“Flowers for Algernon”published in 1959

By Daniel Keyes

p. 22

Flowers for Algernon

• When do you give someone flowers?

I q test

Iq test

Parallel episodes

• Certain elements of the plot are repeated.

• Three wishes

• Three pigs

• Goldilocks- three beds, three…

Subplots

• A minor plot that relates in some way to the major plot.

• Algernon/Charlie

• Charlie/Miss Kinnian

I.Q. operation

• If we could alter people’s I.Q., should we?

Journal

• If you could only be one or the other, would you be smart and not popular, or popular and not smart?

• What would be the advantages?

• What would be the disadvantages?

• Smart: ______

• Popular: ________

Journal Entry

• What is something your really want or wish for in life? Why? Write 5 sentences.

Journal Entry #3

• What makes a child become an adult?

Journal entry #4

• Write about an event that happened two separate times in your life?

• How were they similar?

• How were they different?

Misled-fooled; led to believe something wrong

• Mis means wrong

• Mis misled, mistake

• Not allowed mistaken, mistaking, mistook

• Miscelleaneous

Mis- BAD or wrongmisled misnomer (lightning is a misnomer

misadventure for a slow, old horse.)misanthrope (hater of mankind) misogamist (hates marriage)

misapplicationmisapply misplacemisapprehend (misunderstand) misprint

misbegotten (gotten unlawfully) mispronouncemisbehave misrulemisbelieve misspellmisbrand misspentmiscall mistakeMiscarriage misstepmiscarry mistrust

miscastmiscegenation (intermarriage) misunderstandmiscellaneous mislaymischance misuse

mischiefmischievousmisconceivemisconductmisconstruemiscuemisdatemisdealmisdeedmisdemeanormisdirectmisdoermisdoingmisdoubtmisemploymiserablemisfeasancemisfiremisfitmisfortunemisguidemisgive/ misgivingsmisgovernmishandlemishapmisinformmisjudge mislay

Tangible-adj. capable of being seen or felt

• I need tangible proof of your love.

Refute-v. prove wrong using evidence

• He tried to refute the answer by showing a different approach to the math problem.

• Re means again

• Repeat, rebound

Invariably- always

• Invariably, Serena offers to pass out papers.

• Invariably, my dog barks when he hears a motorcycle.

• “You always leave your clothes on the floor.”

Regression n. return to an earlier or less advanced condition

• re - again• reassure• rebate• rebel• react• reassert• rebirth• receive• recall • recommence• recollect• reconsider• recovery• recoup• redirect• recur• refrain• regain• reheat• reissue• rehash• rematch• remarry• replicate• repay• reorder• reschedule• restart• reschedule• retake• return• review• reverse• rebound• rewire• redress• rework• resurface

recurrefrainregainreheatreissuerehashrematchremarryreplicaterepayreorderreschedulerestartrescheduleretakereturnreviewreversereboundrewireredressreworkresurface

Verified- v. confirmed

• Confirmed

• Trust but verify- Ronald Reagan

Obscure- v. hide

Deterioration- n. used as adj. worsening; decline

• My friend was feeling better, so they released her from the hospital; unfortunately. her health deteriorated and she was readmitted.

Hypothesis n. theory to be proved

• Ms. Verge’s hypothesis proved true.

Introspective- adj. looking inward

• People who keep a diary or a journal tend to be introspective.

• Intro- inside

• Spect- to look

Progress report March 5, 1965

List 5 things you know about Charlie

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Progress report March 5, 1965

List 5 things you know about Charlie

1. Charlie Gordon

2. Age 37

3. He wants to be smart

4. He doesn’t seem smart because of spelling and simple sentences;choppy

5. Birthday- two weeks ago

Exposition- beginning

March 5, 1965

• “My name is Charlie Gordon. I am 37 years old and two weeks ago was my birthday”(23).

• What can you infer about Charlie?

March 6 Progress report #2

• Concrete vs. abstract thought

• Roschach Test tests your imagination.

Rorschach Test (inkblot test)

• Progress Report 2

• The first time Charlie takes the Rorschach test, he has no imagination and he is afraid to fail. No abstract thoughts.

What do you see?

Why does he have a rabbit’s foot?

What can you infer?

• For example, Charlie quits his job after 840 people sign a petition to have him

• fired. He wonders, “What did I do to make them hate me so?”(38).

What can you infer?

• He sid Ernie for godsake what are your trying to be a Charlie Gordon. I don’t understand why he said that. I never lost any packages”

• (29)

• “Everybody laffed and we had a good time and they gave me lots of drinks and Joe said Charlie is a card when hes potted”(30).

Add commentary

• “I never knew that Joe and Frank and the others liked to have me around all the time to make fun of me” (34).

Dr Nemur

Age 60Publish NOW!Not a geniusDoes not know Chinese or HindustaniWants fame and to publish nowMy experimentMy researchOpportunistShrew of a wifeWants to be Chair of Psychology at PrincetonUncomfortable around Charlie, inferiority complex.

• Dr. Strauss

• age 50

• Wait to publish

• genius yet limited

• only speaks 3 ancient languages Latin,Greek, Hebrew

• wait to publish

• He found Charlie

• His technique,

• He performed the operation

Theme-universal and timelss

• The deeper meaning is called theme.• What the writer believes about life• How do I find theme?• Look at title• See how the characters change (dynamic vs.

static)• See the big moments. What relevations about

life are suggested.• See the resolution• Write theme in a full sentence.