Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Do Now Directions: On a sheet of lined paper with the correct MLA-style heading at the top left, respond to the following question in complete sentences. A paragraph (half to ¾ of a page is more than sufficient). Making Predictions: What do you think will happen as Charlie’s co-workers at the bakery start to notice more and more changes in him? How do you think his relationship with them will change? Is he more of a target by being retarted or being retarted and getting smarter?

The idea for Flowers for Algernon came to me many years before I wrote the story or the novel. "What would happen if it were possible to increase human intelligence artificially?" The idea for the character came about four years later when I met and spoke to a retarded young man and thought how wonderful it would be if such a technique were available to help the mentally disadvantaged. But Charlie Gordon is not real, nor is he based on a real person: he is imagined or invented, probably a composite of many people I know -- including a little bit of me. After a great many false starts, I discovered the technique of the Progress Reports. With these three elements: the idea, the character, and the narrative strategy, I was well on my way.  Author: Daniel Keyes Presence of religion on page 19 to protect the author.

Prediction Chart What characters have we met so far? What is the conflict in the story (regarding the character)? What are your predictions? Why did you make those predictions?

Prediction Chart What characters have we met so far? What is the conflict in the story (regarding the character)? What are your predictions? Why did you make those predictions? Algernon They’re in competition with each other; who will remain the smartest the longest Charlie will begin to deteriorate after Algernon (on the back cover) Charlie has his operation after Algernon Ms. Kinnian She is his teacher, but she can also be a stress factor Charlie will look to her as a source of female comfort She’s the only female that he interacts with Dr. Strauss If the operation fails, it will have been because of Dr. Strauss The more they work together, the more Charlie will realize he may not like him Charlie is going to become more aware Mr. Donner He is the protector (offers him a job), but he can’t control what his other employees say to Charlie when he’s not around He will be a constant figure in his life, but at some point maybe his opinion/sympathy of/for Charlie will change He made a promise to Charlie’s uncle to always look after him

Prediction Chart What characters have we met so far? What is the conflict in the story (regarding the character)? What are your predictions? Why did you make those predictions? Dr. Nemur He is looking for success for himself and using Charlie as a means to achieve it There may be a future conflict between Charlie’s well-being and Nemur forcing him to partake in the experiment Dr. Nemur wants recognition

Do Now On page 47, Dr. Strauss tells Charlie, “The more intelligent you become the more problems you’ll have, Charlie. Your intellectual growth is going to outstrip your emotional growth.” Using the text and your prior knowledge to support your opinion, do you agree with Dr. Strauss? Why or why not? 7

Do Now On page 70, Charlie says, “And they talked about politics and art and God. I never before heard anyone say that there might not be a God. That frightened me, because for the first time I began to think about what God means.” At this junction, why do you believe Charlie is beginning to question the existence of God? Is religion part of a different conscience he has never before accessed, or does it come from a place of insecurity and loss? 8

Character Motives Charlie: acceptance; friendship; relationships; love; acceptance Seeking Personal Relationship Alice: to educate Charlie; Charlie’s personal growth; productive citizen of society; qualitative results Dr. Nemur: recognition; prosperity; the operation & experiment to succeed; Charlie = Algernon (variable); quantitative results Seeking Scientific Relationship Dr. Strauss: wants success for the experiment and Charlie, but not before the quantitative results are proven; patient; moral

Progress Report 13 S.G.Q. What memory was triggered by fastening the seat belt in the airplane? What was Charlie's initial opinion of Dr. Guarino? How is this a turning point/foreshadowing of all doctors who try to help Charlie? What was Charlie's main resentment concerning Professor Nemur? How has Charlie’s opinion of both Drs. Nemur and Strauss changed? Discuss the before and after. Why does Charlie decide to flee from the convention? When Charlie gets into the taxi, his first instinct is to find his parents. Why do you think Progress Report 13 ends in this fashion? What is the significance of finding his parents now? 10

Id, Ego, Super-Ego Id (not I.D.) present from birth This aspect of personality is entirely unconscious and includes of the instinctive and primitive behaviors According to Freud, the id is the source of all psychic energy, making it the primary component of personality The id is driven by the pleasure principle, which strives for immediate gratification of all desires, wants, and needs

Id, Ego, Super-Ego Ego the component of personality that is responsible for dealing with reality the ego develops from the id and ensures that the impulses of the id can be expressed in a manner acceptable in the real world functions in both the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious mind operates based on the reality principle, which strives to satisfy the id's desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways

Id, Ego, Super-Ego Super-Ego the aspect of personality that holds all of our internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from both parents and society--our sense of right and wrong provides guidelines for making judgments begins to emerge at around age five There are two parts of the superego: The ego ideal (people pleasing, parent pleasing) The conscience (you do it bc it makes you feel good)

Do Now, 5/28 Respond in OEQ format Flowers for Algernon contains references to sexual encounters. Do you think they contribute to the story or diminish it? Explain your answer. If you were a teacher, how would you respond to parents who do not feel that the novel is appropriate for reading/study by middle school students?

Unit Test, Mon. 6/3 Rorschach Testing Howard Gardner & the Multiple Intelligences Conscious vs. Subconscious thought Id, Ego & Super-Ego Characters Plot-based questions Charlie’s relationship with: Rose Norma Matt Alice Fay