Gravesend, New Hampshire

Gravesend is John and Owen’s small-town hometown. The reader is lead to believe Gravesend is, or at least once was, a mildly economically successful town. The town is an old town able to trace its roots back to early colonization. John’s ancestor, John Wheelwright (for whom he is named) bought the land from a Native American tribe, the Sagamores. Chief Watahantowet signed the land over with an armless totem.

Object/Place 2

Sawyer Depot is a town in northern New Hampshire where the Eastmans—John’s cousins—live. John visits during the summers and Christmas. Owen Meany longs to visit Sawyer Depot and finally does near the end of the book.

Armadillo

When John firsts meets Dan, Dan presents him with the armadillo. A former stage prop, it becomes a prized possession. Owen and John make a game of hiding the armadillo. When Owen...