Games and sports in John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany"

Games and sports in life reveal the lifestyles, beliefs, and rituals of man. Games and sports in literature, then, become important tools for the author as he uses them as metaphor, as a game for himself, and as a game for the reader. In John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, three types of games and sports are used. First is the game Irving plays to entertain himself. He creates a whimsical, playful novel characterized by absurd characters and situations. The second category is the use of sports and games as metaphor, using pretend games, organized games, and the Arts as a game. The third game is the game of the author playing a game with the reader by changing recognizable standards. The reader plays by figuring out the new rules. The protagonist, Owen Meany, is a whimsical Christ-figure who comes of age through playing games and sports, and serves God through his perfection of the slam dunk.