House Made of Dawn
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Key Facts
full title · House Made of Dawn
author · N. Scott Momaday
type of work · Novel
genre · Native American fiction
language · English
time and place written · Mid 1960s, America
date of first publication · 1968
publisher · Harper & Row
narrator · The bulk of the novel focuses on Abel's perspective, though Ben Benally narrates the third section. Furthermore, a significant portion of the narrative in the second section is a sermon delivered by Tosamah
point of view · The narrator is omniscient and speaks primarily in the third person, but occasionally switches to first person. Significant portions of the novel are composed of narratives from other sources, including sermons, a diary, and Kiowa legends retold
tone · The tone of the novel changes from moments of rapture to moments of agony
tense · Present tense with several flashbacks
setting (time) · 1945–1952
setting (place) · Walatowa, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California
protagonist · Abel
major conflict · Abel's disillusionment with World War II and his return to life in New Mexico after the war
rising action · Abel's romance with Angela St. John; his work; his increasingly heavy drinking
climax · Abel's murder of the albino, whom he thinks is a witch or evil force
falling action · Abel's time in prison; his relocation to Los Angeles; his entry into industrial life; his descent into alcoholism and violence; his ultimate return to Walatowa
themes · The expression of Native American culture through storytelling; the tempo of life; historical and personal relationships with nature
motifs · Priests; flashbacks; running
symbols · The moon; rain; eagles
foreshadowing · Francisco interprets the events of the natural environment around him as ominous, foreshadowing Abel's murder of the albino
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