Transcript A Prayer for Owen Meany

A Prayer for
Owen Meany
Multiple Choice Test
Question Creation
#1
The local sagamore’s name was Watahantowet; instead of his signature, he made his mark upon the deed in the form of his totem-an armless
man. Later there was some dispute-not very interesting-regarding the Indian deed, and more interesting speculation regarding why
Watahantowet’s totem was an armless man. Some said it was how it made the sagamore feel to give up all that land — to have his arms cut off —
and others pointed out that earlier “marks” made by Watahantowet revealed that the figure, although armless, held a feather in his mouth; this was
said to indicate the sagamore’s frustration at being unable to write. But in several other versions of the totem ascribed to Watahantowet, the figure
has a tomahawk in its mouth and looks completely crazy — or else, he is making a gesture toward peace: no arms, tomahawk in mouth; together,
perhaps, they are meant to signify that Watahantowet does not fight. As for the settlement of the disputed deed, you can be sure the Indians were
not the beneficiaries of the resolution to that difference of opinion.
And later still, our town fell under Massachusetts authority — which may, to this day, explain why residents of Gravesend detest people from
Massachusetts. Mr. Wheelwright would move to Maine. He was eighty when he spoke at Harvard, seeking contributions to rebuild a part of the
college destroyed by a fire — demonstrating that he bore the citizens of Massachusetts less of a grudge than anyone else from Gravesend would
bear them. Wheelwright died in Salisbury, Massachusetts, where he was the spiritual leader of the church, when he was almost ninety.
But listen to the names of Gravesend’s founding fathers: you will not hear a Meany among them.
Barlow
Blackwell
Cole
Copeland
Crawley
Dearborn
Hilton
Hutchinson
Littlefield
Read
Rishworth
Smart
Smith
Walker
Wardell
Wentworth
Wheelwright
(Irving 8-9).
1. What importance does the list show about how the others feel about the Meany’s?
a. The Meany’s are important.
b. They are less superior to everyone in the town
c. They feel bad for them
d. They have been living there since the town was founded
2. Why is the Watahantowet’s totem armless?
a. Its showing that they don’t want to fight
b. Showing that they gave up land
c. They fell off in a storm
d. Both A & B
3. What was the function of the totem?
a. Territorial marker
b. Religious symbol
c. Gesture towards peace
d. The holy ghost of Massachusetts
4. What were the Indians showing when the put out the totem?
a. They were not going to fight
b. They surrender
c. They were having a celebration
d. Just for decoration
5. What was the main point of this passage?
a. Shows historical back round
b. To show how important the Meany’s were
c. How the founding fathers took away the Indians land
d. Both A & C
e. Both B & C
6. How do Meany’s ancestors relate to Owens parents?
a. They were really small
b. Not much importance
c. Didn’t want to stand out
d. Didn’t fight for their land
e. All of the above
7. What does the symbol of the totem relate to in today’s world?
a. The Trojan Horse
b. Statue of Liberty
c. Mona Lisa
d. Mt. Rushmore
8. What was the effect of the last sentence?
a. Contrast between Owen and John
b. To make you laugh
c. Who would become president
d. Shows how Owens last name is uncommon
Answer Key
1. B
2. D
3. C
4. A
5. D
6. E
7. B
8. A
1.What is the function of Irving offering both interpretations of the feather in the watahantowet’s
mouth?
a. To show his personal opinon
b. To show the cultural differences of the Indians and Massachusetts authority
c. To show his personality
d. To show both opinions the indians were viewed as
2.What is the narrative progress of the passage?
a. Following history
b. Explanation of culture
c. The relations between two cultures
d. The progress of their disagreements
3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What is the shift in development from the 1st paragraph to the 2nd?
Like to dislike
Difference of opinions to history
Specific to general
Both A and B
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What is this passage primarily concerned with?
Cause and effect
Narration
Chronological
Comparison between 2 opinions
5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What tone does “and later still, our town fell under Massachusetts authority” convey?
Disappointed
Indifferent
Angry
Content
6.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What does the author imply about the Indians in the last sentence of the 1st paragraph?
The colony did not like them
Difficult to deal with
Unimportant
None of the above
7.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Where is Watahantowet set in the 1st paragraph?
The colony
Tribe
Gravesend
Not enough information
8.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Who is the author speaking to in this passage?
The reader
Watahantowet
Mr. Wheelwright
Meany
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
B.
A
C
D
A
B
D
A
1.)
Based on the passage a sagamore is...
a.
A chief
b.
A totem
c.
A god
d. A pacifist
2.)
Which allusion evokes a tone of pride and superiority…
a.
Massachusetts
b.
Watanhantowet
c.
Hutchinson
d. Harvard
3.)
The organization of the piece separates which two main ideas
a.
Different states
b.
Differences in authority
c.
The significance of being armless
d. Common names versus unique names
4.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
Which aspects of the totem represent peacefulness …
No arms
Feather in mouth
Great size
Its use as a signature
5.)
The long description of the sagamore implies…
a.
Inferiority
b.
Belief in religion
c.
Importance of ancestors
d. The mysteries of the early United States history
6.)
The repetition of names signifies…
a.
The importance of title to early Americans
b.
The common names still found today
c.
The allusions associated with the names
d. Irving’s passion for American history
7.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
What is the tone in the last line is of…
Respect
Contempt
Patronizing
Contentious
8.)
What is the speaker’s attitude toward Mr. Wheelwright?
a.
Anger
b.
Awe
c.
Reverent
d. Derisive
e. Need answers SANJI and MADDIE
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
In line 7, “he” refers to whom?
Sagamore
Watahantowet
The figure
Mr. Wheelwright
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
All of the following are mentioned to explain why the totem may be armless EXCEPT:
It shows their pain for giving up their land
It resembles their inability to write
It is a gesture toward piece
It resembles their god
3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The phrase “you will not hear a Meany among them”(line 15) serves primarily to:
Explain that the founding fathers weren’t mean
Exclude the Meany family from the founding fathers
Explain that the Meanys did not originate in Gravesend
Show that the Meanys have been forgotten
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.
In context, the phrase “to have his arms cut off” is best interpreted to mean:
What Watahantowet had to do to save his land
The feeling of having no say or control
The ritual that Watahantowet did after he gave up the land
The way the other people got the land
5.
This passage is primarily concerned with which of the following?
a.
The history and origin of Gravesend
b.
How the founding fathers came to Gravesend
c.
The Wheelwright’s beginning in Gravesend
d. The presence of Native Americans in Gravesend
6.
Regarding the dispute over the land, it can be inferred from the first paragraph that the
Indians were:
a.
Happy that they got a good deal for the land
b.
Angry that they got their arms cut off
c.
Sad that they had no control or say over the dispute
d.
Happy because they got to keep the land
7.
Based on the second paragraph (lines 10-14), The narrator’s attitude toward Mr.
Wheelwright can best be described as:
a.
Respectful
b.
Disgusted
c.
Remorseful
d.
Indifferent
8.
According to the first paragraph (lines 1-9), how might Watahantowet be characterized
by the Indians?
a.
Crazy
b.
Intuitive
c.
Peaceful
d.
Reproachful
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
C
D
B
B
A
C
A
C
1.
It can be inferred from lines 6-8 in the passage that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Peace is more important than violence
The Watahantowet totem is a sign of peace, not violence
The warrior has no arms because his is victorious in his conquests
The narrator supports acts of violence
The Watahatowet is an ancient warrior
2.
The purpose of listing the names at the end of the passage is to emphasize that
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Wheelwright is one of the names included
They are the founding fathers of Gravesend
Massachusetts has an inclusive social class
Meany is not incorporated within the list
All of the above
3.
The passage primarily regards Massachusetts’s society as
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Warm and welcoming
Cold and conservative
Very Hierarchical
Structured
Lacking social grace
4.
The word “Marks” in line 4 refers to a (an)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Symbol
Dash
Sign
Smudge
Legacy
5.
The image of an “armless man” throughout the first paragraph is intended to mean
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Helplessness in the face of God
A gesture of peace
The remorse of giving up Indian land
The powerlessness of Indians towards the colonizers
Both b & c
6.
The passage is primarily written from the perspective of
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
A grown man reflecting on his childhood
An American Indian relishing in the past
An elite member of Gravesend ‘s social class
A Gravesend citizen reflecting on the history of his/her home town
An old woman speaking to her Grandchild
7.
The word “it” in line 3 refers to the
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Narrator
Totem
Town
State of Massachusetts
Narrator’s idol
8.
The purpose of the hyphenated portion of the sentence in line 4 is to
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Emphasize the armless image
Break up the pace of the sentence
Emphasize the irony of the situation
To split the sentence into multiple clauses
None of the above
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
B
D
C
E
E
D
B
A
#2
It was because I trusted Dan Needham that I gave the armadillo to Owen. I put it in a brown paper bag,
which I put inside another brown paper bag, and although I had no doubt that Owen would know exactly what
it was, before he opened the bags, I gave brief consideration to how shocked his mother might be if she
opened the bags; but it was not her business to open the bags, I figured.
Owen and I were eleven; we had no other way to articulate what we felt about what had happened to
my mother. He gave me his baseball cards, but he really wanted them back, and I gave him my stuffed
armadillo, which I certainly hoped he’d give back to me-all because it was impossible for us to say to each
other how we really felt. How did it feel to hit a ball that hard-and then realize that the ball had killed you best
friend’s mother? How did it feel to see my mother sprawled in the grass, and to have the moronic chief of
police complain about the missing baseball-and calling that stupid ball “the instrument of death” and “the
murder weapon”? Owen and I couldn’t have talked about those things-at least, not then. So we gave each
other our best-loved possessions, and hoped to get them back. When you think of it, that’s not so silly.
By my calculations, Owen was a day late returning the armadillo; he kept it overnight for two nights
which in my view was one night too many. But he did return it. Once again I heard the lowest-possible gear of
the granite truck; once again, there was an early-morning drop-off at the 80 Front Street, before Mr. Meany
went ahead with the rest of the day’s heavy business. And there were the same brown paper bags that I had
used on the step by the back door; it was a little dangerous to leave the armadillo outside on the step, I
thought, given the indiscriminate appetites of that certain Labrador retriever belonging to our neighbor Mr.
Fish. Then I remembered that Sagamore was dead (84-85).
1. The phrase “best-loved possessions” is used to describe:
I. The armadillo
II. The baseball
III. The baseball cards
A. I B. I and III C. I, II, and III
D. None of the above
2. What does the word “moronic” describe?
a. Owen
b. The armadillo
c. Police Chief
d. Dan Needham
3. Why are “the instrument of death” and “the murder weapon” in quotes?
a. Because it was previously said by the Chief of Police
b. To emphasize their meaning
c. To bring out the irony of the statements
d. None of the above
4. In this passage the word indiscriminate (line 15) most closely means:
a. Careless
b. Specific
c. Assorted
d. Confused
5. What are the functions of the two paper bags?
a. To symbolize how strong Owen and the narrator’s friendship is
b. To keep it safe
c. To emphasize how important the armadillo is to both of them
d. None of the above
6. The purpose of this passage is best described as:
a. To explain how the narrator and Owen expressed their grief
b. To mourn the passing of Sagamore
c. To explain how Dan impacted the narrator’s life
d. Describing how the narrator felt
7. It can be inferred from the second paragraph that
a. Owen brutally killed the narrator’s mother
b. To apologize for killing Owen’s mom the narrator gave him an armadillo
c. The narrator is angry at Owen
d. The two boys were unable to talk about their emotions so they devised their own way to convey
how they felt
8. Which of the following expresses the narrator at the end of the passage?
a. Fierce anger
b. Hesitantly forgiving
c. Mournfully depressed
d. All of the above
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. C
5. C
6. A
7. D
8. B
1. Who is the narrator referring to in this phrase “Then I remember that
Sagamore was dead…”
a. Mr. Meany
b. Mr. Fish
c. Our Neighbor
d. Labrador Retriever
2. Whose point of view is this passage coming from?
a. Mr. Meany
b. John
c. Owen
d. Dan Needham
3. This phrase “the instrument of death” refers to…
a. The armadillo
b. Baseball cards
c. Stupid ball
d. Labrador retriever
4. “Owen and I couldn’t have talked about those things” What is the function
of talked?
a. Represents they couldn’t communicate
b. Owen and John hated each other
c. John was ready to talk, but not Owen
d. It was embarrassing to talk about their feelings
5. What can you infer from this passage about John and Owen?
a. They are related
b. They are enemies
c. They are good friends
d. They share a class pet
6. Why does the John put the armadillo in two bags instead of one bag?
a. To be careful
b. So it is hard to find
c. So people don’t see it
d. To kill the armadillo
7. The phrase”80 Front Street” is an example of…
a. Metaphor
b. Personification
c. Diction
d. Dramatic irony
8. What does the narrator imply about Owen’s mother in this phrase “…but it was not her business to open the bags…”?
a. Doesn’t do anything
b. Not part of Owen’s life
c. Mr. Meany is too protective
d. Doesn’t like Owen
9. “By my calculations, Owen was a day late returning the armadillo” most likely represents what tone?
a. Frustration
b. Anger
c. Pity
d. Nervousness
1. “Then I remembered that Sagamore was dead” In the last line Sagamore refers to who
D. Labrador retrieve
2. Whose point of view is this passage written from?
B. John
3.
“The instrument of death” and “the murder weapon” refers to what in the passage?
C. The stupid ball
4.
“Owen and I couldn’t have talked about those things” What does the function of talked do to
the passage?
A. Represents that they couldn’t communicate
5. What can you infer from this passage about John (the narrator) and Owen?
C. They are good friends
6.
Why does the narrator put the armadillo in 2 bags instead of 1?
C. So people don’t see it
7. The phrase “80 front street” is an example of what?
C. Diction
8.
What does the narrator imply about Owen’s mother? “But it was not her business to open the
bags…”
B. Not a part of Owen’s life
9. “By my calculations, Owen was a day late returning the armadillo” most likely portrays what tone?
A. frustration
1. What does “the instrument of death” refer to?
A. The Armadillo
B. Owen
C. Owen’s Voice
D. The ball
2. What’s the purpose of the word “did” in “but he did return it”?
A. Shows how true their friendship is
B. Shows John’s doubt for Owen
C. Shows Owen’s lack of responsibility
D. B & C
3. What’s the irony behind having an armadillo in this chapter?
I. Represents friendship
II. Shows John’s trust even after his mother’s death
III. Proves that Owen is mistrusted
A. I only
B. II only
C. I & II
D. III only
4.
A.
B.
C.
D.
What can you infer from the text about what the armadillo represents?
Dan Needham
Owen Meany
John’s mother
John
5. According to the passage, what can you infer about where John’s mother died?
A. The Baseball field
B. At home
C. In Boston
D. In Mr. Fish’s house
6. What is the significance between the comparison of the armadillo and Owen and John’s friendship?
A. John wants Owen to get hurt just like he did
B. Owen wants to steal the armadillo from John
C. The strength of their friendship
D. How much they are willing to share
7.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Why does John describe putting the armadillo in two brown paper bags?
He wants to suffocate it
He doesn’t want it to get ruined
He wants to make it harder for Owen to get into the bag
To signify the importance of the armadillo to John
8.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Who does “she” refer to in “if she opened the bags”?
John’s mother
John’s grandmother
Owen’s mother
Sagamore
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
D
A
C
B
A
C
D
C
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The narrator and Owen use the armadillo primarily for:
A celebration of friendship
Form of currency
Act of forgiveness
To show class division
Both A and C
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The phrases “the instrument of death” and “the murder weapon” are what to the ball?
Personification
Imagery
Simile
Metaphor
Juxtaposition
3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Infer the tone at the end of the 3rd passage describing Sagamore’s death:
Ecstatic
Reminiscent
Sorrowful
Detached
Indifferent
4. The exchange of baseball cards and the armadillo between the narrator and Owen can best be interpreted as:
I. Forgiveness
II. Trust
III. Love
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
I and II
I and III
II and III
I, II, and III
Only I
5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
What is the function of the italicized word “talked” in paragraph 2?
Convey deep conversation
Lack of vernacular language
Use of different syntax
To describe “those things”
Barrier not overcome by age
6.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The phrase “my mother sprawled in the grass” presents an example of:
Diction
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia
Imagery
Allegory
7.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Why were there two paper bags used to guard the armadillo?
To protect their “feelings” from the outside world
To hide their emotions
To hide from grandmother
To ensure secrecy
To show responsibility to Dan
8.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
What does the pronoun “it” in the 2nd paragraph, last sentence refer to?
Armadillo
Baseball cards
Death of narrator’s mother
Exchange of gifts
The granite truck
Answer Key:
1. C
2. D
3. B
4. D
5. E
6. D
7. A
8. D
What are the functions of the two paper bags?
To symbolize how strong Owen and the narrator’s friendship is
To keep it safe
To emphasize how important the armadillo is to both of them
None of the above
The purpose of this passage is best described as:
To explain how the narrator and Owen expressed their grief
To mourn the passing of Sagamore
To explain how Dan impacted the narrator’s life
Describing how the narrator felt
It can be inferred from the second paragraph that
Owen brutally killed the narrator’s mother
To apologize for killing Owen’s mom the narrator gave him an armadillo
The narrator is angry at Owen
The two boys were unable to talk about their emotions so they devised their own way to convey how they felt
Which of the following expresses the narrator at the end of the passage?
Fierce anger
Hesitantly forgiving
Mournfully depressed
All of the above
1. In context, what does “certain” mean in line 16?
A. Demonic B. Notorious C. Troublesome D. Long-lost E. Influential
2. The narrator expresses all of the following tones toward Owen EXCEPT?
A. Peeved B. Short-tempered C. Sympathetic D. Questioning E. Pensive
3. What is the main effect of the use of rhetorical questions?
A. Empathy is created for Owen B. The mother’s description is enhanced C. Sympathy is generated for the
narrator D. A bitter attitude is created toward the baseball
4. Why did John and Owen exchange their possessions?
A. So they could both experience loss B. To express their love for one another C. To express their empathy D.
To repress sad memories
5. What is the shift from paragraph two to paragraph three?
A. Change in point of view B. Sadness to gratitude C. Analytical to literal D. Resentful to forgiven
6. Which of the following is the main impression given by the narrator’s aside notes?
A. Lasting bitterness about the situation B. The narrator second guessing his own actions C. Justification for
his actions D. Fully developed understanding of why the situation proceeded as it did.
7. Which of the following best represents the narrator’s attitude toward Owen when he keeps the armadillo
for two nights?
A. Conciliatory B. Agitated C. Forgiving D. Conflicted
8. All of the following rhetorical devices appear in the second paragraph EXCEPT?
A. Anaphora B. Rhetorical questions C. Apostrophetic speech D. Parallelism E. Pathos
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
C
B
A
B
C
D
A
C
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What tone does the police officer leave the reader with in lines 9-10?
Lighthearted
Professional and serious
Apathetic
Humorous
2.
What effect do lines 7-9 have on the reader when focused on the casual tone of the
narrator?
a.
Somber and grim
b.
Cheery and joyful
c.
Mocking and rhetorical
d. Childish and naïve
3.
___.
a.
b.
c.
d.
In lines 1-4 the author draws an extended metaphor drawn from the brown paper bag to
John revealing his feelings towards his mother’s death
John closing off his feelings towards his mother’s death
Owen revealing his feelings towards Tabitha’s death
Owen closing off his feelings towards Tabitha’s death
4.
Why does the narrator choose to look at Owen’s, John’s and the Police Officer’s
recollections of Tabitha’s death?
a.
To show contrast and express their feelings
b.
To confuse the reader
c.
To allow the reader to infer what actually happened
d.
To reveal Tabitha’s death from different age perspectives
5.
What is the function of the author saying “it was a little dangerous” to leave the armadillo outside if it
was known to the reader already that the Labrador retriever was dead?
a.
To express Owen’s “god-like” powers
b.
To emphasize John’s hate for dogs
c.
To express John’s oblivious state of mind towards reality
d.
To emphasize John’s fear of the outside world
6.
a.
b.
c.
d.
In line 10, why is the word “talked” italicized?
To express the importance of discussing Tabitha’s death
To condemn the police officer’s blunt words
To emphasize how audacious the idea of talking would be
To describe how John and Owen want to anxiously gossip about the subject later
7.
When the author refers to the dog’s “indiscriminate” appetite in line 16 he is referring to the dog’s
appetite being ___.
a.
Carefree and thoughtless
b.
Brutal and vicious
c.
Starved and famished
d.
Gentle and tame
8.
a.
b.
c.
d.
In line 11 what does “it” refer to?
Instead of talking about their feelings, John and Owen exchange gifts
John and Owen’s unwillingness to talk about Tabitha’s death
Tabitha’s death
John and Owen playing hide and go seek
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
B
C
B
A
C
C
A
A
1.
Why are John and Owen exchanging items?
a.
Because they feel that giving each other presents will make them feel better about the
death of John’s Mother
b.
Because they are trying to hide “The instrument of death”
c.
Because they are trying to articulate how they feel about the death of John’s Mother
d. They have birthdays that are only two days apart.
2.
What tone does the narrator take when referring to the police chief in line 9?
a.
Exasperated
b.
Hateful
c.
Morose
d. Sarcastic
3.
Which of the following best describes the narrator at the end of the passage?
a.
He is angry at Owen for killing his mother
b.
He is worried that Owen’s mother might be scared by the armadillo
c.
He feels satisfied that they both understand how they feel about the death of his mom
d. He is scared that the armadillo might be eaten by Sagamore
4.
To what does John refer to by “it” when he states “I had no doubt that Owen know exactly
what it was” in line 2?
a.
The Baseball
b.
The Armadillo
c.
Owen’s Baseball card collection
d.
Another Brown Paper Bag
5.
It could be inferred from the second paragraph that…
a.
John secretly dislikes Owen
b.
John actively hates Owen for killing his mother
c.
Owen and Johnny don’t need words to communicate how they’re feeling about each other
d. Owen and Johnny are guarded
6.
The phrase “given the indiscriminate appetites of that certain Labrador retriever” (line 16)
is primarily concerned with
a.
How dangerous it is to leave the armadillo outside
b.
How the dog wouldn’t mind eating the armadillo
c.
The Labrador is picky in its food choice
d. The dog’s yard is full of food for it
7.
What is the purpose of including details of John’s mother’s death in the second paragraph?
a.
Explain in greater depth why it’s so hard to convey their feelings between each other
b.
To create a red herring, making the passage more interesting
c.
Make the reader second guess their beliefs
d. Talk about the death of John’s mother
8.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The pronoun “he” in lines five through six refers to
John
Dan
Mr. Fish
Owen
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
C
A
C
B
C
B
A
D
#3
“But one of the things I failed to notice about Owen was how exact he was---how
he meant everything literally, which is not a usual feature of the language of
children. For years he would say, “I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR GRANDMOTHER,
WAILING LIKE A BANSHEE.” But I paid no attention; I could hardly remember
Grandmother making much of a ruckus—what I remembered was Owen’s scream.
Also, I thought it was just an expression---“wailing like a banshee”--- and couldn’t
imagine why Owen remembered my grandmother’s commotion with such
importance. I must have repeated what Owen said to Dan Needham, because
years later Dan asked me, “Did Owen say your grandmother was a banshee?”
“He said she was ‘wailing like a banshee,’” I explained. Dan got out the
dictionary, then; he was clucking his tounge and shaking his head, and laughing to
himself, saying, “That boy! What a boy! Brilliant but preposterous!” And that was
the first time I learned, literally, what a banshee was---a banshee, in Irish folklore,
is a female spirit whose wailing is a sign that a loved one will soon die” (105-106).
1. The phrase “wailing like a banshee” is an example of:
a. Personification
b. Metaphor
c. Hyperbole
d. Simile
2. The word “literally” refers to
a. The context of Owen’s speech
b. The wailing of the grandmother
c. Dan Needham’s response to the phrase
d. The meaning of the banshee
3. What did Dan Needham mean when he said, “That boy! What a boy! Brilliant but preposterous!”?
a. The wailing like a banshee
b. That he is going to die
c. That Owen was brilliant but also foolish
d. That Owen is the instrument of God
4. Which of the following best describes John at the end of the passage?
a. He was wailing like a banshee
b. He was confused about a banshee
c. He learned literally what a banshee was
d. He knows him mother is dead
5. In parargraph 2, line 2, Dan’s tone is best described as:
a. Shocking
b. Angry
c. Ironic
d. A banshee
6. Describe what a banshee is in Irish folklore:
a. A woman who is going to die
b. A female spirit wailing in sign that a loved one will soon die
c. A woman spirit who kills
d. A woman who brings love
7. What was John, the narrator’s attitude toward Owen?
a. Angry
b. Confused
c. Skeptical
d. B and C
8. What can be inferred from the phrase, “how he meant everything literally, which is not a usual feature of the language of children”?
i. John feels Owen has certain importance in his life
ii. Owen’s personality is unusual to what John comprehends
iii. John feels that Owen is an abnormal child and is jealous of him
iv. John feels Owen is wise beyond his years
a. i and ii only
b. i and iii only
c. ii and iv only
d. i, ii, iii, and iv
Answer Key
1. The answer is d, simile, because the phrase “wailing like a banshee,” is comparing the
grandmother’s scream to that of a banshee using the word like, making it a simile.
2. The answer is a, the context of Owen’s speech, because the narrator says Owen meant
everything he said literally, which was unusual for a child, and finds this out later in his life.
3. The answer is c, that Owen was brilliant but also foolish, because Dan describes him as
being intelligent but also “preposterous” referring to him as ridiculous and foolish.
4. The answer is c, he learned literally what a banshee was because it can be drawn from
the text, “that as the first time I learned, literally, what a banshee was”
5. The answer is a, shocking, because, he described Owen as being brilliant but
preposterous in the sense that Owen understood what a banshee was and what it meant
as a sign for the future.
6. The answer is b, a female spirit wailing in sign that a loved one will soon die, because it
can be drawn from the text in the second paragraph.
7. The answer is d, b and c, because he was confused , when he said “which is not a usual
feature of children” he thought Owen’s speech was unlike the other children, and he was
also skeptical in the sense that he “thought it was just an expression” and did not realize
the allusion had significance to himself and Dan Needham
8. The answer is c, ii and iv only.
A Prayer for Owen Meany Multiple Choice Questions
1. What might make Dan remember the narrator’s comment on what Owen said years later?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He has a good memory and was curious to what Owen might have meant.
Some event may have transpired that triggered the memory.
He didn’t have enough time to take time to understand what Owen meant at the moment.
The narrator mentioned the event again.
2.
A.
B.
C.
D.
What evidence suggests that Owen means everything he says literally?
Owen’s reference to the banshee.
The narrator saying Owen means everything literally.
How he remembered the commotion that the narrator’s grandmother made.
Owen mentioning how the narrator’s grandmother wailed for years.
3.
A.
B.
C.
D.
What is the significance of lines 7-9(The last paragraph)?
Dan’s curiosity
Owen’s brilliance
The Irish folklore
The banshee
4.
A.
B.
C.
D.
What sort of tone is present in this passage?
Concerning
Comical
Reflective
Realization
5. What can the reader infer about the character, Dan Needham's attitude towards Owen from, "Dan got out the dictionary, then, he was clucking
his tongue and shaking his head, and laughing to himself, saying, 'That Boy! What a boy! Brilliant, but preposterous!'" (7-8).
That he is:
a. uncaring and insensitive
b. kind and fatherly
c. caring and in disbelief of intelligence
d. angered and upset
6. What does Owen compare John's Grandmother to?
a. an Irishman
b. a Banshee
c. a mother
d. Owen himself
7.) The description of the banshee serves primarily to ...
a. inform the reader that John's Grandmother is a banshee
b. illustrate Owen's intelligence
c. foreshadow an impending death
d. show Owen has wild thoughts
8.) The purpose of Owen's speaking voice in capitols is to?
a. show that Owen is an angry person
b. add an additional affect to help covey Owen's speaking voice to the reader
c. There is no reason
d. make the importance of Owen's voice stand out on the page
KEY:
1. B
2. A
3. D
4. D
5. C
6. B
7. C
8. B
1. The primary purpose for this passage is to…
a. Inform the reader that Owen has unusual language for a child
b. Owen’s words such as “banshee” foreshadow events to come
c. To let the reader know someone will die
d. Johnny’s grandma is a banshee
2. What does Dan mean when he says, “That boy! What a boy! Brilliant but preposterous!”?
a. He can’t believe Owen knows such complex words
b. He wants Johnny to be as smart as Owen
c. It angers Dan that Owen would call Johnny’s Grandmother a banshee
d. Dan is caring towards Owen
3. How does the word “banshee” affect the passage?
a. Owen wants to show that he is smarter than Johnny
b. Owen is a difficult person to understand, and the words he uses reflect him
c. To know that Johnny’s grandma was a female spirit
4. What type of figurative language is banshee?
a. Simile
b. Metaphor
c. Allusion
d. Onomatopoeia
5. The phrase “I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR GRANDMOTHER, WAILING LIKE A BANSHEE” is
a) Metaphor
b) Allusion
c) Dramatic irony
d) Simile
6.What is the grammatical purpose of the word “literally” being italicized?
a) To show the narrator’s shock at Owen’s vocabulary
b) Emphasize how Owen was not like other children
c) To point out that Owen says/does everything with/for a purpose
d) No purpose, just a typo
7What is the narrator’s point of mentioning that years later was his first time learning what banshee
really meant?
a) Show how Owen was smarter than him
b) Emphasize the narrator and Dan’s memory
c) Emphasize Owen’s advanced knowledge as a child
d) To show his lack of care for words
8. What does Dan’s reaction tell the reader about Owen’s statement, “I WILL NEE FOGET YOUR
GRANDMOTHER, WAILING LIKE A BANSHEE”?
a) It was profound for a boy to use such vocabulary
b) It was nothing special
c) It wasn’t normal
d) Owen had great memory
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e. Avocado
What is the overall tone of this passage?
Ironic
Violent
Descriptive
Both A and C
2.
Which one of these words has the loudest connotation diction wise?
a.
Shout
b.
Blast
c.
Scream
d.
Wail
e. Barbaric Yawp
3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e. Hungry
The Narrator has all of the following feelings towards Owen except:
Jealousy
Impressed
Disbelief
Close friendship
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The phrase “wailing like a banshee” refers to:
Owen’s voice
Owen’s opinion of the grandmother’s attitude
A female spirit
A creature outside the house
Simplicity
5.
We can infer that Owen’s intelligence is impressive because of the following literary devices:
i.
Simile
ii.
Hyperbole
iii.
Allegory
a.
i only
b.
i and iii
c.
ii and iii
d.
i and ii
e. none- Owen is a dog
6.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Dan Needham calling Owen intelligent forces the reader to conclude all but the following:
Dan would always listen to Owen when he spoke
Dan remembers the narrator’s description of Owen well
Dan deeply cared about Owen
Dan was himself very intelligent
No
7.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
How did the narrator react to Owen’s words on his grandmother?
He never paid much attention
He took much offense
He thought Owen was intelligent
He laughed at Owen’s comment
I don’t know!!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
D
D
A
B
D
D
A
1.
In line 7 “clucking” is an example of what figurative language?
a.
Onomatopoeia
b.
Ambiguity
c.
Irony
d. Personification
2.
In line 4 “Wailing like a Banshee” is an example of what kind of figurative language?
a.
Metaphor
b.
Dramatic Irony
c.
Simile
d. Personification
3.
“Which…. children” (Lines 1-2) connotes that Owen is:
a.
More intelligent and cognitive than the other children
b.
Condescending
c.
Less intelligent than the other children
d. Offensive
4.
The use of the word “Banshee” describes the grandmother’s wail. What auditory image does
this diction connote?
a.
Quiet and meek
b.
Primal and over exaggerated
c.
Angry and odd
d.
Sad and uncommon
5.
Dan Needham’s exclamation “Brilliant but Preposterous” (line 8) suggests that the definition
of “Banshee” in line 9 is:
a.
Foreshadowing
b.
Ambiguous
c.
Insignificant
d. Socratic Irony
6.
If the author wanted to add a longer description of Owen to the excerpt where would he
add it?
a.
After “Children” in line 2
b.
After “scream” in line 4
c.
After “explained” in line 7
d. Before “’But’” in line 1
7.
From the definition of “Banshee” what can be predicted will happen in the future.
a.
Dan Needham will become a drunk.
b.
The narrator will be more endearing to Owen
c.
The grandmother will live to be very old.
d. A member of the family will die.
8.
What is the best replacement for the word “literally” in lines 1 and 9 that will retain the
meaning in the passage?
a.
Indisputably
b.
Allegorically
c.
Metaphorically
d.
Happily
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.D
8.?
A
C
A
B
A
A
#4
“I preferred to think that the rooms we searched were more haphazard and less
revealing than Owen imagined---after all, they were supposed to be the monastuc cells of
transient scholars; they were something between a nest and a hotel room, they were not
natural adobes, and what we found there was a random disorder and a depressing
sameness. Even the picture of a car, with the boy proudly at the wheel (Gravesend
boarders were not allowed to drive, or even ride in, cars); a picture of a perfectly plain
backyard, or even a snapshot of such a deeply private moment—an unrecognizable figure
shambling away from the camera, back turned to our view--- that the substance of the
picture was locked in a personal memory. The effect of these cells, with the terrible
sameness of each boy’s homesickness, and the chaos of travel, was what Owen had
meant when he’d told my mother that dormitories were EVIL.
Since her death, Owen had hinted that the strongest force compelling him to
attend Gravesend Academy---namely, my mother’s insistence—was gone. Those rooms
allowed us to imagine what we might become—if not exactly boarders (because I would
continue to live with Dan, and with Grandmother, and Owen would live at home), we
would still harbor such secrets, such lusts, even, as these poor residents of Waterhouse
Hall. It was our lives in the near future that we were searching for when we searched in
those rooms, and therefore it was shrewd of Owens that he made us take our time”
(157).
1.The words “Monastuc cells” refers to…
a. Refers to the monks that live in them
b. Refers to the authority and the high-class that Gravesend is connected with
c. Refers to the physical structure of the building
d. Refers to the poor quality and disorganized rooms
2. What does “the chaos of travel” mean?
a. Doesn’t like to travel
b. The complex lives that the Gravesend boys live in. compared to Owen, their lives are not so
simple
c. The boys are homesick
d. They are poor
3. What conflict is standing between Owen and Gravesend academy?
a. He’s scared of the people
b. He doesn’t want to go without the help of Jonny’s mother
c. He doesn’t want to lose his character, all the makes him unique. He doesn’t want to become
the same” as all the other Gravesend boys
d. It Costs too much money
“
4. How does Johnny (the narrator) progress his ideas as the passage goes on?
a. They become more broad and confusing
b. They become more random and irrelevant
c. They become more complex and have more emotional significance to Owen and Johnny
d. They become completely unrelated
5. What’s the shift between the two paragraphs?
a. They are all about how Owen feels
b. Johnny switches from talking about physical structures to emotionally compelling ideas- such as the
death of his mother and his own future.
c. A shift from talking about physical existence of Gravesend to the effects Gravesend would have on the
boy’s characters.
d. A shift from ideas concerning “EVIL” to ideas concerning death.
6. What tone is the narrator speaking in?
a. A nice description of how Owen and the Gravesend boys are
b. A demanding voice to telling the readers what happened
c. Out of nowhere, random order telling the story
d. telling the story as if it was all Owen’s fault
1)What does “monastic cells” allude to?
A)The School’s religion
B)The solitude and privacy of the dorms
C)Religious housing
D)The homesickness of the students
2)What does the picture of the boy in his car symbolize?
A)The age difference between John and dorm boys
B)Symbolizes rebellion
C)”random disorder”
D)”the terrible sameness of each boy’s homesickness”
3)What are Owen and John’s sentiments towards the boarders?
A)They are evil
B)They have pity towards them
C)They view them as a glimpse into the future of their own lives
D)They look up to them
4)What does “harbor” mean in line 11?
A)Hide
B)Hoard
C)Hold on to
D)Contain
5)Why were they searching the dorms?
A)To find out how older kids lived
B)For secrets
C)To judge boarders by their possessions.
D)To prepare themselves for Gravesend Academy
6)The passage is primarily concerned with?
A)Owen and John being convinced that they didn’t want to go to
Gravesend Academy
B)A search for what their futures will become
C)What the boys have in their dorms
D)The “terrible sameness” of each boy’s homesickness
7)What does the word “shrewd” mean in the last line?
A)Mischievous and daring disposition
B)Severe and unrelenting
C)Given to wily and artful ways or dealing
D)Marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen
Answer Key
1B
2D
3C
4C
5A
6B
7D
1. What is the narrator referring to by “monastic cells” (line 2)?
A)
Student’s homes
B)
A monastery
C)
Dormitories
D) A jail
2. The “chaos of travel” (line 7) refers to
A)
“jet lag” experienced by the boarders
B)
The narrator’s inability to understand the significance of the boarders’ pictures
C)
The disorganized states of the rooms
D)
The boarders’ restrictions on driving
E) Conflicts arising from differing customs among the boarders
3. From whose point of view is this narrated?
A)
Owen’s
B)
Owen’s reminiscing friend’s
C)
Owen’s hateful enemy’s
D) Owen’s depressed lover’s
4. The phrase “they were not natural adobes” is an example of:
A)
Metaphor
B)
Simile
C)
Refutation
D)
Personification
5. The difference between what the narrator found in the rooms versus what he expected to find is:
A)
Disorder and sameness
B)
Nostalgia and depression
C)
Joy and sadness
D) Dull and illuminating
6. The inclusion of the first sentence of paragraph 2 serves primarily to:
A)
Explain Owen’s motives for exploring the rooms
B)
Transition from writing about dormitories to the narrator’s future
C)
Raise questions about the narrator’s motives for exploring the rooms
D) Divert attention from Owen’s claim about dormitories
7. The most prominent tone of the passage is:
A)
Deploring
B)
Contemplative
C)
Affable
D) Despondent
8. What does the narrator’s structuring in paragraph 1 suggest he views dormitories as?
A)
Explicatory as to a boy’s nature
B)
A place for boys to yield to secrecy and lust
C)
Haphazard and unimportant
D)
More revealing than he originally believed
E)
Depressingly uniform
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
C
C
B
A
D
A
B
D
1.Which example is an allusion?
A. “ the effect of those cells…was what Own had meant when he’d told my mother that dormitories
were EVIL.”
B. “those rooms allowed us to imagine what we might become”
C. I referred to think that the rooms we searched were more haphazard and less revealing than Owen
imagined”
D. None of the above
2. What is an examle of an antecedent?
A. the death of John's mother
B. the image of the dorm rooms
C. the parallel of the dorm rooms and the memories represented
D. John and Owens future lives
3. The use of hyphens helps to:
A. insert additional thoughts/comments
B. to create a choppy flow
C. To give an example
D. All of the above
4. What is the function/purpose of describing the content of the rooms?
A. to show the conformity of the students
B. to learn about John and Owen’s aspirations
C. to show the positive and unique qualities of each schoolboy
D. B and C
5. What is an example of contrast?
A. the different qualities in each dorm room
B. homesickness and the chaos of travel
C. The image of the backyard and the private moment
D. None of the above
6. The narrator emphasizes “lusts” in line 12 primarily to…
A. to emphasize the main thing a school boy “harbors”
B. to make Owen and John seem more similar to the school boys
C. both A and C
D. none of the above
7. What does the image of the rooms suggest?
A. Conformity
B. The listlessness of the rooms
C. that the boys are each different despite what’s in their rooms
D. A and C
8. What can you infer from the last sentence that parallels with his life?
A. that Owen directs both John and his own life
B. that Owen would slow John down with his development
C. both A and B
D. none of the above
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
A
A
D
A
C
C
D
A
#5
All the way down the center aisle, Barb Wiggin kept the “pillar of light” on us;
what possible force could have compelled her to do that? There was nowhere to go but
out, into the snow and cold. The cows and the donkeys tore off their heads so that they
could get a better look at him; for the most part, these were the younger children—some
of them, a very few of them, were actually smaller than Owen. They stared at him, in awe.
The wind whipped through his swaddling clothes and his bare arms grew rosy; he hugged
them to his birdlike chest. The Meanys, sitting scared in the cab of the granite truck, were
waiting for him. The Virgin Mother and I hoisted him into the cab; because of how he was
swaddled, he had to be extended full-length across the seat—his legs lay in his father’s lap,
not quite interfering with Mr. Meany’s control of the steering wheel, and his head and
upper body rested upon his mother, who had reverted to her custom of looking not quite
out the window, and not quite at anything at all.
“MY CLOTHES,” the Lord Jesus told me. “YOU GET THEM AND KEEP THEM FOR ME.”
“Of course,” I said.
“IT’S A GOOD THING I WORE MY LUCKY SCARF,” he told me. “TAKE ME HOME!” he ordered
his parents, and Mr. Meany lurched the truck into gear.
A snowplow was turning off Front Street onto Elliot; it was customary in Gravesend to make
way for snowplows, but even the snowplow made way for Owen (221).
1. The phrase “wind whipped” is an example of
I. Personification
II. Metaphor
III. Alliteration
a. I
b. I + II
c. I + III
d. All
e. II + III
2. The description of the children’s reactions to Owen (line 4) serves to primarily show
a. Their anger at his actions.
b. To better explain the play.
c. Owen’s captivating presence.
3. The phrase “Lord Jesus” is best interpreted to mean
a. Owen Meany
b. The Messiah
c. Narrator’s conscience
d. Barb Wiggin
4. The tone of the passage, especially in the last line, is best described as
a. Angry
b. Mournful
c. Ridiculous
d. Resigned
5. The narrator would agree that Owen’s appearance in this passage is
a. Gaudy
b. Imposing
c. Breath-taking
d. Macabre
e. Ghost-like
6. It can be inferred from this passage that the Meany parents are
a. Fearful of Owen
b. Uncomfortable with religion
c. Demanding of Owen
d. Upset with their reputation
e. Impressed with the performance
Answer Key
1. A
2. C
3. A
4. D
5. C
6. A
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What is the “pillar of light”?
Light Bulb
The sun
Spotlight
God
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What image suggests that Owen has control over his parents?
“Even the snowplow made way for Owen”
“TAKE ME HOME!..Mr Meany lurched the truck into gear.”
“They stared at him in awe.”
“You got them and keep them for me”
3.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
What imagery suggests that the season is winter?
“There was nowhere to go but out, into the snow and cold.”
“It’s a good thing I wore my lucky scarf.”
“It was customary…made way for Owen.”
The Lord Jesus
All of the above
4. What is the grammatical purpose of the punctuation in the sentence: “The cows…smaller than Owen.”
a. The abundance of the punctuation shows the attention towards Owen.
b. The abundance of the punctuation shows the attention towards farm animals.
c. The abundance of the punctuation shows that nobody is paying attention.
d. There is no grammatical purpose.
5.
What setting was being shown?
a.
A nativity scene
b.
A coronation
c.
A hospital
d. Owen’s conformation
6.
What sentence best describe Owen’s size?
a.
“He hugged them to his birdlike chest”
b.
“His legs lay in his father’s lap..and his head and upper body rested upon his mother.”
c.
“The Virgin Mother and I hoisted him into the cab.”
d. “Younger children---some of them, a very few…actually smaller than Owen.”
7.
What is the function of the question in the first line “What possible force could have
compelled her to do that?”
a.
It shows the narrator’s embarrassment/shyness when being watched.
b.
A ghost telling Barb to follow them with the light.
c.
The awe that Owen creates that makes everyone immobile.
d. Darth Vader using the force.
8.
a.
b.
c.
d.
What is the function of Owens’ voice being in all caps?
Represents Owen’s massive physical size.
Owen is angry all the time.
Sets him apart from other characters in the passage.
It was an error when it was published.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Factual, C
Inferential, B
Analytical, E
Technical, A
Factual, A
Inferential, D
Analytical, A
Technical, C
1.
A.
B.
C.
D.
In lines 6-7, what is the author emphasizing about Owen?
How physically small he is for his age
He is young
Owen is the playing the lead role
Owen is big
2.
In lines 18-19 when Johnny called Owen “the Lord Jesus” instead of his name, what is it metaphorically
saying about Owen?
A.
Because Owen’s role is Lord Jesus in the play
B.
How powerful Owen is
C.
Owen has some sort of interconnection with god, he is god’s tool
D.
Owen is consider a god
3.
A.
B.
C.
D.
The last sentence of the passage, what is narrator “Johnny” implying about Owen?
Owen is intimidating
Owen is scary due to his appearance
How powerful Owen is as a person
None of the above
4.
When Owen speaks the text are all in capital letters, what is the purpose of that?
A. How important Owen is in the book
B. It shows how Owen’s voice is distinctively different from a normal person’s voice
C. There is no purpose to it at all
D. His voice is important
5.
A.
B.
C.
What is Owen’s “lucky” article in the passage?
His Lord Jesus costume
His parents
He did not have a “lucky” item in the passage
D. A scarf that Johnny’s mom had gave to Owen
6.
parents?
In lines 21-23, what is it inferring about Owen’s relationship with his
A.
Owen and his parents do not have a normal relationship, and they are
obedient of Owen.
B.
They have a loving relationship
C.
His parents are scared of Owen
D.
They have a perfectly normal relationship
7.
What was everyone’s reaction when Owen was on stage?
A.
They were scared
B.
They were shocked
C.
Both A and B
D. They were amused with Owen
8.
What is the overall theme of the passage?
A.
That Owen fits his role in the play so well because he obtains godly like
characteristics
B.
Owen is Lord Jesus
C.
The theme focused on Owen and his parent’s relationship
D.
None of the above
1.
In lines 6-7, what is the author emphasizing about Owen?
A. How physically small he is for his age
2.
In lines 18-19 when Johnny called Owen “the Lord Jesus” instead of his name, what is it metaphorically
saying about Owen?
C. Owen has some sort of interconnection with god, he is god’s tool
3.
The last sentence of the passage, what is narrator “Johnny” implying about Owen?
C. How powerful Owen is as a person
4.
When Owen speaks the text are all in capital letters, what is the purpose of that?
B. It shows how Owen’s voice is distinctively different from a normal person’s voice
5.
What is Owen’s “lucky” article in the passage?
D. A scarf that Johnny’s mom had gave to Owen
6.
In lines 21-23, what is it inferring about Owen’s relationship with his parents?
A.
Owen and his parents do not have a normal relationship, and they are obedient of Owen.
7.
What was everyone’s reaction when Owen was on stage?
D. They were amused with Owen
8.
B.
What is the overall theme of the passage?
That Owen fits his role in the play so well because he obtains godly like characteristics
1. Which of the following does not serve to elevate Owen’s authority?
a)
“pillar of light”
b)
“Meanys, sitting scared in the cab”
c)
“birdlike chest”
d)
“so they could get a better look at him”
e) “Mr. Meany lurched the truck into gear”
2. “Birdlike chest” does not most likely refer to
a)
Owen’s unnatural essence
b)
Owen’s squawky voice
c)
Owen’s small size
d) Owen’s metaphorically freeing himself (like a bird)
3. In this passage, the reader can infer that the speaker is all of the following except
a)
Indifferent
b)
Uneasy
c)
Awestruck
d) Respectful subjugated
4. Which of the following does granite symbolize?
a)
The reason for Owen’s squeaky voice
b)
Owen’s metaphorical denseness
c)
Owen’s heartless character
d)
Owen’s bony, “birdlike”, appearance
5. Based solely on this passage, which of the following is not a likely setting?
a)
A church
b)
A school play
c)
A wedding
d) A parade
6. What is represented about Owen’s character when he is swaddled?
a)
Fragile
b)
Incapable
c)
Self-contained
d)
Immaturity
7. From lines 1-8 to 9-14, Owen’s presence changes from
a)
Majestic to condescending
b)
Wicked to contrite
c)
Favoring to disfavoring
d) Visionary to boring
8. What is the “pillar of light’?
a)
A statue of a saint inside the church
b)
Sun coming in through windows
c)
Stage light
d)
Physical illumination
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
E
D
A
B
C
D
A
C
1.)
A “birdlike chest” is a …
A. Metaphor C. Personification*
B. Simile
D. Hyperbole
2.) The wind whipped through…
A. Simile C. Metaphor*
B. Personification D. Hyperbole
3.)
“The Meany’s sitting scared in the cab of the granite truck were waiting for
him” This evokes what kind of tone to the reader?
A.
Anxious* B. Depressed C. Dark D. Jubilant
4.)
Why does John refer to Owen as The Lord Jesus when he commended John to
get his clothes?
A.
Owen just played the Lord Jesus in the church play*
B.
John believes that Owen is a messenger of god
C.
Owen has an angelic aura around him
D.
John is being sarcastic and poking fun at Owen
5.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
The word lurched in line 11 refers to ______.
The tall guy from the monsters
A type of tree
Moved forward*
To look around till the area is safe
6.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
What effect do you get from line 13-14 based off of its diction?
The snow plow is an unstoppable force
Owen is a greater barrier than all things around him*
There is no significance between Owen and the snow plow
A,B and C
7.)
Why is Owen so suddenly portrayed as larger sized? “… had to be extended full-length
across the seat”
A.
To demonstrate the importance felt about Owen at this time in the story.*
B.
To demonstrate that even the smallness of Owen could fit into a small cab of the Meany’s
truck.
C.
To compare Owen to the smallness of his parents.
D.
To show how unfitting the clothes Owen were in were.
8.)
Lead roles in the play etc. often inflate the ego of those in that role. How does Owen
reflect this observation?
A.
Owen has a pillar of light following him constantly.
B.
Owen becomes indignant and demanding towards everyone around him.*
C.
Owens mother suddenly pays attention in order to get him in the car.
D.
Owen pays no attention to those watching him seemingly arrogant.
1. What does the “pillar of light” allude to?
a) The divine light of God
b) The constant scrutiny on Owen Meany
c) The sun shining through the window
d) Both A & B
2. In line 1, what is the pillar of light focused on?
a) Barb Wiggin
b) the spectators
c) Mr. and Mrs. Meany
d) Owen and John
3. . How would the mood of the passage change if Owen had narrated it?
a) The passage would be shorter
b) It would reflect his view of Catholics
c) It would be angrier, with fewer rhetorical devices
d) It would be happier and less tense
4.In line two, “The cows and donkeys tore off their heads” is what kind of literary device?
A. Metaphor
B. Onomatopoeia
C. Personification
D. Similie
4. How does the title “the Lord Jesus” relate to Owen?
a) He was Jesus in the play
b) They both possess the power to control other people’s ideas and actions
c) They are similar in size
d) They both believe in pacifism
5.Lines 1-8 serve to:
A. Depict the crowd’s fascination with Owen
B. Describe the outdoor setting
C. Describe Owen going home
D. Explain the dialogue between Owen and the narrator
6. Lines 9,11, and 12 show that Owen Meany ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬__________________
a) Is always in a bad mood
b) Has the ability to control his superiors and friends
c) Has trouble expressing his feelings
d) Feels the need to make up for his lack of size by yelling
7.The image of Owen Meany dressed as Lord Jesus suggests that:
A. Owen is in a play
B. Owen is a representation of God
C. Owen is religious
D. Owen is well respected
1. D
2. D
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. B
8. B
1. How does the tone of lines 11-12 portray the parents’ attitude toward Owen?
A. Friendly
B. Submissive
C. Fearful
D. Understanding
E. Concerned
2. The “pillar of light” in line 1 is
A. Very irritating to Owen
B. The belief that everything will turn out for the best in the end
C. A sign from God
D. The beam of light from a spotlight
E. A candle with a shade around it
3. The word “lurch” in line 11 of the passage is a(n)
A. Extended metaphor
B. Epithet
C. Personification
D. Onomatopoeia
E. Expletive
4. How does the narrator’s description of the Meanys in line 5 affect the reader’s perception of Owen?
A. It makes Owen ambiguous and mysterious
B. Owen becomes the character with most influence
C. It increases the readers respect for Owen
D. Owen is perceived to be clumsy and easily breaks cars
E. It makes out Owen to be a bully
5. What does the last sentence in the passage add to the overall meaning of the piece?
A. It reveals that with him Owen carries an air of politeness
B. It demonstrates Owen’s ability to make things go his way
C. It stresses the speed at which the Meanys fled by providing comic relief
D. It is a continuation of a metaphor found earlier in the passage
E. It is a relevant allusion that compares Owen to Moses when he parted the sea of
snowplows
6. What does the word “swaddled” mean in the context of the passage?
A. Wrapped tightly with cloth
B. In Shock
C. Bruised and injured
D. Strangled
E. Very sleepy
7. What does the word “reverted” suggest about Owen’s mother in line 8?
A. She suffers from PTSD and is experiencing a flashback
B. She hopes her son will be alright
C. Owen’s return has caused her to become worried again
D. She wishes that Owen would walk home
E. She is paranoid about others judging her son
1. B
2. D
3. D
4. B
5. B
6. A
7. C