Characters
This elderly Pueblo man is found dead under a cottonwood tree at the beginning of the story.
Who is Teofilo?
According to Pueblo tradition, the dead are believed to become these weather phenomena.
What are rain clouds?
The story explores the conflict between Native traditions and this introduced religion.
What is Christianity
Leon tells Father Paul that Teofilo died from this cause.
Answer: What is old age?
The story is told from this narrative point of view.
Answer: What is third person
These two men discover Teofilo's body and begin the traditional burial preparations.
Who are Leon and Ken?
The story is set in this southwestern U.S. state.
What is New Mexico?
The title refers to the Pueblo belief that the dead can bring this to the living.
Answer: What is rain?
Louise asks Father Paul to do this specific action at the graveside.
Answer: What is sprinkle holy water?
The calm, matter-of-fact tone when describing death reflects this cultural attitude toward mortality.
Answer: What is acceptance
This Catholic priest initially refuses to participate in the burial ceremony.
Who is Father Paul?
The story takes place on this type of Native American community.
Answer: What is a Pueblo reservation?
The cottonwood tree symbolizes the connection between these two realms.
Answer: What are earth and sky (or life and death)?
The story ends with Father Paul doing this action while thinking about the pueblo's need for water.
What is sprinkling holy water on the grave?
The story's structure follows Teofilo's journey from death to this final state.
Answer: What is spiritual transformation (or becoming a rain cloud)?