One of the greatest things about this book is the use of imagery/ details. While I could give an extremely long list of examples, I will only pick out a few to prove my point.
"Larry's mother, Mitzy Lish, had honey-colored, slightly sticky-looking hair- it was coiffed in a bouffant style- and her complexion was much improved by a suntan; in the winter months, when she'd not just returned from her annual pilgrim-age to Round Hill, Jamaica, her skin turned a shade sallow. Because her complexion was further wrecked by blotchiness in the extreme cold, and because her excessive smoking had ill-influenced her circulation, a weekend of winter skiing in New Englad-even to forward the cause of her competition for her son's affection- did not favor either Mrs. Lish's appearence or her disposition." -Pg. 371
While Mitzy Lish is not necessarily a main character in the book, Irving takes the time to detail her, and ables the reader to picture her before getting to know her. This was helpful, because the more Mitzy was in dialouge, the better I could picture the scene and herself.
"She was very strong , and she was hysterical; she tried to demonstrate her headlock on me, but Owen got the towel off his head and tackled Hester at her ankles. Then it was his turn to attempt to get her off me. Owen's nose was bleeding and his lower lip, which was split and puffy, was bleeding, too; but together we managed to take control of her. Owen sat on the backs of her legs, and I kneeled between her shoulder blades and pulled her arms down flush to her sides; this still left her free to thrash her head all around- she tried to bite me, and when she couldn't she began to bang her face on the kitchen floor until her nose started bleeding." -Pg. 476
This scene is a good example of most other ones in the book. Instead of just saying "they violently fought", Irving takes the time to go in to detail, whether he tells where exactly Owen was bleeding, or how Johnny positioned himself on Hester to make her stop. It made it much more enjoyable to actually picture how the fight was happening, every last move.
"She was terribly pale, except for the plump backs of her upper arms, which were painful to look at because her sunburn there was so intense; she wore a loose, sleeveless dress, more gray than black- but maybe she didn't have a proper black dress that was sleeveless, and she could not have been expected to force such a sunburn into sleeves. She swayed slightly, squinting her eyes. At first I thought that she held her ears due to some near- blinding pain inside her head; her dry blond hair looked ready to burst into flames, and one of her feet had strayed out of the straps of her sandals." -Pg. 133
Again, Irving spends time to go into every detail of the woman, Mrs. Merrill, even down to the extremeness of her sunburn. I also liked how the narrator had his own input- "...she could not have been expected to force such a sunburn into sleeves...".
By making the tone of the book informal like that made it easier to bring myself into the story, and once there, use the provided imagery to paint the perfect picture.
12.11.2009
12.10.2009
Final Thoughts
A Prayer for Owen Meany definitely suprised me. My first thought when buying the book was, "This is going to take me forever to read, and I probably won't even like it that much." I was very wrong though. From the first sentence, I was hooked. The story is told in such a personal way through the narrator, I feel like I actually grew up with Owen and Johnny.
The story starts really when the rest of Johnny and Owen's life starts, which is the death of Tabby. From that point on, Johnny tells of everything going on in his life. The reader gets such a good perspective of everything going on in the book, even for example, Johnny's cousins. Johnny's cousins, Noah, Simon, and Hester, live in Fort Sumpter. They are wild and crazy spirited kids, and Johnny loves getting to see them. They are introduced early on, and while they don't play a major role in the overall story, it's nice to read about things important to the character- it makes them more relatable.
As the story goes on, so does the development of the characters. A Prayer for Owen Meany is really just a story of two young boys trying to make it through the obstacles life throws at them together. The problems they face are common, and ones that anyone and everyone have to deal with- anything from death, getting teased, finding love, or even just how they spend their summer nights.
By the end of the story I was sad it had to end. I had grown used to getting to pick up the book and learning more and more about the charcters and the new adventures they would go through. What would it be this time? Searching through other people's belongings in the dormrooms at their academy? Causing a scene in the school play? I can honestly say that this story is one I will never forget.
The story starts really when the rest of Johnny and Owen's life starts, which is the death of Tabby. From that point on, Johnny tells of everything going on in his life. The reader gets such a good perspective of everything going on in the book, even for example, Johnny's cousins. Johnny's cousins, Noah, Simon, and Hester, live in Fort Sumpter. They are wild and crazy spirited kids, and Johnny loves getting to see them. They are introduced early on, and while they don't play a major role in the overall story, it's nice to read about things important to the character- it makes them more relatable.
As the story goes on, so does the development of the characters. A Prayer for Owen Meany is really just a story of two young boys trying to make it through the obstacles life throws at them together. The problems they face are common, and ones that anyone and everyone have to deal with- anything from death, getting teased, finding love, or even just how they spend their summer nights.
By the end of the story I was sad it had to end. I had grown used to getting to pick up the book and learning more and more about the charcters and the new adventures they would go through. What would it be this time? Searching through other people's belongings in the dormrooms at their academy? Causing a scene in the school play? I can honestly say that this story is one I will never forget.
12.09.2009
Themes from American Literature
A Prayer for Owen Meany is a story full of themes that connect to American Literature.
In American Literature, one theme is the hero. The hero is considered to be an altogether different type of person- them against the world. Owen Meany greatly applies to this concept. From the day he was born, he was noticeably different, not only in size, but everything ranging from his intelligence to the pitch of his voice. Growing up, Owen was the kid who was picked up and passed around the classroom when the teacher wasn't looking. He was the kid whose cheeks were the ones adults wanted to pinch and squeeze. He definitely suprised people though. Owen was forced to go through obstacles in life, whether it was not ever getting the chance to get up to bat in Little League, or later, almost not getting drafted for war because he could not climb the wall. Owen is defined as a hero though, because he never lost what was most important to him- faith. He always knew his purpose, and believed in himself and in God. Society viewed him and his situation as a disadvantage, but Owen embraced it. In the end, Owen dies a hero, and serves his overall purpose.
"Major Rawls never knew everything that Owen had known; the major knew only that Owen had been a hero- he didn't know Owen Meany had been a miracle, too." -Pg. 616
Another theme from American Literature is friendship. From the first page, A Prayer for Owen Meany is truly a story about friends. Johnny and Owen go through almost everything together- Tabby's death, Owen's family problems, holidays, church, getting into the prestige Gravesend Academy, driving, and for a while, even college. Irving tells a story of one of the strongest friendships I've ever read about; it's inspiring. It just goes to show that even if your best friend kills your mom, you can make it through it if you really love the person.
One last theme, of course, is religion and faith. I've touched this topic a lot already, and don't want to repeat things over again. Of course, religion and faith take a huge role in this story. They define Owen and shape him in to the person he is. It also helps create the other two themes- faith is one of the factors making Owen a hero, and the strong faith and religion Johnny and Owen share between eachother contributes to such a long-lasting friendship.
In American Literature, one theme is the hero. The hero is considered to be an altogether different type of person- them against the world. Owen Meany greatly applies to this concept. From the day he was born, he was noticeably different, not only in size, but everything ranging from his intelligence to the pitch of his voice. Growing up, Owen was the kid who was picked up and passed around the classroom when the teacher wasn't looking. He was the kid whose cheeks were the ones adults wanted to pinch and squeeze. He definitely suprised people though. Owen was forced to go through obstacles in life, whether it was not ever getting the chance to get up to bat in Little League, or later, almost not getting drafted for war because he could not climb the wall. Owen is defined as a hero though, because he never lost what was most important to him- faith. He always knew his purpose, and believed in himself and in God. Society viewed him and his situation as a disadvantage, but Owen embraced it. In the end, Owen dies a hero, and serves his overall purpose.
"Major Rawls never knew everything that Owen had known; the major knew only that Owen had been a hero- he didn't know Owen Meany had been a miracle, too." -Pg. 616
Another theme from American Literature is friendship. From the first page, A Prayer for Owen Meany is truly a story about friends. Johnny and Owen go through almost everything together- Tabby's death, Owen's family problems, holidays, church, getting into the prestige Gravesend Academy, driving, and for a while, even college. Irving tells a story of one of the strongest friendships I've ever read about; it's inspiring. It just goes to show that even if your best friend kills your mom, you can make it through it if you really love the person.
One last theme, of course, is religion and faith. I've touched this topic a lot already, and don't want to repeat things over again. Of course, religion and faith take a huge role in this story. They define Owen and shape him in to the person he is. It also helps create the other two themes- faith is one of the factors making Owen a hero, and the strong faith and religion Johnny and Owen share between eachother contributes to such a long-lasting friendship.
Image Study
Not just the cross, but graveyards are very significant in this book. It is involved in many scenes of the book- one memorable one being the funeral of Tabby.
"Into paradise may the angels lead you..."
The graveyard is a place that unfortunately, many of the main characters end up- including Owen. Owen is the character in the story though, that makes Christianity in general meaningful. He lives on it, and influences those around him. The cross represents Owen's very existence, and his puropse on earth. It plays a role in the story because of that very fact that Owen believes to be on a mission for God. In one of Owen's journal entries, he writes about a dream he had of him dying and reflects.
"Yesterday I was kicked out of school. Last night I had a dream. Now I know four things. I know that my voice doesn't change- but I still don't know why. I know that I am God's instrument. I know when I'm going to die- and now a dream has shown me how I'm going to die. I'm going to be a hero! I trust that God will help me,because what I'm supposed to do looks very hard."
The Vietnam War has an important role in the story. After Owen is expelled from school, he decides to join ROTC. He becomes obsessed with learning more about the military, and also the dream he had of his tombstone. He decides that God has meant for him to go fight in Vietnam, and die there.
Of course, the scene that always sticks to my mind from this story is the baseball game. I feel that it was one of the most important. It shaped the characters, and changed their whole lives. It brought Johnny and Owen in to their friendship for life. The baseball game was pretty much the rising action of the story- the starting point.
"And play is all we did, it seems to me now. We were both eleven the summer my mother died. It was our last year in Little League, which wer were already bored with."
In one chapter, Owen and Johnny must participate in their church's Christmas pageant. Every year, Owen is forced to play the acsending angel, and every year he hates it. This year, he gets the opportunity for a new role- playing the little Lord Jesus, which creates a very different and somewhat humorous show. It is interesting that Owen has gotten this role though, since he believes to be another of God's sons.
"The Rev. Mr. Wiggin, such a veteran of Christmas pageants, looked at Owen Meany with a profound respect- as if he'd seen the Christ Child come and go, but never before had he encountered a little Lord Jesus who was so perfect for the part."
12.07.2009
Rhetoric Study
"My mother had her back to home plate; she had someone's eye- someone in the bleacher seats- and she was waving to whoever it was. She was past the third-base bag- on the third-base line, but still nearer third base than home plate- when Owen Meany started his swing. He appeared to start his swing before the ball left the pitcher's hand- it was a fast ball, such as they are in Little League play, but Owen's swing was well ahead of the ball, with which he made astonishing contact (a little in front of home plate, about chest-high). It was the hardest I'd ever seen him hit a ball, and the force of the contact was such a shock to Owen that he actually stayed on his feet- for once, he didn't fall down.
The crack of the bat was so unusually sharp and loud for a Little League game that the noise captured even my mother's wandering attention. She turned her head toward home plate- I guess, to see who had hit such a shot- and the ball struck her left temple, spinning her so quickly that one of her high heels broke and she fell forward, facing the stands, her knees splayed apart, her face hitting the ground first because her hands never moved from her sides (not even to break her fall), which later gave rise to the speculation that she was dead before she touched the earth." Pg.33
While John Irving makes it a point that the death of Tabitha was quick, and maybe even painless, he is able to create a sense of suspense, or climaxing, that goes on for more than a page. One piece of evidence of this was the minute Owen steps up to bat. The narrator, Johnny, makes it a point that Owen never bats, so when Owen has the opportunity, it shows a twist in the story. The next piece involves Johnny describing that when Owen does get the chance to bat (once in a bluemoon), their coach, Mr. Chickering, does not let Owen swing that bat- but that day...
"Usually, he said 'Have a good eye, Owen!' That meant, Don't swing at anything. But his day, Mr. Chickering said, 'Hit away kid!'"
At this point, it is obvious something is going to happen. I could not figure it out though. Will Owen get hit? Will the team miraculously win the game? Never did I see a main character actually dying . That is- until Johnny goes in to detail about his mom, who has come to the game late, and standing off to the side. He talks about what she's wearing, her facial expression, and how everyone else there seems to be watching her instead of the game.
By going in to detail about two major but different things in the scene, Irving is able to create a sense of climax- of what is going to happen next. It's ironic, in my opinion. On the one hand, he is basically saying exactly what is going to happen, all the reader has to do is put the two together. On the other hand, it is so unexpected, and horrible. Then again, the story starts off sharing this piece of information in the first sentence- "...or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death..". Even knowing this though, I did not see Tabby dying by a baseball.
Using detail was another effective way to create the climax of this scene. Whether describing Tabby- "...she had a nice tan, and the dress was simple, white cotton one...I realized that everyone was watching her...", or the traveling of the deadly baseball. Reading this was like watching a scene in slow-motion. By reading every detail, not only could I paint the perfect picture, but it made it seem all the more stretched out and suspenseful. Also with phrases such as "The crack of the bat" and "the force of the contact was such a shock", the climax rises as the ball does nearer and nearer to Tabby.
The crack of the bat was so unusually sharp and loud for a Little League game that the noise captured even my mother's wandering attention. She turned her head toward home plate- I guess, to see who had hit such a shot- and the ball struck her left temple, spinning her so quickly that one of her high heels broke and she fell forward, facing the stands, her knees splayed apart, her face hitting the ground first because her hands never moved from her sides (not even to break her fall), which later gave rise to the speculation that she was dead before she touched the earth." Pg.33
While John Irving makes it a point that the death of Tabitha was quick, and maybe even painless, he is able to create a sense of suspense, or climaxing, that goes on for more than a page. One piece of evidence of this was the minute Owen steps up to bat. The narrator, Johnny, makes it a point that Owen never bats, so when Owen has the opportunity, it shows a twist in the story. The next piece involves Johnny describing that when Owen does get the chance to bat (once in a bluemoon), their coach, Mr. Chickering, does not let Owen swing that bat- but that day...
"Usually, he said 'Have a good eye, Owen!' That meant, Don't swing at anything. But his day, Mr. Chickering said, 'Hit away kid!'"
At this point, it is obvious something is going to happen. I could not figure it out though. Will Owen get hit? Will the team miraculously win the game? Never did I see a main character actually dying . That is- until Johnny goes in to detail about his mom, who has come to the game late, and standing off to the side. He talks about what she's wearing, her facial expression, and how everyone else there seems to be watching her instead of the game.
By going in to detail about two major but different things in the scene, Irving is able to create a sense of climax- of what is going to happen next. It's ironic, in my opinion. On the one hand, he is basically saying exactly what is going to happen, all the reader has to do is put the two together. On the other hand, it is so unexpected, and horrible. Then again, the story starts off sharing this piece of information in the first sentence- "...or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death..". Even knowing this though, I did not see Tabby dying by a baseball.
Using detail was another effective way to create the climax of this scene. Whether describing Tabby- "...she had a nice tan, and the dress was simple, white cotton one...I realized that everyone was watching her...", or the traveling of the deadly baseball. Reading this was like watching a scene in slow-motion. By reading every detail, not only could I paint the perfect picture, but it made it seem all the more stretched out and suspenseful. Also with phrases such as "The crack of the bat" and "the force of the contact was such a shock", the climax rises as the ball does nearer and nearer to Tabby.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)