This is the index to the seven of eleven lessons that Mrs. Hassard assigned, that I chose to do and the one mandatory assignment:
1.
What strategies does
Irving use to introduce and develop character? What language, and literary
devices does he use when he describes the character?
2.
What is the mood of
the story in Chapter 1?
3.
What conflicts does
Irvng set up in Chapter 1?
4.
What are the natures
of the conflicts set up in Chapter 1? How do you know?
5.
What do the thematic
aspects of the novel appear to be, in general terms, after reading Chapter 1?
6.
What is Irving's
style like? See Skills Bank - Stylistic Analysis
7.
What kind of language
and sentence structure does Irving use?
8.
What is the narrative
point of view of Chapter 1?
9.
How does Irving
communicate the setting of Chapter 1? What language, and literary devices does
he use when he describes the setting?
10.
Describe as much as
you can, even just from reading Chapter 1, about the relationship between
characters, plot, theme and setting in the novel? What are the cues that give
you this information?
Questions you should
be able to answer when you're done:
What were the factors
that contributed to the political activism of the 1960's in North America?
What are the major
political allusions in A Prayer for Owen Meany? List them.
What were the effects
of the Viet Nam War particularly for youth?
Identify three ways
that an awareness of the political mileau of the 1960's enhance a reading of
the novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany?
Lesson Five – Theme
In a 5 paragraph (or more) literary essay, or in a web site or Power Point Presentation,
describe, analyze and respond to the stages of Johnny's 'coming of age'.
What are the events that mark the transitions in Johnny's life?
As each transition occurs, the theme develops.
Examine these connections in the text.
1. How does the reader’s personal experience affect his/her
reaction to and interpretation of text?
2. How are Irving’s values, beliefs and experiences reflected
in the text and how does an analysis of the relationships between these
contribute to an interpretation of the text? (Christianity)
3. How do the historical / political events of Irving’s
generation ‘colour’ his own approach to the text as a writer? Give examples
4. Examine Irving’s handling of the biases represented by his
characters. Does he use inclusive language? In what ways does the language he
uses and the language we use today to express similar people / groups and
issues line up? What does language reflect about the society that uses it? How
and why does socially descriptive language (labelling) and its effects evolve –
or deteriorate? What language of this text endures; what language is already on
the way out?
5.
Describe exactly how
Irving achieves his purpose through the events and characters he has rendered.
Use specific examples to trace the reader’s realization of Irving’s message.
6. Whose values are ‘right’? Who decides whose values are
‘right’? To what extent does Irving deal with this is A Prayer for Owen Meany?
7. What role did values play in decisions that were made for
the film version of A Prayer for Owen
Meany (Simon Birch)? Why wouldn’t John Irving lend the title to the film?
What does this demonstrate about the differences between literature and film as
media with purposes for target audiences?
8. What is the role of and impact of the media on changing values?
A
Prayer for Owen Meany raises personal issues about religion. Whereas many texts
bring religion into question - this is one is a bit more affirming in its
presentation of religion - but the presentation is unconventional.
Consider and respond
to these questions:
How is the approach
to religion similar or different than your own?
What is surprising
(if anything) about Irving's approach to religion?
What is Irving 'saying' about religion in this novel?
What is the purpose
or function of the novel as a form for religious teaching? ( Is that what this
novel does - teach?)
Will this novel
endure, based on its religious themes?
Should this work be taught on curricula in public schools?
Select a few
paragraphs in the text of APrayer for
Owen Meany that communicate a particularly 'poignant' moment.
Analyze the piece by
looking at the role each of the following plays in the success of the passage:
·
point of view
·
use of literary
devices (metaphors, imagery, allusion etc)
·
use of literary
devices related to language (alliteration, level of language, tone & timbre
etc.)
·
sentence structure
·
rhetorical strategies
·
order of events
·
communication of
conflict
·
communication of
'theme'
After analyzing
Irving's style, emulate it to write your own 'narrative' or a reflection
about moments, memories, people or places from your own real life.
Write 'on the right
side of the brain' - focussing on the five senses to create impressions for
your readers, but do not explicitly describe.
Through the
communication of experience, render a 'message' for the reader about your
experience, that is not necessarily 'explicit' - but clearly 'read'.
How does knowing the
cultural or historical context of a work help you to understand the text? Do
you need to know the context to understand it?
1.
In what time was the
novel set?
2.
What information
about technology, politics, geography, values and worldviews are different do
you need a full appreciation of to enlighten your reading of the text?
3.
What what are the key
political issues of Irving's time that make their way into the book? Was Irving
writing about them in real time - or in retrospect?(Did Irving experience them)
What is their signficance to / impact on, the text?
4.
Examine the history
granite quarries in the mid-twentieth century in New England. What wwas the
business like? How were those businesses typically run? Who bought the granite?
How accurately does Irving render any or all of this? To what extent is this
significant to the story of A Prayer for Owen Meany? What is the
importance of the granite quarry within the context of Irving's story?
5.
Examine the text for
Irving's handling of social status. Examine the issues around the prejudices of
his characters. How does he use language to explore / communicate these issues?
How are they relevant to the middle American, mid-twentieth century world he
renders in the novel ?In what ways is the language we use today to express
similar people / groups and issues changed? Is our language more or less
inclusive / discriminatory? How and why does socially descriptive language
(labelling) and its effects evolve - or deteriorate? How do you feel about
Irving's handling of language regarding these aspects of the novel?
6. How does knowing the cultural or historical context of a work help you to understand the text? Do you need to know the context to understand it?
Lesson
Twelve – Culminating Questions
1.
What is the
significance of the Viet Nam War to A Prayer for Owen Meany?
2.
What is the significance
of baseball to A Prayer for Owen Meany?
3.
What is the
significance of each of these to American literature in general?
4.
Would you say A Prayer for Owen Meany was a
'quintessentially American' fiction?
5.
In your experience,
how would you differentiate between Canadian fiction and American fiction if A Prayer for Owen Meany was a
typically American 'read'.
6. Would you
rate John Irving as an important American writer - why or why not?
7. Which comparable Canadian writers could you compare him to?
