Flowers for Algernon

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Flowers for Algernon

• ELA
• Mrs. Okie

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Genre Science Fiction

• a broad genre of fiction that often takes place
  in the future and usually involves speculations
  based on current science.
• It is commonly abbreviated as SF or Sci-Fi.
• Science fiction is found in books, art,
  television, movies, games, theater, and other
  media.

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Author Daniel Keyes

• Born in 1927 in Brooklyn, New York City.
• American author, not primarily of science
  fiction.
• He is best known for his award-winning novelette
  Flowers for Algernon which he adapted into his
  same-name first novel (1966).

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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.

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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 Charlies 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
  readers imagination and moral position.

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Themes/Motifs

• 1. Mistreatment of the Mentally Disabled based
  on how society treats Charlie with his low IQ. In
  addition, it includes Charlies perspective of
  the disabled and how he continues to be treated
  after his operation.

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Themes/Motifs

• 2. Intellect vs. Emotion Charlies situation
  certainly illustrates the difficulty of
  developing both intellect and emotion without
  conflict. The story also has characters that
  represent both ends pure intellect and pure
  emotion.

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Themes/Motifs

• 3. Persistence of Past with the Present As
  seen in Charlies recorded memories, the past
  consistently reveals itself and is a significant
  factor in Charlies perspective of the world. It
  also helps the reader to understand the person
  that Charlie is.

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Symbols

• 1. Algernon The mouse that is Charlies
  laboratory equal and obviously represents
  Charlie on several levels. Algernons progress
  echoes Charlies. As well, Charlie feels, at
  times, more like a laboratory animal than a human
  being.

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Symbols

• 2. Window Charlie recollects or feels that he
  is viewing the outside world through a window.
  It represents his emotional distance by watching
  the outside world through a barrier.

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RETARD
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Word Meanings

• CONNOTATION
• The personal connection to the word
• what comes to mind
• implied additional meaning an additional sense
  associated with or suggested by a word or phrase
• Ex Home

• DENOTATION
• The Dictionary definition
• basic meaning the most specific or literal
  meaning of a word, as opposed to its figurative
  senses or connotations
• Ex House

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Retard Connotation Denotation

• Mental retardation is a term still used, but
  because of its negative connotations, the term
  intellectual/developmental disability is now
  appropriate.

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Rorschach Test

• Psychology is the scientific study of mental
  processes and behaviour.
• Psychologists use exams to study different human
  activity, which may help them find the cause of
  problems in individuals daily lives. Once an
  individual has been assessed, an appropriate
  treatment of mental illness may be implemented.

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Rorschach Test
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Rorschach Test
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Ten faces in the tree?
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Three Women?
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Frog or Horse?
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Multiple Intelligences

• Howard Gardners theory of multiple intelligences
  is a psychological and educational theory which
  suggests that many different kinds of
  intelligence exists in human beings.
• Each individual has different levels of these
  different intelligences.
• In other words, we all have different talents.

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Writing a THESIS STATEMENT

• The thesis statement must serve two purposes.
• It must both identify the work about which you
  are writing, and
• it must clearly give the point you are using this
  work to prove.

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Writing a THESIS STATEMENT

• In order to succeed in these two purposes, the
  following format is suggested
• In the (novel/play/film), , the author
  develops the idea that
•  The sentence is completed with a specific
  statement that will be proven with the textual
  examples presented in the essay. This format
  helps eliminate confusion in your introduction,
  and also helps prevent signposting (explicit
  statements about the writing process).

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Examples

• In the novel, The Chrysalids, the author John
  Wyndham develops the idea that discrimination
  does nothing but spread fear.
• In the novel, The Memory-Keepers Daughter, by
  Kim Edwards, the author develops the idea that a
  well-constructed lie is easier to believe than
  the truth.

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Interpreting QUOTATIONS EXAMPLES

• Quotations Examples serve as evidence from the
  text to help prove your thesis statement.
• Use the following four steps of interpretation
  EVERY TIME you use a quotation or textual example
  to prove your thesis
• 1. Provide the quotation using the proper format,
  and exact wording used in the play.
• 2. Interpret the quotation by explaining its
  context and how it proves your point, as well as
  giving other examples from the play to support
  your argument if necessary.
• 3. Clearly relate the quotation and any examples
  back to your thesis.
• 4. IF you cannot complete step 3, you need to
  choose a quotation more suited to your topic

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Symbols

• A literary symbol is something that means more
  than what it is literally. It is an object,
  person, situation, action or some other item,
  which has a literal meaning in the story, but
  also suggests or represents other deeper
  meanings.
• Literary symbols are symbols that have a meaning
  within a particular story, but not outside it.
• Conventional symbols keep their meaning, no
  matter where they appear.

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Symbols

• Using something to represent an idea (symbolism
  using symbols)
• i.e.
• maple leaf Canada
• Heart love
• Dove peace
• Cross God, church, religion