Dance Of The Tiger Sparknotes

In Dance of the Tiger, Björn Kurtén presents the fictional lives of three hominin groups living during the extinction of Neanderthals. (K) Set in geographical Scandinavia (D), the plot takes place near the end of the Pleistocene epoch after migrations of anatomically modern humans enter northern Europe. Attributes of each group’s culture formed the mode by which the catastrophic event took place. Kurtén concludes his tale by resolving the biological legacy of Neanderthals as genetic fragments as coalesced within anatomically modern humans. (K)
The first group we are introduced to is anatomically modern human. Their structure resembles early tribal formation and is patriarchal. They receive the moniker “Children of the Gods” and are essentially
Socialization is a fundamental part of their cultures as well. (K)
Aside from many similarities, maintenance of ancestral-based oral tradition through matrilineal descent is unique to Neanderthals as well as ritual burial. Established trade networks and annual gatherings are separate cultural practices Kurtén assigns to anatomically modern humans. (K) Additionally, he mentions their use of separate weapon storage, chert and gem collection, fermentation and brewing, totems, and sentient aspects of nature such as Tiger and his recount of the lake mist and Guardian of the mammoths. They have developed polytheism, beliefs in afterlife and -care, and ritualistic practices.
While the groups are broadly tridimensional, there are individuals who share lineage from both anatomically modern humans and Neanderthals including Shelk, the leader of the devils. They become the keystone for the story. These mixed individuals imbue the product of affection and acceptance despite morphological differences yet are also perceived as subpar by some anatomically modern humans; Goshawk’s portrayal of them is the epitome of this kind of antipathy.