SUBPLOTS PARALLEL EPISODES CHARACTERIZATION FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON SUBPLOTS

SUBPLOTS/ PARALLEL EPISODES/ CHARACTERIZATION “FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON

SUBPLOTS • Less important plots that are part of the larger story • Example: Romeo and Juliet (love story, family feud

PARALLEL EPISODES • Definition: Deliberately repeated plot events • Example: The Three Little Pigs (I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down! X 3)

CHARACTERIZATION • The way a writer reveals the personality of a character. • Direct: what the author tells reader about character • Indirect: • 1. through words of the character • 2. through description of character’s looks • 3. Through description of character’s thoughts/feelings • 4. through comments made about character by other characters • 5. through character’s behavior

BACKGROUND • Genre: Science Fiction • a broad genre of fiction that often takes place in the future and usually involves speculations based on current science. • Plot • Charlie Gordon is a mentally handicapped man with an IQ of about 70. He is chosen to partake in a science experiment that will “make him smart. ” There is a lot of growth that Charlie must go through (intellectually and emotionally) before discovering many truths about himself, the people around him, and his purpose in life.

STRUCTURE • Flowers for Algernon is unique in its structure. Rather than having chapters to separate its sections, it uses “progress reports” that Charlie is required to write as data for the experiment. Therefore, the short story is written entirely from Charlie’s point of view and contains memories and flashbacks as well as daily accounts of his learning and growth. Being the central figure in the experiment, his perspective of the world changes, and certainly challenges the reader’s imagination and moral position.

INTELLIGENCE TESTING • French Psychologist Alfred Binet designed the I. Q. Test around 1900. • The test was intended to measure children’s intelligence for educators to identify weaknesses and tutor them accordingly. • Now, many educators believe we have multiple intelligences/learning styles.

THINK ABOUT IT… • It is better to be smart and lonely than unintelligent and happy. • Our relationships with other people are what fulfill us.