The narrative perspective of A Prayer for Owen Meany is first person, which is written in both the

uses the past tense to tell the reader that the events being discussed already occurred, that they are, metaphorically, carved in stone.  When Johnny, reads from his diary, the narrator changes perspective to the first person.  Because dates are important in this novel (dates such as Owen’s fated day of death and Johnny’s diary dates) a time change illustrates a change in not only Johnny’s physical world but also in his amount of maturity and knowledge.  In the diary, Johnny is much more mature and knowledgeable; he seems to have a purpose for writing the diary.  That purpose is his dislike of the US because of the Iran-Contra affair and its similarities to Vietnam, during which Owen was killed.  The changes in perspective, from past tense to present tense, develop Johnny as a man filled with bitterness.  As his diary entries progress, he becomes more resentful of the US.  Therefore, through the use of the diary, the author achieves a litmus test of Johnny’s attitude.  That is, judging by date of the entries, one can measure Johnny’s hate.         The narrator in this novel is, at times, an observer and, at other times, a participant.  The narrator observes Owen Meany and his miracles (keeping Johnny out of Vietnam and saving the children, nuns, and Johnny in the airport).  The narrator interacts with Owen as friends interact; they converse about girls, politics, and school, they also play games between themselves and with Johnny’s cousins, the Eastmans, from Sawyer Depot.  It is through a combination of both interaction and observation that Owen most persuades Johnny to become a Christian, and as Johnny says, “[Owen] is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany” (13, 1).