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Importance of metaphor
Significance of metaphor
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John Irving begins his novel with one of the most iconic introductory lines in modern literature; introducing a character who is a great source of pain and anguish, yet the ultimate source behind the narrator’s belief in God (Irving 3). In this paradoxical sentiment the theme of the book born, what follows it is a journey that is different from any other. John Wheelwright, the narrator, tells a story of his best friend Owen Meany and what effect he has had on John’s own life, while concurrently interjecting the plot with information about the occurrence in the world around him and how it relates back to Owen. Through the uses of sporadic but continuous plot development John Irving develops a self acclaimed Christ-like character whose life, actions, and being directly influence the development of those around him; ultimately conveying an utter sense of belief in disbelief.
Irving uses a non-linear plot style to tell the story of Owen’s life, accomplishing two things: he gives a reader insight into the mental state of John Wheelwright and its slow digression, and makes a reader experience events not in the order that they occurred but rather in the order of recollection. By accomplishing these two things, Irving develops a biographical and believable plot that has unbelievable suspense; as a reader does not get key details of setting and plot until later in the book.
Owen Meany is setup as a Christ analogue in the text (Peterson). Irving makes this obvious by offsetting Owen’s speech in all caps, similar to how most translations of the Bible offset Jesus’ speech in red. He is an unlikely hero in the lives of those around him, both directly and indirectly. Even not considering the penultimate scene of Owen’s sacrifice, he is cl...
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...Critical Approaches to Literature. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford UP, 1992. Home - School of Communication and Information - Rutgers University. Rutgers, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2011.
Hagen, Edward H. Non-bizarre Delusions as Strategic Deception. Publication. Vancouver: Washing State University, 2007. Washington State University, Vancouver, Aug. 2007. Web. 27 Feb. 2011.
Irving, John. A Prayer for Owen Meany: a Novel. New York: Ballantine, 2009. Print.
Kazin, Alfred. "A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving." Rev. of A Prayer for Owen Meany. The New York Times 12 Mar. 1989, Late City Final Edition ed., sec. 7: 1. Books. New York TImes. Web. 27 Feb. 2011.
Marauder. "Introduction to Literature Final Exam." Millersville University, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2011.
Peterson, Eugene H. "Writers And Angels: Witness to Transcendence." Theology Today Oct. 1994: 396-98. Web. 27 Feb. 2011.
In Barbara Kingsolver’s novel The Poisonwood Bible, characters Adah and Rachel Price differ in their outlooks on life. Adah contrasts Rachel with her inside reality, her dark fiction, as well as her dependence on others due to her slant. Rachel, on the other hand, loves the outside reality, compares her life to that of a light fairy tale, and is independent. Kingsolver’s choice of two vastly different characters aids in the demonstration of the complexity each character has. In order to portray each character’s aspects, Kingsolver uses forms of diction, metaphors, and symbolism.
Irving’s use of symbolism in the novel is very effective in supporting this theme of religious faith. One of the most obvious and important symbols is Owen himself. He is portrayed as a Jesus figure, and himself exclaims, “I AM GOD’S INSTRUMENT.” There is also reference to the nativity set in the Meany’s home. It just so happens that the Baby Jesus is missing from the crib in the center.
In literature of significant standing, no act of violence is perpetrated without reason. For a story to be legitimate in the area of fine literature violence cannot be used in a wanton manner. In John Irving’s modern classic, A Prayer for Owen Meany the audience is faced with multiple scenes of strong violence but violence is never used without reason. All of the violent acts depicted in the novel are totally necessary for the characters and the plot to develop. This plot-required violence can be seen in the novel’s first chapter when Owen accidentally kills John’s mother and in the novel’s last chapter when John relates Owen’s grotesque, while heroic, death to the audience. The violence that is shown in this novel is used in such a calculated manner that it leaves a great impression on the audience.
A Prayer for Owen Meany, a novel by John Irving, is a touching and morbid novel riddled with death and uncertainty. It’s overall story, however, about two young boys growing up in the 1950’s, is a story where relationships are tested and also strengthened because of a peculiar child, Owen Meany. Even after the death of Owen Meany himself, the relationship between the two is as strong as ever because after death Owen continues to protect Johnny and let him know he’s not going to leave him. While alive Owen protected Johnny by making it so he could not get drafted into the Vietnam War by cutting off his index finger, effectively making it so the he cannot shoot a gun. Owen however, went along with the war and enlisted himself into it by the ROTC
Guerin, Wilfred L. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. New York: Harper & Row,
Irving uses many other images and scenes within this story that could be delved into further. However, I believe these three main points, along with the knowledge of the political climate of the times, shows Irving’s genius in representing both sides of the political gamut. Irving was able to cater to both the British and the Colonist without offending either side. Irving’s genius was that even though this was an allegory of its time, its elements could represent either or both sides of the conflict during the Revolution. This dual representation in an allegorical story ensured his success, in both countries as a writer. It allowed Irving to make a political statement without taking sides.
Strehle, Susan. "John Gardner's Novels: Affirmation and the Alien." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Vol. 10. Detroit: Gale Research, 1979. 218 -219.
The novel contains several framed narratives: Garp's first novella, The Pension Grillparzer; "Vigilance", a short story; and the first chapter of his novel, The World According to Bensenhaver. The book also contains some motifs that appear in almost all John Irving novels: bears, New England, Vienna, wrestling, people who are uninterested in having sex, and a complex Dickensian plot that spans the protagonist's whole life. Adultery (another common Irving motif) also plays a large part, culminating in one of the novel's most harrowing and memorable scenes. Another familiar Irving trope, castration anxiety, is present, most obviously in the fate of Michael Milton.
Heberle, Mark. "Contemporary Literary Criticism." O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. Vol. 74. New York, 2001. 312.
In A Prayer for Owen Meany, and all his other novels, John Irving names the protagonists Johnny. In this case, it's Johnny Wheelwright. Irving's upbringing is essentially revamped in this novel, as it takes place in childhood home and follows his life almost exactly, with the exception of an Owen Meany. Even towards the end of the novel, where Johnny’s life continues to parallel Irving's biological life experiences (DiYanni). Next, understanding Irving's psychological influences is key. In the novel, he portrays his life in an alternate scenario. His mother is killed by his best friend, which could represent some unconscious resentment for his mother. Moreover, he chooses celibacy and dedicates himself to his English career as a teacher. Was he possibly exploring how his life might have turned out if he repressed his innate sexual urges or chose a different career path (DiYanni)? Lastly, the mythological perspective of literature is frequently utilized. Numerous Christian sects play major roles within Irving’s novel. Even the protagonist switches faith three times, initially being a Congregationalist, then an Episcopalian, and eventually an Anglican. Additionally, Owen Meany was initially a Catholic, but converted to an Episcopalian. The constant representations of Christian doctrines such as nativity, Mary Magdalene, and Owen's Christ-like figure continue to illustrate the influence of religion on this novel
Carver develops the narrator’s tone chronologically from disdainful to cautious to introspective by deepening his relationship with Robert to express the false perception of strangers that assumptions can produce.
The main characteristic of the new literary form of the novel according to Ian Watt is "truth to individual experience" (4) and its new shape is created by a focus on the individual character. He is presented in a specific definition of time and space. The second section of this paper will show how far this is realized in both of the novels. In the third section I want to analyze the characters' individualism in connection with the claim to truth and their complexity in description.
Strehle, Susan. "John Gardner's Novels: Affirmation and the Alien." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Vol. 10. Detroit: Gale Research, 1979. 218 -219.
Abrams, MH, et al. Eds. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.
In this poem Owen uses defamiliarization to make the reader question the death of a solider at war and how this compares to the death of a person at home. He uses comparisons, metaphors and similes to bring out the defamiliarization.