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Flowers for Algernon Pre-reading
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Subplots A minor plot that relates in some way to the major story
Always has some elements in common with the main plot, such as characters or setting Less important than main plot
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Parallel Episodes The writer repeats certain elements of the plot
Example: fairy tales that have three parallel episodes like when Goldilocks tries the bears’ beds three times to see which one is just right
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Vocabulary Misled Tangible Refute Invariably Regression Verified
Obscure Deterioration Hypothesis Introspective
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Misled verb fooled; led to believe something wrong.
Joe and Frank misled Charlie into thinking they were his friends.
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Tangible adjective capable of being seen or felt.
An early tangible benefit of Charlie's operation was his improved skill at spelling.
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Refute verb prove wrong using evidence.
Charlie used his research to refute the work of Drs. Nemur and Strauss
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Invariably adverb always.
Charlie’s co-workers invariably laughed at his mistakes
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Verified verb confirmed.
Charlie wanted the results of his research verified by other scientists
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Obscure verb hide. Charlie wanted to obscure the fact that he was losing his intelligence
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Deterioration n. used as adj. worsening; decline.
Because of his mental deterioration, Charlie could no longer read German.
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Hypothesis noun theory to be proved.
The doctors’ hypothesis was that they could improve intelligence through surgery.
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Introspective adjective looking inward.
Charlie kept an introspective journal of his thoughts and feelings.
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Daily Delivery: 01/19/11 Please respond to the following questions in complete sentences. Be sure to read the second part of the prompt and reply accordingly. Would you rather be the smartest person in school, or the most popular? Please explain your choice.
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Synopsis Charlie Gordon: Mentally impaired
Undergoes surgery to improve intelligence Social and scientific problems persist
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Bdraw conclusions From Charlie’s report, what do you think he is supposed to do on the Rorschach test? What does Charlie’s reaction to the test reveal about him?
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E. plot Describe the main character in this story.
What conflict does he face as the story opens?
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A. Subplot What do Charlie and Algernon have in common and what do you think their relationship may be? Page 36
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B. Conflict What is the first major hurdle Charlie must overcome? How is it resolved? Page 36
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F. Foreshadowing Why might the author have included the bad luck omen at this point in the story? Page 37
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G. Subplots Note about subplot/parallel episodes Describe Charlie’s feelings about Algernon at this point in the story. Page 37
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H. Infer Why does Charlie want so badly to be smart? Page 37
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A. Parallel episodes This is the first time that Charlie has raced Algernon or taken tests since the operation. What do these events indicate about the outcome of the procedure? Pg. 38
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C. Subplots What do Dr. Strauss’s comments about Algernon indicate about Charlie’s own prospects for improvement? Page 39
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D. Character What can you tell about Charlie from his laughing at his own ridicule and his certainty that these men are really his friends? Page 39
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E. Speculate Why do other factory workers make fun of Charlie? Page 39
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Bell Ringer: 01/15/10 Please have your KU Reading Log on your desk for me to come around and check. (In your Flowers for Algernon notes) If you had been out with Charlie and his “friends” what do you think your role would have been? What do you think will happen to Charlie’s relationships with these two men as the story progresses?
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F. Parallel episodes How does this episode with Algernon differ from previous ones? What does it indicate about Charlie? Page 41
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G. Subplots What might Miss Kinnian have to be scared of when she sees Charlie Page 41
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F. Parallel episodes How do Charlie’s feelings about his drinking episode differ from the earlier one? Page 43
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Bell Ringer: 01/20/10 Remember…before beginning “Flowers for Algernon” we discussed whether we would prefer to be the most popular or the most intelligent person. Continuing on your notes…. Now, explain what makes a popular person? Meaning, what qualities does a popular person possess? Does Charlie have any of these qualities?
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E. Parallel episodes How is Charlie different from the way he was the first time he took the Rorschach test? Page 45
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D. Subplots One of the ongoing subplots in this story is Charlie’s relationship with his two doctors. Do the doctors seem to have Charlie’s best interest at heart? What does Charlie’s reaction to his encounter with the doctors suggest about how he is changing? Page 46
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E. Interpret Identify the figurative language that Miss Kinnian uses.
What does it suggest about her intelligence? Page 47
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E. Subplots How does this episode with Fanny Girden differ from earlier episodes with Charlie’s coworkers? What effect does this episode have on the conflict Charlie faces as a result of his operation? Page 49
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Part 1: Reading Check What is the operation meant to do for Charlie?
b. Why does Dr. Strauss think Charlie would be a good subject for the experiment? c. Who is Algernon? What happens when Charlie first races Algernon? d. What are some signs that Charlie is changing now that he’s had the operation?
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Bell Ringer: 01/21/10 As a continuation of your notes… Re-read the last few lines in Part 1 on page 49. What do you think about people who dislike others who are different from them?
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A. Irony What is ironic about Dr. Strauss’s reminder? Page 51 page
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B. Subplots How has Charlie’s heightened intelligence created difficulties in his relationship with Miss Kinnian? Page 53 page
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C. Plot What kind of unexpected complication has the operation produced for Charlie? Page 53 page
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E. Parallel episodes How does the dishwasher’s experience resemble episodes from Charlie’s own life? Page 53 page
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E. Parallel episodes Note that the change in Algernon’s behavior may have deeper implications for Charlie. Speculate about what is happening to Algernon and what this could mean for Charlie? Page 55
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G. Plot What complication has made Charlie so conscious of time?
Page 55
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A. Character What is driving Charlie? Page 56
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E. Resolution How is the experiment involving Algernon concluding?
Page 57
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B. Parallel episodes How does Charlie’s behavior mirror the behavior of Algernon at an earlier point in the story? Page 58
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F. Find details What signs do you see of Charlie’s increasing decline?
Page 59
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C. Subplots Why does Charlie send Miss Kinnian away? Page 60
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A. Irony Why is it ironic that Joe Carp and Frank Reilly act as Charlie’s protectors? Why do you believe they are acting as his protectors? Page 62
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B. Resolution Describe and evaluate the story’s ending.
Have all the subplots and “loose ends” been tied up? What more do you want to know? Page 62
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Reading Check: Part II At the beginning of Part 2, what conflicts is Charlie having with the doctors? With himself? b. How does Charlie react when the boy in the diner drops the dishes? c. What does Charlie’s research reveal about the results of the experiment? d. What are some of the signals that tell you that Charlie's mental state is getting worse? e. At the end of the story why does Charlie decide to leave New York?
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Writing Activity Pick a character from the story, other than Charlie, and write one or two separate progress reports from their perspective (1st person). The progress reports should correspond to Charlie’s. For instance, what might Miss Kinnian have written the night she and Charlie had dinner? What might Frank Reilly have written the day Charlie returned to work at the factory? Use your best spelling and grammar Each entry should be no less than one paragraph (approx sentences)
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