A Prayer for Owen Meany

Symbolism abounds throughout A Prayer for Owen Meany. Choose one or two symbols aside from those listed in the study guide, and examine what they reveal about either Owen or John. Consider analyzing the dressmaker’s dummy, the Mary Magdalene statue, the armadillo, The New York Times, John’s finger, or Owen’s dream.

The chapter “The Voice” explains the author’s use of capitalization for Owen’s dialogue. How is this capitalization symbolic, both in the novel and in Owen’s use of it for his column? How does it shape the reader’s impression of Owen before and after this chapter unfolds?

Portions of the narrative are set in 1987 Toronto when John is an adult. What role do these sections play in the larger novel? What is the relationship between the past, the present, and the future?