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The main plot of A Prayer for Owen Meany is presented in a series of flashbacks and reminiscences; many of the most important events are presented out of chronological sequence, so that it can be difficult to keep track of the story's timeline. What follows is an approximate chronology of key events in John's and Owen's lives. Using this chronology as a guide, it should be fairly easy to ascertain the date of almost any scene in the novel.
Early 1940s
John's mother performs at The Orange Grove, under the name "The Lady in Red."
1942
John and Owen are born.
1948
Dan Needham meets John's mother and moves to Gravesend.
July, 1952
Dan and John's mother are married.
Summer, 1953
Owen kills John's mother with the foul ball.
December, 1953
The Christmas pageant and A Christmas Carol; Owen plays the baby Jesus and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
1954
Mrs. Wheelwright acquires a television.
Summer, 1958
John and Owen get their driver's licenses.
Fall, 1958
John and Owen enter Gravesend Academy.
Fall, 1961
John and Owen travel to Boston to research John's mother's past.
1961-1962
Owen is increasingly at odds with Mr. White at the Academy; eventually he is expelled.
Summer, 1962
John graduates from Gravesend Academy; Owen graduates from the public high school.
Fall, 1962
John and Owen enter the University of New Hampshire, joining Hester there.
1963-1966
Owen concentrates on ROTC studies, hoping for a combat assignment in Vietnam.
Summer, 1966
Owen and John graduate from the university.
1967
Owen amputates John's finger to keep him from having to go to Vietnam.
July, 1968
Owen is killed in the Phoenix airport.
Late summer, 1968
John discovers that Rev. Merrill is his father; Owen's funeral takes place.
1971
John has applied for Canadian citizenship.
January, 1987
John begins writing his narrative.
