Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "The Song of Hiawatha" describes a fierce conflict between Hiawatha and the villainous shape-shifter and wizard Pau-Puk-Keewis. This conflict occurs in the scene known as "Hiawatha's Wooing." Hiawatha ultimately prevails after a tense and dramatic confrontation. By using his own intelligence and strength, he is able to defeat Pau-Puk-Keewis and outwit all of the tricks and different forms the magician uses.
This victory in the battle with Pau-Puk-Keewis is a significant episode in the epic poem and showcases Hiawatha's heroic qualities, including his intelligence, bravery, and resourcefulness. Hiawatha's success in this battle is one of the many adventures and trials he faces throughout the poem as he seeks to protect and improve the lives of his people, the Ojibwa (Chippewa) tribe.