1. A Prayer for Owen Meany  Chapter 4 
Answer the following questions in your Reading Journal.
What shifts occur at the start of chapter 4? Identify and support two notable shifts.
For questions 2-6, reread pages 182 through 186.
Start at “The Christmas of ‘53…” (182). End at “…more powerful and unstoppable than The Flying Yankee” (186).
How does this excerpt assist in the development of Owen Meany as a character?
Where and how is symbolism further developed in this section?
What elements of ambiguity arise in this excerpt that seemly foreshadow future events? How does Irving’s implantation of said techniques impact the novel as a whole?
How does this section support Owen’s belief in predestination?
What techniques (use others than those touched on in the previous 5 questions) does Irving use in this excerpt to enhance the mood of the passage?
Write a thesis statement that addresses the above question
Create a list of quotes from the excerpt that support your thesis
Shifts
A structural shift (ch. 1-3 have skipped through time and memories without focusing on any moment for long: ch. 4 takes is more linear and sequential)
A shift in tone (ch. 1-3 are somewhat lachrymose, dominated by memories related to Tabitha’s death: ch. 4 becomes much more buoyant, comical, (at times satirical), dominated by the characterization of Owen
Characterization of Owen
The description of Owen’s room helps further characterize him as a hand of God.
In a description of his room it is stated that “an alter-in-progess was under construction there” (182).
The description of Owen’s parents add to his peculiarity.
The beginning of the passage focuses on how the Meany’s are not like what Johnny perceives as typical. The diction choices scream “unconventional” (and illustrate Johnny’s awkwardness, but I digress)
Owen’s mother’s relative muteness
The conversation about Own being the star of the pageant shows that he withholds information from his parents
Symbolism
Armlessness (Joseph with no hand, Tabbitha’s dress form, the missing armadillo claws)
Angels (Owen’s parents were prefer he was one, Tabbitha’s dress form is described and treated angelically, Mrs. Meany’s “attitude of supplication” [186])
Armadillo, baseball cards, the baseball that killed Tabby (all are out of sight)
The purity of snow (and how it never seemed to stick on atop Madison hill—that the sand seems to raise to the top by Owen’s home)
The color red (the red dress, Owen’s red hat)
Ambiguity and foreshadowing
The Christ child missing from the crib. Ambiguous: why is it missing? Foreshadowing: alludes to the parallel later drawn to Owen’s virgin birth and the Christ child’s
Why is there a lack Christmas in the home?
Why does Owen withhold from his parents that he has been cast as the Christ child? Why does his mother look at Owen (not the fire or in profile to the window) when she hears he is to be the baby Jesus? Foreshadowing: again alludes to the parallel later drawn between Owen’s and the Christ child
Why does Mrs. Meany, who never talks, use her voice to say “I’m sorry about your poor mother” (185)?
Predestination
Primarily, this is supported by the last paragraph of the excerpt (186)
Thesis
Obviously, these will vary.