Zuni Folktales · Character

Coyote

A silver-tongued trickster who demonstrates his 'training method' by smashing bones and sprinting, luring the Demon into a devastating imitation.

major

Also known as the Coyote, The Coyote, the old Coyote, A Coyote, the little Coyote, This Coyote, Your

First appearance: Zuni Folktales

As a major figure in Zuni Folktales, Coyote is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Appears in multiple tales as a trickster figure.

In the storyZuni FolktalesOpen this moment free

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Coyote stages an elaborate performance of self-mutilation and miraculous healing, substituting antelope bones for his own legs with theatrical cries of pain. His flattery—'there is no deer that can run away from me'—hooks the gullible Demon, whose eagerness to match Coyote's speed blinds him to the con. This episode showcases Coyote's signature blend of cunning and cruelty, establishing him as a figure whose tricks entertain even as they maim.

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The fuller portrait of Coyote sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Coyote in Zuni Folktales

Character Web

45 connections

A slice of how Coyote sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Protagonist
Clever Elders and Animals
Twin War Gods and Companions
Diverse Mythical and Animal Figures
Owl Characters

+40 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the children’s joyful play turns to horror as the elder siste…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Blackbirds
rivalry · negative
Blackbirds and Coyote are frequent trickster opponents, with the birds often getting the… How this plays out →
Locust
rivalry · negative
Blackbirds
rivalry · negative
Blackbirds and Coyote are frequent trickster opponents, with the birds often getting the… How this plays out →
Blackbirds
rivalry · negative
Blackbirds and Coyote are frequent trickster opponents, with the birds often getting the… How this plays out →
Locust
rivalry · negative
Locust
rivalry · negative

Blackbirds
Blackbirds and Coyote are frequent trickster opponents, with the birds often getting the better of him.
Locust
Coyote and Locust are trickster rivals, often engaging in contests or deceptions.
Blackbirds
Blackbirds and Coyote are frequent trickster opponents, with the birds often getting the better of him.
Blackbirds
Blackbirds and Coyote are frequent trickster opponents, with the birds often getting the better of him.
Locust
Coyote and Locust are trickster rivals, often engaging in contests or deceptions.
Locust
Coyote and Locust are trickster rivals, often engaging in contests or deceptions.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Coyote in Zuni Folktales

In the story

Coyote appears across 12 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Zuni Folktales
Appears in multiple tales as a trickster figure.
The Warrior Suitor of Moki
Not directly mentioned; the dogs serve as the youth's allies instead.
How the Corn-Pests Were Ensnared
Tricked by the Owls into killing his grandmother and breaking his legs to join their dance, then humiliated and seeking revenge.
The Coyote Who Killed the Demon Síuiuki
Tricks and kills the Demon Síuiuki, then claims the youngest sister of the Gods of Prey as his wife.
How the Coyotes Tried to Steal the Children of the Sacred Dance
The old Coyote of Cedar Canyon who discovers the K'yamakwe children and organizes the failed theft.
The Coyote and the Beetle
Threatens to bite the Beetle but is tricked into fleeing after hearing a false warning about trail defilement.
How the Coyote Danced with the Blackbirds
The protagonist who desperately wants to join the Blackbirds' dance and fly, leading to his humiliation.
How the Turtle Out Hunting Duped the Coyote
The Coyote helps skin the deer, demands half, and later returns with his family to retrieve the meat, but is repeatedly duped by the Turtle.
The Coyote and the Locust
The old Coyote who tries to learn the Locust's song but forgets it twice, then angrily bites the Locust's decoy and breaks his teeth.
The Coyote and the Ravens Who Raced Their Eyes
The trickster protagonist who foolishly tries to imitate the Ravens' eye-racing trick and loses his eyes.
How the Corn-Pests Were Ensnared
The trickster who falls into the pit but escapes by climbing over the other animals.
Endnotes
Referenced in the context of his wonder and admiration for the Kʻyámakwe children.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Coyote unlock in the free preview.

See Coyote in Zuni Folktales