Flowers for Algernon Book Report Flowers for Algernon is a science-fiction short story turned novel written by American author Daniel Keyes. It follows the main character Charlie Gordon, a 32 year old baker with a learning disability, who desires self improvement and becomes the main subject of a science experiment to test if scientific manufacturing intelligence is possible. Flowers for Algernon explores the connections between intellect, emotion, and the intrinsic beauty and purpose of human existence. I. BEAUTY A. In Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes employs effective descriptions and comparisons to convey the protagonist's changing intellect. (2) In the novel, Keyes frequently creates vivid mental imagery regarding Charlie's evolving state. …show more content…
B. (1) For example, he compares Charlie's initial state to that of a mouse in a maze, highlighting his confusion and lack of understanding. As Charlie's intelligence grows, Keyes uses vivid imagery to describe his newfound perceptions, such as comparing his mind to a rapidly expanding universe, capturing the depth and complexity of his thoughts. Daniel Keyes creates a vivid mental picture when Charlie describes his feelings of isolation and alienation by comparing himself to a lone leaf caught in the wind, drifting aimlessly without connection or direction. This imagery effectively conveys Charlie's sense of being adrift and disconnected from those around him. (3) Keyes' unique writing is evident in his use of diary entries, allowing readers to intimately experience the protagonist's inner thoughts and emotions. This format provides a raw and personal insight into Charlie's journey, as his writing style evolves alongside his intelligence. Keyes' style effectively captures the depth of Charlie's experiences, from his initial struggles with literacy to his insights into human nature, making the narrative both compelling and deeply
The story is seen through the innocent eyes of a 13 year old boy called Charlie Bucktin. The first person central point of view helps us to understand Charlie, to identify with him and his attitudes and values and for reader positioning. Silvey uses language conventions such as descriptive language, dialogue, diction, register and imagery to construct Charlie’s point of view. Since we only see and know what Charlie does thus this helps us create and certain bond with him as he grows, learns, and faces new problems throughout the novel. The fact that Charlie is a teenager and the readers are provided with teenager reactions the teenager audience is able to identify with the character and why he does things that way. Charlie starts of as a the model son, ever the obedient never to do anything wrong… to eventually losing his innocence and naivety and having a better understanding of what is right and what is wrong.
... reader. Throughout the book, Charlie unfolds secrets and truths about the world and the society that he lives in; secrets and truths that cause him to grow up and transition into adulthood. He also makes a life changing decision and rebelled against was he thought was the right thing. This reflects his maturity and bravery throughout the journey he travels that summer. Charlie eyes suddenly become open to the injustice that the town of Corrigan demonstrates. He also comes to face the issue of racism; not only shown towards his best friend Jeffrey and the Lu family but to Jasper Jones as well. He realises the town of Corrigan is unwilling to accept outsiders. Charlie not only finds out things that summer about the people that surround him, but he also finds out who he is personally.
Growing up, Charlie faced two difficult loses that changed his life by getting him admitted in the hospital. As a young boy, he lost his aunt in a car accident, and in middle school, he lost his best friend who shot himself. That Fall, Charlie walks through the doors his first day of highschool, and he sees how all the people he used to talk to and hang out with treat him like he’s not there. While in English class, Mr. Anderson, Charlie’s English teacher, notices that Charlie knew the correct answer, but he did not want to speak up and let his voice be heard. As his first day went on, Charlie met two people that would change named Sam and Patrick who took Charlie in and helped him find himself. When his friends were leaving for college, they took one last ride together in the tunnel and played their favorite song. The movie ends with Charlie reading aloud his final letter to his friend, “This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story, you are alive. And you stand up and see the lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder, when you were listening to that song” (Chbosky). Ever since the first day, Charlie realized that his old friends and classmates conformed into the average high schooler and paid no attention to him. Sam and Patrick along with Mr. Anderson, changed his views on life and helped him come out of his shell. Charlie found a
In the short story Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, a thirty-seven-year-old man named Charlie Gordon has a low intelligence level. Charlie is chosen for an operation(after taking many tests) that could increase his intelligence level. Algernon(a white mouse) had the same operation done on him. The first test Algernon has to run through a maze while Charlie does one on paper. When Charlie loses to Algernon, he begs for the operation. After Charlie has his operation, he becomes insanely smart and can beat Algernon without even trying. Months after the operation things start to go downhill for Charlie and Algernon. They both experience a decrease in their intelligence level and show aggressive actions. Weeks later Algernon dies because of a brain shrinkage. Charlie is now worried about his fate so he publishes the experiment(The Algernon-Gordon effect) which shows how the operation fails. After the publication, Charlie moves to
Charlie’s whole life is included in this book. The book revolves around Charlie’s power. It’s so powerful, that her parents can’t even try to control it.
Throughout this essay I`ll be: define and giving background information on Allport`s Scale, interpreting how these types prejudices are present in the story A Rose for Charlie and my reaction to the story, I`ll also be writing about how this scale applies to my actions and other`s I`ve observed as well.
Intelligence means having or showing intelligence, especially of a high level. Charlie is a thirty-seven-year-old man who was given an opportunity to increase his intelligence from an IQ of sixty-two to two hundred. A science fiction short story, “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, was about a man named Charlie who had an operation to improve his intelligence and why it was necessary for him to have the surgery. Charlie, before the operation, could not understand other people. After the operation, he became closer to the characters in his journal, and he was also able to use his skills and intelligence. The operation affected Charlie in many ways because he use to misunderstand others when he was spoken
Everyone would love to be intelligent and get good grades and a good job, maybe even invent something new and get money from it. If you had a chance to raise your IQ score by three times what it is now, would you do the operation? Would you take the risk of dying, having mental disabilities, not knowing the consequences? Most people would love to get smarter, but they do not want to get harmed during the operation.
Many popular novels are often converted into television movies. The brilliant fiction novel, Flowers for Algernon written by Daniel Keyes, was developed into a dramatic television film. Flowers for Algernon is about a mentally retarded man who is given the opportunity to become intelligent through the advancements of medical science. This emotionally touching novel was adapted to television so it could appeal to a wider, more general audience. Although the novel and film are similar in terms of plot and theme, they are different in terms of characters.
In the beginning of the novel, Charlie was a scared mute girl in a mental institution. Throughout the story, Charlie slowly realises her worth and learns how to accept herself as well as others.
He uses characterization to explain the characters and what they do, think and appear through the story. Andy is the protagonist, she’s an 8-year-old girl who’s a tomboy and uses a male name. She loves being out in the woods with her father and doing activities outdoors. Andy is courageous, adventurous, a tomboy, outgoing and loves doing outdoor activities with the guys. Andy goes camping with her father, her father’s friend Charlie, and his son Mac. Charlie teases Andy for coming along with them being the only female. Charlie questions Andy’s ability to stay and hunt with them, he claims that “she’s nine…and will just add to the noise and get tired" (327) He questions as to why she’s coming when she should be at home cleaning and cooking like what her mother is doing. Andy’s character is forecasted as being a female in a male environment where she doesn’t belong. She’s supposed to be doing activities that girls do, not hunting, shooting, killing animals. But Andy enjoys going along for the adventure not knowing what could occur. Her father enjoys having her alongside him because, “she'll bring good luck, you'll see. Animals -I don't know how she does it, but they come right up to her. We go walking in the woods, and we'll spot more raccoons and possums and such than I ever see when I'm alone.” (327) When Andy encounters a buck on her own, she hesitates, drops the wood and rushes back to the campsite and tells them,
Relationships between people are important to maintain. During one’s lifetime, these relationships will change for the better or worse. In the novel, Flowers for Algernon, the author, Daniel Keyes, presents a change in the main character’s relationship with many people. Charlie Gordon, a 32 years old man who is mentally disabled takes the risk of undergoing a surgery that will make him intelligent. As Charlie’s intelligence increases, he finds out a lot about himself and becomes a different person. He learns the meaning of love, and experiences this newfound feeling with Alice Kinnian. Charlie’s teacher at Beekman College for Retarded Adults, Miss Kinnian, is one of the only people who is concerned and genuinely cares about him. When they part
... reason that Charlie is the way he is. Once he was in touch with his feelings, he can understand and progress in his life. The novel ends with Charlie forgiving his Aunt Helen, and finding the strength to move on with his life.
This creates an emotional empathy due to the fact that when Christopher is excited or proud, the reader will be able to “live” through the heartwarming moments. In addition to viewing his life first hand, reading these usually intimate details are ways of bonding with Christopher. To clarify, in the bittersweet conclusion, Christopher reflects on his future in relation to his past as he says, “I will become a scientist. And I know I can do this… because I solved the mystery of Who Killed Wellington and I was brave… and that means I can do anything” (221). This once mousy young boy who endures a tremendous amount of anguish, fear, and isolation overcomes his hardships. He matures and becomes braver than he was initially, which causes a sense of pride to overcome the reader. As readers journey with Christopher as he attempts to achieve his goals, they tend to root for him. As a result, their affection for the young boy manifests. As they see the mountains he must climb to achieve them, once he reaches the top, their affection for Christopher causes them to praise his efforts. His emotions are transferred to the readers because his accomplishments become their accomplishments. Therefore, readers may feel a connection to him due to the process where he influences the behavior of readers through the unconscious induction of
Because of the parties he attends with his new friends he has tried using some drugs. These new friends help Charlie see things with a positive perspective, and to be confident in himself. When his friends move away, Charlie experience isolation and has a mental crisis that leads him to be internalized in a clinic.