Momaday's The Way To Rainy Mountain: Summary
N. Scott Momaday divides his book The Way to Rainy Mountain in an
interesting manner. The book is divided into three chapters, each of which
contains a dozen or so numbered sections, each of which is divided into three
parts. The first part of each numbered section tends to be a legend or a story
of the Kiowa culture. However, this characteristic changes a bit as the book
evolves, as does the style and feel of the stories.
The first passage in the first numbered section describes the Kiowa
creation myth. It tells that they came into the world through a hollow log. The
next ones tell of a dog saving the life of a man, the story of how Tai-me became
part of their culture, and other ...
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changes.
Instead of describing different stories each time, they begin to tell a story
which continues through six numbered sections. The story relates the life of a
baby who grows into the sun's wife who then has a �child who becomes two
children, who become honored people in the eyes of the Kiowa. These stories do
not explain things like the creation of the people, or the reason dogs and men
are friends, or the origin of Tai-me. They tell what happened to some people.
The last part of the book, the last third, is mostly narrative. Instead
of telling myths to explain things, Momaday tells stories which relate events
without any significant outcome. Also, in contrast to the first part of the book,
the outcomes seem to be bad ones, or at least not fulfilling. They describe, for
a large part, people whom he knows existed and were related to or were friends
of his family. One story tells about Mammedaty, who heard someone whistling to
him, but could not find the person. Another ...
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Momaday's The Way To Rainy Mountain: Summary. (2007, November 16). Retrieved June 28, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Momadays-The-Way-Rainy-Mountain-Summary/74415
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"Momaday's The Way To Rainy Mountain: Summary." Essayworld.com. November 16, 2007. Accessed June 28, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Momadays-The-Way-Rainy-Mountain-Summary/74415.
"Momaday's The Way To Rainy Mountain: Summary." Essayworld.com. November 16, 2007. Accessed June 28, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Momadays-The-Way-Rainy-Mountain-Summary/74415.
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