FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON DANIEL KEYES Narrator first person

FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON DANIEL KEYES

Narrator: first person omniscient. As it is a diary entry, it is written from Charlie’s experience directly. The use of the personal pronoun ‘I’ indicates first person. This provides a sense of involvement from the reader. We also know what Charlie is thinking.

Setting The story mainly takes place in the laboratory, Donnegan’s Box Factory is another place in which we get insight into Charlie’s world when he is not intelligent, and also when he becomes ‘smarter’. � How does the setting create the atmosphere for the plot? The laboratory serves as a reminder as to the operation, the climb and the ultimate regression of intelligence. The Box Factory shows us the people’s reaction to Charlie before And after the operation which allows us to sympathise with Charlie. We feel sorry for him at the end of the story.

What is the subject of the story? Charlie Gordon is of below-normal intelligence. He is simple and kind. He attends adult night School and his teacher recommends him for an operation that will artificially increase his Intelligence. The operation is done and Charlie’s Intelligence increases at a rapid rate. He befriends a mouse named Algernon, and a parallel is drawn between the intelligence increase and decrease of both mouse and man. When Algernon regresses, the reader can figure out that Charlie’s regression is not far behind.

Tone/ mood The tone is mostly serious, but at times light hearted. The reader is aware that something might go wrong.

Style and theme Style: It is in the form of a diary. It is personal, sincere and informative. � Theme: Man cannot increase intelligence artificially. You either have it or you don’t! �

Plot- Exposition We are introduced to Charlie Gordon. We Can tell by the level of his writing that he is of Below normal intelligence. We are informed of the ‘opershun’ that’s going to make him ‘smarter’.

Rising Action � Charlie undergoes the operation and begins to get smarter. He redoes the tests he did prior to the operation and finds he is able to think more deeply than before. He reaches Miss Kinnian’s intelligence level and falls in love with her. He loses his job at the factory and surpasses the intelligence of his doctors. He is shown at a convention for artificial intelligence. He starts to realise that just because people are smarter than him, does not mean they are intelligent. In fact, they are feeble minded.

Climax � Algernon bites Charlie. Algernon is losing interest in the tests, is aggressive and shows signs of regression. Charlie realises that his time is limited and writes an entire thesis, based on his experiences. Algernon dies.

Denouement � Charlie begins to lose his intelligence. Since the increase was so fast, he will regress three times as fast. He loses track of the days and his land lady calls a psychologist In to see him. Charlie refuses to see anybody, and goes back to the factory to try get his job back. He forgets everything he has learned after the operation. It has failed.

Conclusion � He returns to Miss Kinnian’s night school and she is so upset, she leaves the room. Charlie decides to go to New York City to start over again. ‘Believe nothing. No matter where you red it or who had sed it, not even if i had sed it, unless it agrees with your own reson and your own common sense. ’ Charlie Gordon

Characters � � � Charlie Gordon: man of limited intelligence, kind and simple. He has an operation to increase his intelligence artificially. He makes friends with Algernon. Ms Kinnian: Charlie’s teacher. She forms a bond with Charlie. She goes from teacher, to girlfriend, back to teacher again. Dr Nemur and Dr Strauss: the scientists that use Charlie for the research. Both are clever, but their faults hold them back.

Characters contd. . � � Algernon: the lab rat who has the same operation as Charlie. He dies after he regresses. Joe Carp and Frank Reilly: co-workers at the factory. They mock Charlie in the beginning and later defend him. They are feeble minded. Mr Donnegan: Charlie’s boss at the factory. Mrs Flynn: Charlie’s landlady.

Protagonist & Antagonist Protagonist: Charlie Gordon- has intelligence artificially increased � Antagonist: Artificial Intelligence Gives Charlie false hope. It is the source of conflict in the story. �

Answer the following questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. What is Charlie’s night school teacher’s name? Describe the setting of the story. What did Charlie take with him for luck? Give the names of the two doctors. What colour is Algernon? What are the names of Charlie’s two friends at the factory? Why did Charlie have to quit his job? How does Algernon change? Explain the plot of the story in ten lines.

Answers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Miss Kinnian The story mainly takes places in a laboratory. A rabbit’s foot Dr Nemur / Dr Strauss White Joe Carp and Frank Reilly A petition was signed to ask Charlie to leave / He became vicious / stopped eating / lost his motivation Learners own answer.