Genre
Bildungsroman (coming of age novel)
Setting and Context
John is telling this story in flashbacks from present day Canada; the flashbacks involving Owen take place in New Hampshire 1900s.
Narrator and Point of View
Johnny’s point of view, first person
Tone and Mood
Mysterious, otherworldly, reflective/reminiscent
Protagonist and Antagonist
True protagonist-Johnny, assumed protagonist- Owen, no perceived antagonist, possibly fate
Major Conflict
Johnny - struggle to find out who is father is, Owen - struggle with fate and fulfilling his destiny
Climax
The climax comes in the very last pages when Owen’s destiny becomes a reality as all the moments in the book lead to his becoming a hero by blocking the grenade from killing several Vietnamese children.
Foreshadowing
His dreams/visions, when he sees his death date on the gravestone, the use of the words grave (they live in Gravesend, Owen’s father makes gravestones), the armlessness ad dismemberment all foreshadow Owen’s manner of death.
Understatement
Owen is often described as being little, small in the beginning of the novel when it turns out despite his physical characteristics he is very powerful.
Allusions
Many biblical references allude to the religious context of the novel.
Imagery
Many instances of imagery are used in this novel, especially pertaining to Owen’s metaphysical powers. The moment he kills Tabby by some freak occurrence is given in detailed imagery, the armadillo Johnny receives as a gift is presented with an in-depth description, and the final scene of Owen’s death is depicted in great detail in order to paint the exact picture of the situation in the readers mind.
Paradox
Owen is initially perceived as harmless, and even somewhat powerless, when in fact he turns out to be uniquely powerful in nontraditional ways.
Parallelism
Many characters in the book have a “double”, a character that in some aspect of his/her personality or physical looks represents another character, Lydia & Grandmother, Owen & Armadillo, Johnny & Joseph (of the Christmas pageant), Tabby & Her dressmakers dummy
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The armadillo is personified when first described, possibly to link it to Owen as a representation of him
