Zuni Folktales · Character

The Young Man

A hopeful suitor from the Pueblo of the Winds who bundles his finest mantles and necklaces to court the maiden of Salt City.

major

Also known as ye, yours, thou, the young man, thee

First appearance: Zuni Folktales

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

The poor youth from Hálonawan who wins the maiden through kindness and humility.

In the storyThe Trial of LoversOpen this moment free

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He arrives at the priest-chief's house with gifts wrapped in white buckskin, navigating the delicate protocols of Zuni courtship with careful ceremony. His restraint at the meal—eating 'ever so little'—reveals a young man keenly aware that desire must be tempered by propriety. His journey across the western plains sets the tale's central trial in motion, making his earnest pursuit the emotional anchor of the opening arc.

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See The Young Man in Zuni Folktales

Character Web

38 connections

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

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Twin War Gods and Companions
Elders and Testers
Protagonist

+33 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…

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In the story

The Young Man appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Zuni Folktales
Participates in courtship and trials.
The Trial of Lovers
The poor youth from Hálonawan who wins the maiden through kindness and humility.
Told the First Night
Works in the cornfield, passes the insect test, and accidentally kills his beloved wife, mistaking her for her jealous sister.
Told the Second Night
Grieving husband who pursues his wife's spirit, receives counsel from the Owl, but fails to obey and loses her again.
The Youth and His Eagle
The youth who loves his Eagle and follows her into the sky, only to perish due to his faithlessness.
How the Summer Birds Came
The miraculous son of the maiden and the Rain God, who grows rapidly and hunts monsters.
The Boy Hunter Who Never Sacrificed to the Deer He Had Slain
The hunter who is cast into the river and guided by the serpent maiden to the Sun-father.
The Warrior Suitor of Moki
The poor, outcast youth who becomes the hero by winning the maiden's hand after a successful raid on Zuni.
How the Gopher Raced with the Runners of Kʻiákime
Dispatched by the council to recruit the Gopher for the race.
How the Corn-Pests Were Ensnared
An ugly, poor young man who cleverly traps the corn-pests and wins the maiden's hand.

Chapter companion notes

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See The Young Man in Zuni Folktales

See The Young Man in The Trial of Lovers