Summary and Analysis
Part 4:
Walatowa 1952
This last of the four major sections recalls the prologue and brings the story back to its starting point. The place is again Walatowa, and the year is 1952. The Dawn Runner of the title is Abel, who will now take his place with the other three men of traditional wisdom and custom in this novel: his grandfather Francisco, a Walatowa elder; Tosamah, the Kiowa Priest of the Sun; and Benally, the Navajo Night Chanter.