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A Prayer for Owen Meany . By: John Irving . John Irving . Born; March 2, 1942 in New Hampshire He was originally born John Wallace Blunt Jr. His parents divorced and he was named John Winslow Irving when his mother re-married John Irving grew up without ever meeting his biological father
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A Prayer for Owen Meany By: John Irving
John Irving • Born; March 2, 1942 in New Hampshire • He was originally born John Wallace Blunt Jr. • His parents divorced and he was named John Winslow Irving when his mother re-married • John Irving grew up without ever meeting his biological father • Studied as an undergrad at the University of New Hampshire • Went to earn a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Iowa, studying fiction
John Irving • Published his first book, Setting Free the Bears in 1968 • Taught at the University of Iowa while still writing and published other novels • The fourth novel, The World According to Garp was a big hit • Adapted into 1982 film and was nominated for Oscars • A Prayer for Owen Meany, A Sone for the Circus, and A Widow for One Year also made it on the big screen • Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992
Foundation • Setting: Mostly took place in Gravesend, New Hampshire. Also takes place a little in Toronto, Canada • Point of View: First Person
Important Characters • John Wheelwright: narrator of the novel, respected member of the Wheelwright family, schoolmate, and best friend to Owen Meany • Owen Meany: schoolmate and best friend to John, recognized by his appearance and voice, very intelligent and believes himself to be the “instrument of God” because of his involvement of a death • Tabitha Wheelwright: John’s mother, wife of Dan Needham, killed in freak accident of a baseball hitting her • Dan Needham: John’s adaptive father, loving and supportive, drama teacher at Gravesend Academy
Secondary Characters • Harriet Wheelwright: John’s grandmother, intelligent, opinionated, and protective of John • Noah, Simon and Hester Eastman: cousin’s of John, Hester has a romantic relationship with Owen • Pastor Lewis Merrill: priest in Gravesend, related to John in a way that is not revealed until the end of the novel
Summary Overview • John, Tabitha, and Mrs. Wheelwright 80 Front Street • John’s father unknown • Owen Meany family owns a granite quarry • Owen’s appearance • Tabitha and Dan Needham meet and get married • Dan gives John a gift • Eleven years old, playing little league baseball • Owen is batting • Tabitha arrives at the game • Owen hits a foul ball • Smacks Tabitha in the head
Summary Overview • Owens give John his baseball cards • John gives Owen back the cards and the armadillo • Christmas after Tabitha’s death • Christ Church Christmas pageant • Owen Baby Jesus • A Christmas Carol, Owen- The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come • Attend Gravesend Academy
Summary Overview • Owen “THE VOICE” column • Owen gets expelled • Owens hold a meeting in Gravesend auditorium • University of New Hampshire • Owen and Hester • Owen joins the ROTC program • Assigned and Vietnam and believes he will die • Reassigned to Arizona
Summary Overview • John visits Owen in Arizona • Owen helps a family • Dead soldier’s younger brother Dick Jarvits • Owen takes John to the airport • Vietnamese orphans • Men’s room and Dick Jarvits • Owens death • Rev. Merrill revealed • John begs for Owen to come back
Quotes • “it was the only decent hit the kid ever made, the only real wood he ever got on the ball. And even then, it was a foul ball. Not to mention that it killed someone.” • “Your memory is a monster, you forget—it doesn’t. It simple files things away. It keeps things from you, or hides things from you—and summons them to your recall with a will of its own. You think you have a memory, but it had you.” • “To show him that you love him. That’s what he was showing you. What have you got to give him?”
Themes • Religion • Faith • Friendship • Family • Society and Class • Memory and the Past
Connection • I made a connection to the Bible because of Owen have dreams to be prophecies of his future purpose in life, just like the person in the Bible that had prophecies. Owen was thought to be a virgin at birth, just like Jesus Christ. Owen believes he is also the “instrument of God”.
Symbols • Armadillo: Owen returns the armadillo without claws to John. Taking claws represents the taking of Owen’s hands by God swing the bat that hit the ball which killed John’s mother. Symbolizes friendship • Owen as the Christ Child: parallels the life of Owen and the life of Jesus Christ. Knowledge about his death, his belief and trust that everything happens for a reason.
