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Read with a Purpose Read this story to fi nd out what Charlie gains
and loses as he participates in a medical experiment.
progris riport 1—martch 5 1965
Dr. Strauss says I shud rite^1 down what I think and evrey thing that happins to me from now on. I dont know why but he says its importint so they will see if they will use me. I hope they use me. Miss Kinnian says maybe they can make me smart. I want to be smart. My name is Charlie Gordon. I am 37 years old and 2 weeks ago was my brith- day. I have nuthing more to rite now so I will close for today.
progris riport 2—martch 6
I had a test today. I think I faled it. and I think that maybe now they wont use me. What happind is a nice young man was in
the room and he had some white cards with ink spillled all over them. He sed Charlie what do you see on this card. I was very
1. shud rite: should write. To understand Charlie’s mis- spelled words, try sounding them out and reading the surrounding words for clues to the meaning.
by Daniel Keyes
Flowers for
Algernon
Use this literary perspective to help you analyze the story’s main character. Analyzing Credibility in Literature Literature often requires that we believe in things that are not true, such as talk- ing animals. Even so, we expect the characters and plots to be believable, or credible. Analyzing the credibility of the narrator is especially important in “Flowers for Algernon.” Consider these questions as you read: How might the narrator’s perceptions of the world differ from yours? How is he unlike any narrator you have met before? As you read, be sure to notice the notes and questions in the text, which will guide you in using this perspective.
Part 1
skared even tho I had my rabits foot^2 in my pockit because when I was a kid I always faled tests in school and I spillled ink to. I told him I saw a inkblot. He said yes and it made me feel good. I thot that was all but when I got up to go he stopped me. He said now sit down Charlie we are not thru yet. Then I dont remember so good but he wantid me to say what was in the ink. I dint see nuthing in the ink but he said there was picturs there other pepul saw some picturs. I coudnt see any picturs. I reely tryed to see. I held the card close up and then far away.
Then I said if I had my glases I coud see better I usally only ware my glases in the mov- ies or TV but I said they are in the closit in the hall. I got them. Then I said let me see that card agen I bet Ill find it now. I tryed hard but I still coudnt find the picturs I only saw the ink. I told him maybe I need new glases. He rote somthing down on a paper and I got skared of faling the test. I told him it was a very nice inkblot with littel points all around the eges. He looked very sad so that wasnt it. I said please let me try agen. Ill get it in a few minits becaus Im not so fast som- times. Im a slow reeder too in Miss Kinnians class for slow adults but I’m trying very hard. He gave me a chance with another card that had 2 kinds of ink spillled on it red and blue. He was very nice and talked slow like Miss Kinnian does and he explaned it to me that it was a raw shok.^3 He said pepul see things in the ink. I said show me where. He said think. I told him I think a inkblot but that wasnt rite eather. He said what does it remind you—pretend something. I closd my eyes for a long time to pretend. I told him I pretned a fowntan pen with ink
3. raw shok: Charlie is trying to spell Rorschach. 2. rabits foot: The hind foot of a rabbit is sometimes used as a good-luck charm.
Algernon is a white mouse. Maybe white mice are smarter then other mice. (^) C
progis riport 4—Mar 8
Their going to use me! Im so exited I can hardly write. Dr Nemur and Dr Strauss had a argament about it first. Dr Nemur was in the office when Dr Strauss brot me in. Dr Nemur was worryed about using me but Dr Strauss told him Miss Kinnian rekem- mended me the best from all the people who she was teaching. I like Miss Kinnian becaus shes a very smart teacher. And she said Charlie your going to have a second chance. If you volenteer for this expera- ment you mite get smart. They dont know if it will be perminint but theirs a chance. Thats why I said ok even when I was scared because she said it was an operashun. She said dont be scared Charlie you done so much with so little I think you deserv it most of all. So I got scaird when Dr Nemur and Dr Strauss argud about it. Dr Strauss said I had something that was very good. He said I had a good motor-vation.^4 I never even knew I had that. I felt proud when he said that not every body with an eye-q of 68 had that thing. I dont know what it is or where I got it but he said Algernon had it too. Algernons motor-vation is the cheese they put in his box. But it cant be that because I didnt eat any cheese this week. (^) D
Then he told Dr Nemur something I dint understand so while they were talking I wrote down some of the words. He said Dr Nemur I know Charlie is not what you had in mind as the first of your new brede of intelek** (coudnt get the word) superman. But most people of his low ment** are host** and uncoop** they are usualy dull apath** and hard to reach. He has a good natcher hes intristed and eager to please. Dr Nemur said remember he will be the first human beeng ever to have his intelijence trippled by surgicle meens. Dr Strauss said exakly. Look at how well hes lerned to read and write for his low mentel age its as grate an acheve** as you and I lerning einstines therey of vity^5 without help. That shows the intenss motor-vation. Its comparat a tremen** achev** I say we use Charlie. I dint get all the words and they were talking to fast but it sounded like Dr Strauss was on my side and like the other one wasnt. Then Dr Nemur nodded he said all right maybe your right. We will use Charlie. When he said that I got so exited I jumped up and shook his hand for being so good to me. I told him thank you doc you wont be sorry for giving me a second chance. And I mean it like I told him. After the operas- hun Im gonna try to be smart. Im gonna try awful hard. (^) E
**5. einstines therey of vity: theory of relativity, devel- oped by Albert Einstein (1879–1955) and deals with matter, time, space, and energy.
E Literary Perspectives^ Analyzing Credibility^ Now that you have read this progress report, do you think Charlie will be a credible narrator? Why or why not?
4. motor-vation: motivation, the force or inner drive that makes someone want to do or accomplish something; here, Charlie’s desire to learn.
C Read and Discuss^ What has the author hinted at now?
D Reading Focus^ Tracking Story Events^ What is the conflict between Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur?
Viewing and Interpreting The image above is a Rorschach test. What do you see? Why do you think Charlie has difficulty with the test?
Analyzing Visuals
progris ript 5—Mar 10
Im skared. Lots of people who work here and the nurses and the people who gave me the tests came to bring me candy and wish me luck. I hope I have luck. I got my rabits foot and my lucky penny and my horse shoe. Only a black cat crossed me when I was comming to the hospitil. Dr Strauss says dont be supersitis Charlie this is sience. Anyway Im keeping my rabits foot with me. I asked Dr Strauss if Ill beat Algernon in the race aft er the operashun and he said maybe. If the operashun works Ill show that mouse I can be as smart as he is. Maybe smarter. Then Ill be abel to read better and spell the words good and know lots of things and be like other people. I want to be smart like other people. If it works permin- int they will make everybody smart all over the wurld. They dint give me anything to eat this morning. I dont know what that eating has to do with getting smart. Im very hungry and Dr Nemur took away my box of candy. That Dr Nemur is a grouch. Dr Strauss says I can have it back aft er the operashun. You cant eat befor a operashun...
Progress Report 6—Mar 15
The operashun dint hurt. He did it while I was sleeping. They took off the bandijis from my eyes and my head today so I can make a progress report. Dr Nemur who looked at some of my other ones says I spell progress wrong and he told me how to spell it and report too. I got to try and remember that. I have a very bad memary for spelling. Dr Strauss says its ok to tell about all the
things that happin to me but he says I shoud tell more about what I feel and what I think. When I told him I dont know how to think he said try. All the time when the bandijis were on my eyes I tryed to think. Nothing happened. I dont know what to think about. Maybe if I ask him he will tell me how I can think now that Im suppose to get smart. What do smart people think about. Fancy things I suppose. I wish I knew some fancy things alredy.
Progress Report 7—mar 19 Nothing is happining. I had lots of tests and different kinds of races with Algernon. I hate that mouse. He always beats me. Dr Strauss said I got to play those games. And he said some time I got to take those tests over again. Thse inkblots are stupid. And
do what he says. I told him I dint think I was going to get smart and he put his hand on my sholder and said Charlie you dont know it yet but your getting smarter all the time. You wont notice for a while. I think he was just being nice to make me feel good because I dont look any smarter. Oh yes I almost forgot. I asked him when I can go back to the class at Miss Kinnians school. He said I wont go their. He said that soon Miss Kinnian will come to the hospitil to start and teach me speshul. I was mad at her for not comming to see me
when I got the operashun but I like her so maybe we will be frends again. (^) H
Mar 29 Th at crazy TV kept me up all night. How can I sleep with something yell- ing crazy things all night in my ears. And the nutty pictures. Wow. I dont know what it says when Im up so how am I going to know when Im sleeping. Dr Strauss says its ok. He says my brains are lerning when I sleep and that will help me when Miss Kinnian starts my lessons in the hospitl (only I found out it isnt a
H Read and Discuss^ What does this conversation between Dr. Strauss and Charlie let us know?
hospitil its a labatory). I think its all crazy. If you can get smart when your sleeping why do people go to school. That thing I dont think will work. I use to watch the late show and the late late show on TV all the time and it never made me smart. Maybe you have to sleep while you watch it. (^) I
PROGRESS REPORT 9—April 3
Dr Strauss showed me how to keep the TV turned low so now I can sleep. I dont hear a thing. And I still dont understand what it says. A few times I play it over in the morning to find out what I lerned when I was sleeping and I dont think so. Miss Kinnian says Maybe its another langwidge or something. But most times it sounds american. It talks so fast faster then even Miss Gold who was my teacher in 6 grade and I remember she talked so fast I coudnt understand her. I told Dr Strauss what good is it to get smart in my sleep. I want to be smart when Im awake. He says its the same thing and I have two minds. Theres the subconscious^6 and the conscious (thats how you spell it). And one dont tell the other one what its doing. They don’t even talk to each other. Thats why I dream. And boy have I been
having crazy dreams. Wow. Ever since that night TV. The late late late late late show. I forgot to ask him if it was only me or if everybody had those two minds. (I just looked up the word in the dic- tionary Dr Strauss gave me. The word is subconscious. adj. Of the nature of mental operations yet not present in consciousness; as, subconscious conflict of desires.) Theres more but I still dont know what it means. This isnt a very good dictionary for dumb people like me. Anyway the headache is from the party. My frends from the factery Joe Carp and Frank Reilly invited me to go with them to Muggsys Saloon for some drinks. I dont like to drink but they said we will have lots of fun. I had a good time. Joe Carp said I shoud show the girls how I mop out the toilet in the factory and he got me a mop. I showed them and every- one laffed when I told that Mr Donnegan said I was the best janiter he ever had because I like my job and do it good and never come late or miss a day except for my operashun. I said Miss Kinnian always said Charlie be proud of your job because you do it good.
6. subconscious (suhb KAHN shuhs): mental activ- ity that takes place below the level of consciousness (KAHN shuhs nihs), or full awareness.
I Reading Focus^ Tracking Story Events^ Why does Dr. Strauss give Charlie the “crazy TV”? What is its purpose?
because theres a picture with his funny umbrella looking at footprints. I hope he gets a frend and not be lonely.
April 10 Miss Kinnian teaches me to spell better. She says look at a word and close your eyes and say it over and over until you remember. I have lots of truble with through that you say threw and enough and tough that you dont say enew and tew. You got to say enuff and tuff. Thats how I use to write it before I started to get smart. Im confused but Miss Kinnian says theres no reason in spelling.
Apr 14 Finished Robinson Crusoe. I want to find out more about what happens to him but Miss Kinnian says thats all there is. Why
Apr 15 Miss Kinnian says Im lerning fast. She read some of the Progress Reports and she looked at me kind of funny. She says Im a fine person and Ill show them all. I asked her why. She said never mind but I shoudnt feel bad if I find out that everybody isnt nice like I think. She said for a person who god gave so little to you done more then a lot of people with brains they never even used. I said all my frends are smart people but there good. They like me and they never did anything that wasnt nice. Then she got something in her eye and she had to run out to the ladys room.
Apr 16 Today, I lerned, the comma, this is a comma (,) a period, with a tail, Miss Kinnian, says its importent, because, it
makes writing better, she said, sombeody, coud lose, a lot of money, if a comma, isnt, in the, right place, I dont have, any money, and I dont see, how a comma, keeps you from losing it, But she says, everybody, uses commas, so Ill use, them too,
Apr 17 I used the comma wrong. Its punctuation. Miss Kinnian told me to look up long words in the dictionary to lern to spell them. I said whats the difference if you can read it anyway. She said its part of your education so now on Ill look up all the words Im not sure how to spell. It takes a long time to write that way but I think Im remember- ing. I only have to look up once and after that I get it right. Anyway thats how come I got the word punctuation right. (Its that way in the dictionary). Miss Kinnian says a period is punctuation too, and there are lots of other marks to lern. I told her I thot all the periods had to have tails but she said no. You got to mix them up, she showed? me” how. to mix! them( up,. and now; I can! mix up all kinds” of punctuation, in! my writing? There, are lots! of rules? to lern; but Im gettin’g them in my head. One thing I? like about, Dear Miss Kinnian: (thats the way it goes in a business letter if I ever go into business) is she, always gives me’ a reason” when—I ask. She’s a gen’ius! I wish! I cou’d be smart” like, her; (Punctuation, is; fun!)
April 18 What a dope I am! I didn’t even understand what she was talking
about. I read the grammar book last night and it explanes the whole thing. Then I saw it was the same way as Miss Kinnian was trying to tell me, but I didn’t get it. I got up in the middle of the night, and the whole thing straightened out in my mind. L Miss Kinnian said that the TV working in my sleep helped out. She said I reached a plateau. Thats like the fl at top of a hill. Aft er I figgered out how punctuation worked, I read over all my old Progress Reports from the beginning. Boy, did I have crazy spelling and punctuation! I told Miss Kinnian I ought to go over the pages and fix all the mistakes but she said, “No, Charlie, Dr. Nemur wants them just as they are. That’s why he let you keep them after they were photostated, to see your own progress. You’re coming along fast, Charlie.” That made me feel good. After the lesson I went down and played with Algernon. We don’t race anymore.
April 20 I feel sick inside. Not sick like for a doctor, but inside my chest it feels empty like getting punched and a heartburn at the same time. I wasn’t going to write about it, but I guess I got to, because it’s important. Today was the first time I ever stayed home from work. Last night Joe Carp and Frank Reilly invited me to a party. There were lots of girls and some men from the factory. I remembered how sick I got last time I drank too much, so I told Joe I didn’t want anything to drink. He gave me a plain Coke
L Read and Discuss^ What does^ Charlie’s ability to read and understand a grammar book indicate?
