Flowers for Algernon Book Report
Flowers for Algernon is a novel written by Daniel Keyes and first published in 1966. It was originally a short story and, in the year 2000, was adapted into a film of the same name.
There are no direct references to the time period in which the story takes place, but it’s safe to assume that the events take place around the time the novel was written; the mid-1960s. In this novel, there are two primary settings, the main character’s room, where he writes in his journal, and the hospital, where he undergoes surgery and various examinations. A secondary setting is a small, family operated business named Donner’s Bakery where Charlie, the protagonist, works as a janitor and delivery boy. As the story develops, much of the action takes place in Charlie's room and the bakery, but gradually shifts towards the hospital and hospital-like settings (the laboratory). As the novel comes to a close, reverse progression takes place and the story reverts back to Charlie’s room and the bakery. The events of the story take place in New York City, with a brief episode in Chicago. In summary, Charlie Gordon, a mentally handicapped thirty-two-year-old, is chosen by a team of doctors and scientists to be a guinea pig for an experimental surgery designed to increase one’s intelligence. Alice Kinnian, Charlie’s teacher at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults, recommended Charlie for the experiment because of his intense desire to learn. Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur, who are in charge of the experiment, suggested that, if possible, Charlie keep a journal and write a new entry every day. Flowers for Algernon is composed entirely of Charlie’s journal entries which he titles “progress reports”. At Donner’s Bakery, the other employees pick on him, but Charlie fails to understand that he’s the subject of the mockery and, instead, considers his co-workers friends. Charlie undergoes his surgery after a multitude of tests. The most prominent test being a
There are no direct references to the time period in which the story takes place, but it’s safe to assume that the events take place around the time the novel was written; the mid-1960s. In this novel, there are two primary settings, the main character’s room, where he writes in his journal, and the hospital, where he undergoes surgery and various examinations. A secondary setting is a small, family operated business named Donner’s Bakery where Charlie, the protagonist, works as a janitor and delivery boy. As the story develops, much of the action takes place in Charlie's room and the bakery, but gradually shifts towards the hospital and hospital-like settings (the laboratory). As the novel comes to a close, reverse progression takes place and the story reverts back to Charlie’s room and the bakery. The events of the story take place in New York City, with a brief episode in Chicago. In summary, Charlie Gordon, a mentally handicapped thirty-two-year-old, is chosen by a team of doctors and scientists to be a guinea pig for an experimental surgery designed to increase one’s intelligence. Alice Kinnian, Charlie’s teacher at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults, recommended Charlie for the experiment because of his intense desire to learn. Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur, who are in charge of the experiment, suggested that, if possible, Charlie keep a journal and write a new entry every day. Flowers for Algernon is composed entirely of Charlie’s journal entries which he titles “progress reports”. At Donner’s Bakery, the other employees pick on him, but Charlie fails to understand that he’s the subject of the mockery and, instead, considers his co-workers friends. Charlie undergoes his surgery after a multitude of tests. The most prominent test being a