A Prayer for Owen Meany | Essays and Criticism

  • Owen Meany as a Christ-Figure

    Aubrey holds a Ph.D. in English and has published many articles on twentieth-century literature. In this essay, the author discusses Owen Meany as a Christ-figure and shows how Irving connects this to a larger network of symbolism to buttress his critique of American politics and society.

  • Plot as Repetition: John Irving's Narrative Experiments

    In the following essay excerpt, Shostak explores Irving's use of repetition to "confirm Owen Meany's conviction ... that he has been ordained an instrument of God."

  • The Magnitude of a Miracle: A Prayer for Owen Meany

    In the following essay excerpt, Reilly examines the overriding theme in Owen Meany—religious faith and miracles—and how it informs every aspect of Irving's novel.