Flowers for Flowers for AlgernonAlgernonDaniel KeyesDaniel Keyes

202 - 248202 - 248

Meet the AuthorMeet the Author

Daniel KeyesDaniel Keyes Daniel Keyes was born in Brooklyn, Daniel Keyes was born in Brooklyn,

New York.New York. ““Flowers for Algernon” was first Flowers for Algernon” was first

published in 1959 in published in 1959 in The Magazine The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fictionof Fantasy and Science Fiction..

The story was later expanded into a The story was later expanded into a full-length novel, and then made full-length novel, and then made into a movie called into a movie called CharlyCharly, a , a musical play, and a TV production.musical play, and a TV production.

Read his full biography on page 248Read his full biography on page 248

“[I am] fascinated by

the complexities of the human

mind.”

VOCABULARYVOCABULARY

absurdabsurd hypothesishypothesis impairimpair introspectiveintrospective naivetenaivete opportunistopportunist proportionalproportional regressionregression

sensationsensation shrewshrew specializatispecializati

onon statisticallystatistically syndromesyndrome tangibletangible vacuousvacuous

absurdabsurd

adjective – ridiculously unreasonableadjective – ridiculously unreasonable It’s It’s absurdabsurd to when you consider the to when you consider the

work that is being done in India and work that is being done in India and China today in the very field of his China today in the very field of his study.study.

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hypothesishypothesis

noun – a theory used as a basis for noun – a theory used as a basis for researchresearch

The The hypothesishypothesis here proven may be here proven may be described simply in the following described simply in the following terms…terms…

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impairimpair

verb – to weaken; damageverb – to weaken; damage Motor activity is Motor activity is impairedimpaired; there is ; there is

general reduction of glandular general reduction of glandular activity; there is an accelerated loss activity; there is an accelerated loss of coordination.of coordination.

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introspectiveintrospective

adjective – examining one’s own adjective – examining one’s own thoughts, feelingsthoughts, feelings

I keep telling myself how important I keep telling myself how important this this introspectiveintrospective journal will be. journal will be.

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naïveténaïveté

noun – a lack of sophistication; noun – a lack of sophistication; simplicitysimplicity

I have often reread my progress I have often reread my progress reports and seen the illiteracy, the reports and seen the illiteracy, the childish childish naïveténaïveté, the mind of low , the mind of low intelligence peering from a dark intelligence peering from a dark room, through the keyhole, at the room, through the keyhole, at the dazzling light outside.dazzling light outside.

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opportunistopportunist

noun - a person who takes advantage noun - a person who takes advantage of any opportunity to achieve a goal, of any opportunity to achieve a goal, with little regard for moral with little regard for moral principlesprinciples

Dr. Nemur said that Dr. Strauss was Dr. Nemur said that Dr. Strauss was nothing but an nothing but an opportunistopportunist who was who was trying to ride to glory on trying to ride to glory on hishis coattails.coattails.

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proportionalproportional

adjective – having a constant adjective – having a constant relation in degree or numberrelation in degree or number

Artificially increased intelligence Artificially increased intelligence deteriorates at a rate of time directly deteriorates at a rate of time directly proportional to the quantity of the proportional to the quantity of the increase.increase.

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regressionregression

noun – a return to a less developed noun – a return to a less developed conditioncondition

I’ve got to find the reason for the I’ve got to find the reason for the sharp sharp regressionregression in Algernon. in Algernon.

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sensationsensation

noun – a state of great interest and noun – a state of great interest and excitementexcitement

Algernon and I were presented to Algernon and I were presented to the American Psychological the American Psychological Association . . . we were quite a Association . . . we were quite a sensationsensation..

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shrewshrew

noun - a mean, nagging womannoun - a mean, nagging woman I remember hearing Burt say that I remember hearing Burt say that

Dr. Nemur had a shrew of a wife Dr. Nemur had a shrew of a wife who was pushing him all the time to who was pushing him all the time to get things published so he could get things published so he could become famous.become famous.

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specializationspecialization

noun – a focus on a particular noun – a focus on a particular activity or area of study.activity or area of study.

He was educated in the tradition of He was educated in the tradition of narrow narrow specializationspecialization; the broader ; the broader aspects of background were aspects of background were neglected far more than necessary – neglected far more than necessary – even for a neurosurgeon.even for a neurosurgeon.

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statisticallystatistically

adverb – in terms of the principles adverb – in terms of the principles used to analyze numerical dataused to analyze numerical data

As will be seen by my report, these As will be seen by my report, these and other physical and mental and other physical and mental deterioration deterioration syndromessyndromes can be can be predicted with predicted with statisticallystatistically significant results by the application significant results by the application of my formula.of my formula.

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syndromesyndrome

noun – a group of symptoms that noun – a group of symptoms that characterizes a disease or characterizes a disease or psychological disorderpsychological disorder

As will be seen by my report, these and As will be seen by my report, these and other physical and mental deterioration other physical and mental deterioration syndromessyndromes can be predicted with can be predicted with statisticallystatistically significant results by the significant results by the application of my formula.application of my formula.

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tangibletangible

adjective – able to be seen or adjective – able to be seen or touched; materialtouched; material

I suspect that Dr. Nemur, who is I suspect that Dr. Nemur, who is sixty – ten years older than Dr. sixty – ten years older than Dr. Strauss – finds it necessary to see Strauss – finds it necessary to see tangibletangible results of his work. results of his work.

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vacuousvacuous

adjective – showing a lack of adjective – showing a lack of intelligence or thoughtintelligence or thought

I felt sick inside as I looked at his I felt sick inside as I looked at his dull, dull, vacuousvacuous smile, the wide, bright smile, the wide, bright eyes of a child, uncertain but eager eyes of a child, uncertain but eager to please.to please.

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Connect to Your LifeConnect to Your Life

What do you know about your brain?What do you know about your brain?

Build BackgroundBuild Background

In the short story you are about to read, In the short story you are about to read, doctors experiment with a surgical doctors experiment with a surgical method to increase the intelligence of a method to increase the intelligence of a mentally challenged man.mentally challenged man.

Each area of the brain controls a Each area of the brain controls a different function.different function.

Look at the illustration of the brain on Look at the illustration of the brain on page 202. What areas might the doctors page 202. What areas might the doctors operate on during the surgery of the operate on during the surgery of the main character? Why?main character? Why?

Focus Your ReadingFocus Your Reading

Characterization consists of the Characterization consists of the techniques a writer uses to create and techniques a writer uses to create and develop characters.develop characters.

These techniques include:These techniques include: describing the character’s appearancedescribing the character’s appearance presenting the way the character talks, presenting the way the character talks,

thinks, and behavesthinks, and behaves showing what others think of the charactershowing what others think of the character making direct statements about the making direct statements about the

charactercharacter ExamplesExamples

CharacterizationCharacterization

Focus Your ReadingFocus Your Reading

When you make a logical, or When you make a logical, or educated, guess about a character educated, guess about a character or even based on story clues or your or even based on story clues or your own experience, you are making an own experience, you are making an inference.inference.

Story clues + Own experience = Story clues + Own experience = InferenceInference

Making InferencesMaking Inferences

MazesMazes

Ready – set – GO ! ! !Ready – set – GO ! ! !

ReadRead

Read the selection (pages 202-248).Read the selection (pages 202-248). Demonstrate the reading strategies you Demonstrate the reading strategies you

use by writing out thoughts, questions, use by writing out thoughts, questions, predictions, etc. on your “notes” page.predictions, etc. on your “notes” page.

Be sure to wrap up your thoughts with Be sure to wrap up your thoughts with your final reaction to the selection.your final reaction to the selection.

Prepare for discussion by preparing at Prepare for discussion by preparing at least 3 discussion starters.least 3 discussion starters.