NAME: Kevin Ruggeri

SAMPLE RESPONSE NOVEL

NAME: Ima Student TITLE OF NOVEL/PLAY: A Prayer for Owen Meany PAGE QUOTE/REFERENCE RESPONSE 17 reference to Owen “reaching toward Symbolism: Owen represents spiritual world heaven”

“As vividly as any number of the stories in Symbolism: Foreshadows Owen’s Christ like the Bible, Owen Meany showed us what a sacrifice to save the Vietnamese children in airport martyr was.”

students like hanging him on hooks and in Symbolism: Owen symbolizes Jesus on the cross; lockers as well Christian imagery

narrator is a Wheelwright, “the family Characterization: higher social standing than name that counted in our town” working-class Meany family (father is a laborer, similar to Jesus’ father, Joseph)

19 Watahantowet – totem was an armless Motif: armlessness, amputation. symbol of man helplessness, loss of something sacred to him

“A PERSON’S FAITH GOES AT ITS Theme: Owen, pious as he is, is not conventionally 32 OWN PACE. … THE TROUBLE WITH religious. Irving asks readers to question why they CHURCH IS THE SERVICE. A believe what they believe. SERVICE IS CONDUCTED FOR A MASS AUDIENCE.”

42 Owen has the number 3 on his baseball Symbolism: religious significance – divinity jersey (father, son, holy ghost)

45 Tabitha has a “fondness for red” Characterization/Symbolism: connections to The Scarlet Letter – like Hester, Tabitha challenges sexual mores of the time; symbolizes passion

71 “With his hands behind his back, he Motif: armlessness motif – vulnerable moment for looked as armless as Watahantowet, and in Owen; that blaze of sunlight he looked like a associations with light – divine creature, not of this gnome plucked fresh from a fire, with his world ears still aflame.”

“he looked like a descending angel—a Symbolism: more associations with the spiritual tiny but fiery god, sent to adjudicate the world and redemption errors of our ways.” The attached table is an example of how to arrange your reader response assignment.

. In the first column, indicate the relevant page number(s).

. In the second column, put a brief quoted passage from the novel or a reference to an object in the novel. Select a passage that is significant to character development, symbolism, conflict, motif, or theme. KEEP IN MIND, THEME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AREA FOR NOTETAKING.

. In the third column, underline the term, then analyze the quotation. What is significant about the passage you have selected? Discuss important literary elements; do not summarize plot. DO NOT WRITE ABOUT OTHER AREAS.

. When you have responded to the first quoted passage, select another and repeat. Write four to five pages total, making sure that you represent all sections of the novel (plan ahead!).

. Single-space the quotations and your responses; separate each entry with one line of spacing. Use 12 point Times New Roman font.

A template incorporating the proper reader response assignment format will be made available to you. You must use the template as it stands (do not modify margins, column width, etc.). No handwritten responses will be accepted.

Complete your 4-5 pages of notes and send them to turnitin.com by Friday, November 15th. Please also bring a hard copy with you to class.