A Prayer For Owen Meany It is often the case in the novels with strong themes, that the author must rely on certain prearranged molds when shaping the major characters and their relationships with each other. These molded characters allow for the thematic content of the novel to be expressed more clearly. Hence, the thoughts and actions of the characters give a better idea to develop themes in the novel. A Separate Peace by John Knowles and A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving are two novels that deal with similar themes. A Separate Peace deals with the events that alter the lives of two boys in a boarding school, while A Prayer for