Editing Winnetou (section)

== Stories ==
In May's story, first-person narrator [[Old Shatterhand]] encounters the [[Apache (tribe)|Apache]] Winnetou, and after initial dramatic events, a true friendship arises between them. On many occasions, they give proof of great fighting skill, but also of compassion for other human beings. May portrays a belief in an innate "goodness" of mankind, albeit constantly threatened by ill-intentioned enemies.

Nondogmatic Christian feelings and values play an important role, and May's heroes are often described as [[German Americans]].

Winnetou became the chief of the tribe of the [[Mescalero|Mescalero Apaches]] (and of the Apaches in general, with the [[Navajo people|Navajo]] included) after his father Intschu-tschuna and his sister Nscho-tschi were slain by the white bandit Santer. He rode a horse called Iltschi ("Wind") and had a famous rifle called ''Silberbüchse'' ("The Silver Gun"), a double-barrelled rifle whose stock and butt were decorated with silver studs. Old Shatterhand became the [[blood brother]] of Winnetou and rode the brother of Iltschi, called Hatatitla ("Lightning"). In a number of adaptations, Winnetou [[Illeism|referred to himself in the third person]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/winnetou-actor-pierre-brice-dies/a-18499820 |title='Winnetou' actor Pierre Brice dies|work= [[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://windspeaker.com/drew-hayden-taylor/seeking-aboriginal-experience-germany|title=Seeking the Aboriginal experience in Germany|website=windspeaker.com|accessdate=16 March 2023}}</ref>