1. A Prayer for Owen Meany
an introduction

2. The Author: John Irving
1942 to he-is-still-alive
Married twice: has three sons
Has been an English Professor at each of the following schools (but not all at one time ):
Mount Holyoke College
Windham College
The University of Iowa
Brandeis University
Found success as a writer despite severe dyslexia
A noted atheist, yet he commonly works religious motifs into his novels

3. Irving’s Awards
1980: National Books Award for Fiction for The World According to Garp
1981: O. Henry Award for the short story “Interior Space”
1992: inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
1999/2000: for The Cider House Rules…
Academy Award for best adapted screenplay
National Board of Review Award for best screenplay
Golden Satellite Award for best motion picture screenplay, adaptation
Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Cider House Rules

4. In a question-and-answer session in 2001, recounted in an article for The New York Times, Irving was asked how much of his work was autobiographical. He answered that his life was not especially interesting, but ''I can invent more interesting characters than most people I know…In the world of writing about writers, personal experience is, in my view, always over-esteemed, and the imagination is almost always devalued.''

5. An interview with Irving
Why Joyce Can’t Hold a Candle to Dickens

6. Upcoming due dates to note:
Chapter(s) due
Thur. (5.5)
1-4
Mon. (5.9) 5
Thur. (5.12) 6
Mon. (5.16) 7
Wed. (5.18) 8
Fri. (5.20)
Whole book

7. Rapid, Impromptu Fishbowling
Thinking Ahead
Rapid, Impromptu Fishbowling
You will now be placed into four small groups.
When your group is called upon, you are to come into the center circle.
Then, when the question/prompt appears on the screen, you are to discuss it thoroughly, supporting your points with any knowledge you have on the subject, potentially including personal examples.
You are to discuss until the designated amount of time runs out.

8. Fishbowl One the television have all contributed
Defend, refute, or qualify this statement: JFK, Marilyn Monroe, and
the television have all contributed
to the decay of America.

9. Fishbowl Two
If you were asked to create a presentation on what constitutes a “normal” family, what would the presentation include? Consider all criteria and include them in your explanation of a “normal” family. Also, define the word “family.” (What does it mean to you? What does it mean to the world at large? etc.)

10. Fishbowl Three
If a close friend were to unintentionally severely hurt or kill someone in your family, what would be the appropriate reaction?

11. Fishbowl Four
If someone close to you is forced to do something that she is not mentally or physically strong enough to do, so much so that you fear for her life, would you take her place? What if by doing so you then put your own life in danger?