preservation ahead of the preservation of the tribe. Maritole comes to realize that the bear is not one person, but something that is inside all people, that has to be fought and overcome if the future of the Cherokee people is to be protected.
