Awl Man
Also called Awl-Man.
The Pueblo tutelary spirit of the sewing awl, who travels as a companion and guide rather than staying an object in a workbasket.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Pueblo folklore
- Region
- American Southwest (place of origin)
- Trait family
- The Waking Things
Near this figure
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Form
- Animated household object
why
Awl Man is the awl itself, made a person.
Utility powers
- Guides lost travelers
why
A boy finds moccasins of deerskin set beside him, puts them on, and takes Corn Mother and Awl Man with him into the world; the pair of them steer him toward where the people are.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Wise Old Man carries both readings
2 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Awl Man."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Awl Man."
- Water meets
2 citations
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Awl Man."
- Maria Leach, editor, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend, s.v. "Awl Man."