Agency and Action Book

N. Scott Momaday dedicated The Way to Rainy Mountain "in wonder, in faith, and in love" to his mother and father. This heartfelt depiction of the Kiowa Indian oral tradition encompasses all aspects of mythical tradition, historical accounts, and Momaday's personal experience of his culture. Momaday uses three authorial voices taken on to effectively translate his multi-faceted view of Kiowa tradition. These contrasting voices add an interesting element to the tone of the piece.

The voice of his father, which is synonymous with the ancient myth of the Kiowas, is the reasoning behind N. Scott Momaday's inspiration and need for sharing this history. The father voice lends a religious and cultural context to the overall theme. The second voice is one of a historical perception. This voice seems to add a balance to the mythical story weaving of the oral tradition by grounding the audience with time and fact; the factual evidence is perhaps another way in which an analytical reader can respect or understand the significance of the oral tradition. Momaday finally incorporates his unique experience, growing up as a Kiowa. His childhood memories add an almost mournful tone to the peace, as he reflects on something that was once whole and is now only in the hearts of the few remaining Kiowas.

The memory of his grandmother's death is perhaps his most thought provoking memory, as he explains the cycle of life; this can be readily paralleled to the culture of the Kiowa people. This cycle brings his grandmother back to a childlike state, releasing her spirit into the earth; likewise, the novel seems to bring the Kiowa back to life with the retelling of myth and history. The people, however far from what they once were, live on through the pages. The text is certainly lovely from a literary standpoint, containing descriptive pros and vivid memories; however, the mythic voice sections evoke an even more impactful tone when read aloud. Momaday has created a wonderful preservation through literature that should be enjoyed and shared.