Flowers For Algernon Compare And Contrast

When it comes to Flowers For Algernon, there are some key differences between the novel and film versions that are worth noting. For starters, in the book, Charlie is only given intelligence-boosting surgery because he is part of an experiment. In the film, however, Charlie volunteers for the surgery after hearing about its potential benefits.

Another key difference has to do with how each story portrays Charlie’s relationship with Alice. In the novel, Alice is shown to be distant and even cold towards Charlie before his surgery. However, in the film version, Alice is shown to be more supportive and loving towards Charlie from the start.

Finally, the endings of both the novel and film differ quite significantly. In Flowers For Algernon, the book ends with Charlie becoming increasingly paranoid and unstable. In contrast, the film ends with Charlie living a relatively normal life after his surgery. Although both endings are bittersweet in their own ways, the film’s ending is arguably more satisfying.

Many well-known novels are frequently turned into television movies. The fantastic fiction novel Flowers for Algernon, written by Daniel Keyes, was subsequently transformed into a dramatic television film. Flowers For Algernon is the story of a mentally disabled person who gains awareness through scientific progress. This emotionally moving book was converted to TV in order to appeal to a larger audience and

In Flowers for Algernon, the main character is Charlie Gordon. He is a 32-year-old man with an IQ of 68. He works at a bakery and his dream is to be smart. When he is given the opportunity to have an experimental operation that will increase his intelligence, he jumps at the chance.

The surgery is a success and Charlie’s IQ increases to 185. However, as he becomes more intelligent, he realizes that the people who claimed to be his friends only liked him because he was dumb. He also realizes that the girl he loves, Alice Kinnian, only loves him because she feels sorry for him. As Charlie becomes more intelligent, he becomes more alone and miserable.

In the film adaptation of Flowers for Algernon, the character of Charlie Gordon is played by Cliff Robertson. Unlike the Charlie Gordon in the novel, the film version of Charlie is not as loveable. He is shown to be rude and insensitive to others. For example, after his surgery, he makes fun of his co-worker, Frank. He also breaks up with Alice Kinnian even though she is still in love with him. In general, the film version of Charlie Gordon is not as likable as the novel’s Charlie Gordon.

Charlie gets a brain operation that has the potential to raise his IQ by three times. There are many differences between the film and book. In the novel, Charlie’s tale takes place in the 1960s, but in the movie it happens in the 1980s. Another change is that while Charlie in the book gave progress reports to demonstrate his development, Charlie in the movie doesn’t really give progress reports.

The book is also from Charlie’s point of view but the movie is not. And lastly, in the book Flowers for Algernon only becomes smart for a limited time but in the movie he stays smart. There are some similarities too. The surgery still goes bad in both and they both have to go back to being normal. They’re also both embarrassed about what they did when they were smart. So overall, the book and movie have many differences but they are still similar in some ways.

Both the book and film versions of Flowers for Algernon have comparable plots. They both feature a mentally handicapped middle-aged man named Charlie Gordon who gets a boost to his intellect through an operation. Charlie’s IQ grows beyond human normality, suggesting that the study was successful. In both the movie and novel, Dr. Strauss was mortified to admit that Charlie outsmarted him.

In the novel, Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss are bewildered when Charlie improves the design of their experiment.

However, there are also key differences between the two works. In the film, Flowers for Algernon is told from Charlie’s perspective through his journal entries. The novel is told from a third person omniscient perspective. This means that readers are able to see into the thoughts of all the characters, not just Charlie.

The film Flowers for Algernon was released in 1968 and starred Cliff Robertson as Charlie Gordon. The novel Flowers for Algernon was released in 1966 and was written by Daniel Keyes.

Both the novel and film have been widely acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. Flowers for Algernon is a heartwarming story that tugs at the heartstrings and makes audiences think about what it means to be human.

The title character, Algernon, is not a person in the script. Strauss is presented as callous in the narrative. In the tale, Charlie’s personality isn’t obvious.

The film Flowers for Algernon was released in 1968 and starred Cliff Robertson as Charlie Gordon. The film was directed by Robert Ellis Miller. The screenplay was written by Stirling Silliphant and based on the novel Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.

The story Flowers for Algernon is about a laboratory mouse who has undergone surgery to increase intelligence. The film follows the same general plot, but there are some key differences between the two versions.

Algernon is not a character in the script. In the novel, Algernon is another laboratory mouse who has undergone the same surgery as Charlie. He is initially presented as being more intelligent than Charlie, but as Charlie’s intelligence increases, Algernon’s diminishes. This is not shown in the film.

In the story, Strauss is presented as being uncaring and uninterested in Charlie’s well-being. In the film, Strauss is more caring and interested in Charlie’s progress.

Charlie’s personality is not as clear in the story as it is in the film. In the novel, he comes across as being shy and withdrawn. In the film, he is more assertive and determined to improve his situation.

The main difference between the story and script versions of Flowers for Algernon is that the character of Algernon is not present in the script. Additionally, Strauss is shown as being more caring in the film than he is in the novel. Charlie’s personality is also more developed in the film than it is in the novel.

More Essays

  • Flowers For Algernon Character Analysis Essay
  • Flowers for Algernon
  • Compare And Contrast Alice In Wonderland Essay
  • Compare And Contrast The Pearl And Coyotito Essay
  • How Does Intelligence Change Charlies Personality Research Paper
  • Compare And Contrast Anthem Vs Book Anthem Essay
  • Compare And Contrast The Jungle Book Essay
  • Treasure Island Compare And Contrast Essay
  • Zlateh The Goat Compare And Contrast Analysis Essay
  • Rise Of The Guardian Compare And Contrast Essay

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › Disability Studies › Analysis of Daniel Keyes’s Flowers for Algernon

Analysis of Daniel Keyes’s Flowers for Algernon

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on May 24, 2021

“Flowers for Algernon,” first published in 1959, is considered a landmark work in both science fiction and disability literature. It was expanded into a novel of the same name, which was published in 1966. Both the short story and the novel consist of a series of progress reports that track Charlie Gordon, a 37-year-old man suffering from mental retardation, through an experimental procedure designed to triple his I.Q. Charlie is the first human to receive the operation, though it has been successfully completed on a laboratory mouse, Algernon. Charlie’s early reports are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors; a month after the operation, the reports are grammatically correct. Within two months Charlie complains that the doctors in charge of the experiment cannot read Hindustani and Chinese. This rapid growth in intelligence from an I.Q. of 68 to triple that figure is accompanied by a crippling isolation from other people. A decline in his intelligence is first predicted by Algernon’s rapid regression, and Charlie soon conducts experiments into his own condition. He finds that his regression will be as rapid as his ascent to genius. The last progress reports are similar in style to those at the beginning, and Charlie closes the story by telling the doctors that he will be leaving New York, presumably to enter a state-operated home.

Experimentation is the predominant theme in “Flowers for Algernon.” At the height of his intelligence, Charlie complains that Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur, the doctors conducting the experiment, are not the mental giants he once perceived them to be. Some of his complaining can be accurately perceived as hubris—his aforementioned complaint about the professors’ knowledge of foreign languages is certainly unreasonable, considering their wide reading knowledge in Western languages. Much of Charlie’s observations about the doctors, though, can be interpreted as a nuanced critique on the medical establishment. The doctors argue at several points in the story, and the arguments reveal that they are often more interested in self-advancement than in Charlie’s development. Dr. Nemur is especially held to ridicule because he is primarily driven by his wife’s prodding. If the doctors are in a certain sense using Charlie, then the parallelism between him and Algernon takes on more significance. In the short story, Charlie is implicitly similar to Algernon because the doctors use him for advancement of their careers. The novel makes this theme more explicit through confrontations between Charlie and Dr. Nemur about the latter’s attitude toward the former. Dr. Nemur states that Charlie is a new creation of sorts, that he has achieved personhood through the experiment.

compare and contrast essay flowers for algernon

Daniel Keyes/Los Angeles Times

Charlie’s status as experimental subject comes into focus at the end of “Flowers for Algernon,” when he researches the consequences of the experiment conducted that made him a genius. The turning point in both the short story and the novel happens in a diner: A retarded young man breaks a plate and the customers, including Charlie, laugh at him. The moment defines the rest of the story because Charlie realizes how deeply he has isolated himself from other people during his ascent to genius. Although he has gained many gifts, he has also lost his meaningful relationships; thus, the connection with the retarded young man motivates Charlie to pursue research for the betterment of all who suffer from retardation. His research is set in opposition to the research of Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur because it is conducted solely to improve the lives of other people. Moreover, Charlie readily accepts his discouraging conclusion— namely, that the experiment conducted on him has no practical value because of the swift regression into retardation—and asks that the results be published. Charlie’s research can be read, therefore, as a commentary on medical experimentation and a call to consider the subjects involved—particularly those with limited abilities—as individuals.

The emphasis on experimentation in “Flowers for Algernon” can largely be explained by its roots in science fiction. Critics have observed that the experiment conducted on Charlie and his subsequent regression into mental retardation indicate that “Flowers for Algernon” properly belongs in the science fiction genre. Moreover, the short story and the novel won the most prestigious awards in science fiction (respectively, the Hugo award and the Nebula award).

“Flowers for Algernon” can also be classified as disability literature because its explorations delve into fundamental questions about the place of disabled people in modern American society. Charlie’s descriptions of other retarded people are telling—he speaks of vacant smiles and empty eyes. This perception is remarkably similar to Dr. Nemur’s assertion in the novel that Charlie did not properly exist as a person before the experiment. Disability remains an important public policy issue, which contributes to the enduring popularity of “Flowers for Algernon.”

BIBLIOGRAPHY Biklen, Douglas. “Constructing Inclusion: Lessons from Critical, Disability Narratives.” International Journal of Inclusive Education 4 (2000): 337–353. Clareson, Thomas D. Understanding Contemporary American Science Fiction: The Formative Period, 1926–1970. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1990, 231–233. Keyes, Daniel. Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer’s Journey. New York: Harvest-Harcourt, 2004. Moser, Patrick. “An Overview of Flowers for Algernon.” In Exploring Novels. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale, 1998. Rabkin, Eric S. “The Medical Lessons of Science Fiction.” Literature and Medicine 20 (2001): 13–25. Scholes, Robert. Structural Fabulation: An Essay on Fiction of the Future. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1975. Small, Robert, Jr. “Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.” In Censored Books: Critical Viewpoints, edited by Nicholas J. Karolides, Lee Burress, and John M. Kean, 249–255. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1993. Whittington-Walsh, Fiona. “From Freaks to Savants: Disability and Hegemony from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1933) to Sling Blade (1997).” Disability & Society 17 (2002): 695–707.

Share this:

Categories: Disability Studies , Literature , Short Story

Tags: American Literature , Analysis of Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon , appreciation of Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon , criticism of Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon , Daniel Keyes , Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon , Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon analysis , Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon criticism , Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon guide , Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon notes , Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon plot , Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon summary , essays of Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon , guide of Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon , Literary Criticism , notes of Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon , Science Fiction , summary of Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Flowers for Algernon

Daniel Keyes

  • Literature Notes
  • Essay Questions
  • Book Summary
  • About Flowers for Algernon
  • Character List
  • Summary and Analysis
  • PROGRIS RIPORT 1 MARTCH 3-PROGRIS RIPORT 6TH MAR 8
  • PROGRESS REPORT 7 MARCH 11
  • PROGRESS REPORT 8
  • PROGRESS REPORT 9-PROGRESS REPORT 10
  • PROGRESS REPORT 11-PROGRESS REPORT 12
  • PROGRESS REPORT 13
  • PROGRESS REPORT 14
  • PROGRESS REPORT 15
  • PROGRESS REPORT 16
  • PROGRESS REPORT 17
  • Character Analysis
  • Charlie Gordon
  • Alice Kinnian
  • Mr. Donner, Frank, and Gimpy
  • Matt Gordon
  • Rose Gordon
  • Norma Gordon
  • Daniel Keyes Biography
  • Critical Essays
  • Themes in Flowers for Algernon
  • Ethical Issues in Flowers for Algernon
  • Full Glossary for Flowers for Algernon
  • Cite this Literature Note

Study Help Essay Questions

1. The short story that this novel has been expanded from was originally written in 1959. It was published in a science-fiction magazine and classified as such. What was happening in the world of science in the late 50s and early 60s? What products were introduced during that time that are now common place?

2. The main setting for this story is New York City. Many land-marks, such as Times Square, enable the reader to visualize the location. Which settings are fictional and which are pre-sent still today? What does the novel gain from this mix of real and fictional settings?

3. The combination of the progress reports and the memory re-gressions allow Keyes to use both a first and third person nar-ration technique. How would this novel be affected by having the story told by another character? Miss Kinnian? Professor Nemur? How important is the point of view to the story line?

4. The women in Charlie's life have a significant impact on his personality. Compare Charlie's mother, Rose Gordon, to Alice Kinnian. Both women encourage Charlie to "get smart," both women love him, and both women lose him. If their desire for his intelligence was the same, how was their motivation dif-ferent? And how did Charlie's relationship with his mother af-fect his relationship with Miss Kinnian?

5. This book contains a number of story lines that are circular; they end up where they began. Some might say that Charlie ends up where he began and Professor Nemur is back to his research, but are there loose ends that need to be tied up? Would you say that this novel is an extended metaphor for life? Why?

6. Does the maze that Charlie eventually beats Algernon at, in the beginning of the novel, foreshadow the problems that Charlie must face in his new world? Include the symbolism of the maze throughout the novel in your discussion, and con-clude with the reappearance of it, room-size, when Algernon and Charlie live on their own in New York.

7. Irony is defined as a combination of circumstances that result in the opposite of what is expected. Explain the irony in the situation when Charlie reunites with his mother. Do you think Keyes is laughing at Rose Gordon? Why or why not?

8. Flowers for Algernon was written shortly after Ralph Ellison published The Invisible Man . The main character in Ellison's book, a nameless black man in search of an identity, was in-visible due to his race. Charlie Gordon was invisible to main-stream society due to his mental handicap. Compare the two men's place in society at a time when both men struggled with inequalities and misperceptions.

9. What would probably happen to Charlie Gordon today? Would he have been mainstreamed into a regular classroom? What changes have been made in our society and legal system to make this novel at times politically incorrect? How do these changes benefit society as a whole, or do they?

10. Compare and contrast the novel Flowers for Algernon with the movie CHARLY . What specific elements of the story line are altered to make it more effective on the big screen? Do you think that the viewer or the reader has a better feel for Keye's intent? Why or why not?

11. Compare and contrast Charlie's personality before and after his surgery. Does more knowledge make him a better person? Compare the evolved Charlie's personality with Professor Nemur's during their argument at the psychological meeting.

12. Discuss whether you believe Charlie should have undergone the surgery at all. Was he better off for having done it, despite his eventual regression?

13. Contrast the concepts of family and friendship as explored in the novel.

14. Discuss which characteristics are most valuable in the original Charlie. Do you think these are lost when he eventually re-gresses following the surgery?

15. Is Mr. Donner a father figure to Charlie? Why or why not? In what ways do Charlie's bakery companions behave like fam-ily? How do you define family?

16. Discuss the relationship between Charlie and Algernon. What does Algernon mean to Charlie? How does Algernon's experi-ence relate to the use of animals in medical research today?

17. Do you believe that Professor Nemur's research assistant, Burt Seldon, was changed in any way by his experience with Charlie? Will Burt be more or less likely to engage in similar research in the future? Support your views with statements from the novel.

18. Analyze Charlie's response to Gimpy's shortchanging Mr. Donner at the bakery. Did Charlie do the right thing? How would you have handled the situation?

19. Charlie was fired from the bakery because he was making the other employees and bakery patrons uncomfortable with his newfound intelligence. Was this fair? Why or why not?

20. Charlie was rehired at the bakery after his regression, and worked there successfully for many years before his surgery. What does his firing and subsequent rehiring tell you about the perceived threat from knowledge and intelligence? How does the evolved Charlie's treatment by his peers relate to the treatment accorded very bright students and those seen as "nerds" in schools and communities today?

Previous Full Glossary for Flowers for Algernon

Next Cite this Literature Note

compare and contrast essay flowers for algernon

  • study guides
  • lesson plans
  • homework help

Compare & Contrast Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

1960s: The civil rights movement was in full force, with passage of legislation addressing discrimination against African Americans and increasing awareness of the rights of other oppressed groups, including the mentally handicapped. However, prejudice was still widespread, and there was as yet little to no legal protection for mentally handicapped persons.

Today: Legislative and legal protection for the mentally handicapped 1S extensive, while public sensitivity to the rights of the handicapped has increased markedly. Terms such as "retarded" and "feeble-minded" have been replaced with less negatively-charged terms such as "mentally challenged" and "developmentally disabled." However, civil rights as a whole is in a volatile period, as the public at large seems increasingly resistant to the demands of minority groups.

1960s: Psychoanalysis is increasingly accepted as a means of dealing with mental illness, while the theories of Sigmund Freud enjoy widespread public awareness and acceptance...

(read more)

View Flowers for Algernon Topics for Further Study

FOLLOW BOOKRAGS:

Follow BookRags on Facebook

Study Like a Boss

Flowers For Algernon – Comparing And Contrasting

Many popular novels are often converted into television movies. The brilliant fiction novel, Flowers for Algernon written by Daniel Keyes, was developed into a dramatic television film. Flowers for Algernon is about a mentally retarded man who is given the opportunity to become intelligent through the advancements of medical science. This emotionally touching novel was adapted to television so it could appeal to a wider, more general audience. Although the novel and film are similar in terms of plot and theme, they are different in terms of characters .

The plot of both the novel and film version of Flowers for Algernon share common similarities. They both feature a retarded middle-aged man, Charlie Gordon, who receives an operation to heighten his intelligence. Charlie’s IQ eventually surpasses human normalcy to reveal that the experiment did prove successful. In both the film and novel, Charlie became even more intelligent than the professors who worked with him. In the film, Dr. Strauss was embarrassed to reveal that Charlie was smarter than him.

That played a milestone event in Charlie’s identification of himself. Slowly his intelligence began to decrease and he eventually returned to his original state of mind. Throughout the story, Charlie encountered many different emotions that he had never experienced before because he didn’t have the common knowledge to understand them. The episode when he was at the nightclub with his co-workers gave him the opportunity to experience betrayal and anger. “I never knew before that Joe and Frank and the others liked to have me around just to make fun of me” (Keyes 30).

The plot for both versions also carefully depicted Charlie’s psychological traumas that he suffered after his operation. These outbursts were often caused by romantic anxiety and the painful memories he would recall. Whenever Charlie got intimate with Alice he would tend to get extremely nervous or have a hallucination, causing him to ruin the moment. “I dropped a fork, and when I tried to retrieve it, I knocked over a glass of water and spilled it on her dress” (56). One of Charlie’s most painful memories was the one about the locket incident. Both versions did a great job of emphasizing this particular moment.

His clothes are torn, his nose is bleeding and one of his teeth is broken” (38). These flashbacks occurred many times in the novel yet the film brought the moment to life and helped to connect the viewer to Charlie’s emotions. It is evident to see that the plots of both the film and novel have their similarities. The theme for the film and novel of Flowers for Algernon was intolerance. Intolerance can be defined as a lack of tolerance for a person. Throughout the novel, Charlie was mistreated by people who did not give him the patience he needed.

Charlie was shown a great deal of intolerance when the workers at the bakery turned against him. He had always been a dedicated, hard worker at the bakery and Mr. Donner fired him because the other men felt inferior towards him. “All of a sudden you’re a big shot, a know-it-all, a brain” (74). “You got a nerve” (74). Charlie soon realized that getting smarter worsened his life and changed his original beliefs. At first he thought if he became smarter he would have more friends but eventually he realized how cruel and unjust society could be. Charlie was also rejected by his mother Rose.

When Charlie was a child, she would often scold him, yet he never knew any better. She was a bitter woman who wanted Charlie to leave when he was just a little boy . “Do you think this is easy? Why are you making it harder for me? All these years everyone telling me he should be put away. Well, they were right. Put him away. Maybe at the Home with his own kind he’ll have something. I don’t know what’s right or wrong anymore” (119). In the film it was more evident of how painful these memories were because of Charlie’s expressions and emotions.

The similar theme of intolerance was displayed throughout Charlie’s life. The film and novel of Flowers for Algernon showed a noticeable difference in characters. The film did not feature Fay or Norma. Although their characters were not present, their distinct and unique characteristics were evident among the other cast members. Fay Lillman was a very important character in the novel because she was responsible for exploring Charlie’s innocence through sexuality. She opened up Charlie’s wild side to the reader and caught our attention with her crazy and kinky traits.

Charlie even commented on her sanity when he first met her, “You’re a nut” (125). One night she managed to get Charlie alone and she seduced him. “She slipped her arms around me, waiting for me to do something” (133-134). The character of Fay was removed because the viewer would probably pay attention to Fay’s sexuality instead of the real meaning behind the story. Although she was exempted from the film, a portion of her personality was in the woman at the bar in the movie. Norma, Charlie’s sister, was another important character who wasn’t featured in the film.

She was part of the reason why Charlie was sent away. As a child she hated Charlie because he would constantly ruin things for her, like the A-Paper’ incident. “Not you. You don’t tell. It’s my mark, and I’m going to tell” (81). She always felt like Charlie was a nuisance as well “He’s like a baby” (81). In the film, Rose wasn’t as senile as the novel portrayed her. She seemed to have Norma’s sense of compassion from the novel which made her character rather puzzling. In conclusion, there was a difference of characters in the film.

Although the novel and film are similar in terms of plot and theme, they are different in terms of characters . Charlie’s emotions and personal trials were a large part of both plots because the whole story is about his personal maturation and experiences. Intolerance was an important issue in the life of Charlie Gordon because it was hard for him to be accepted anywhere else but the bakery. Although some of the original characters were removed from the film, their personalities were incorporated into that of another character.

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Related posts:

  • Flowers for Algernon
  • Flowers For Algernon
  • Essay of flowers for algernon
  • Flowers for Algernon – Review
  • Flowers for Algernon Summary
  • Key Facts about Flowers for Algernon
  • “Flowers for Algernon”, by Daniel Keyes
  • Flowers for Algernon Characters and Analysis
  • Flowers for Algernon Themes and Symbols
  • Flowers for Algernon Quotations and Analysis
  • Flowers For Algernon: Supplementary Book Review
  • The story “Flowers for Algernon”, by Daniel Keyes
  • Flowers For Algernon Compare And Contrast Essay

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Flowers For Algernon — Flowers For Algernon Character Analysis

test_template

Flowers for Algernon Character Analysis

  • Categories: Flowers For Algernon

About this sample

close

Words: 752 |

Published: Mar 14, 2024

Words: 752 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Image of Dr. Charlotte Jacobson

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

author

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

  • Expert in: Literature

writer

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3.5 pages / 1676 words

2 pages / 887 words

6.5 pages / 3030 words

7 pages / 3276 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Flowers For Algernon

The novel "Flowers for Algernon" has poignant themes of identity, empathy, and intelligence. It presents essential ethical and moral considerations made throughout the narrative. By analyzing Keyes' work, society can better [...]

Intelligence is often viewed as a prized possession in modern society, with many individuals striving to enhance their cognitive abilities through education and other means. However, the ethical implications of pursuing [...]

What defines a "hero" can vary immensely, depending on whom you ask: some heroes can be veterans who fight for their country, while others can just be common citizens who help and save others. But could someone who survives a [...]

“There is no such thing as a free lunch,” an old adage says; there are often hidden costs behind seemingly harmless offers. Bars in the late 1800’s often advertised “free” lunch if a customer bought one of their drinks. However, [...]

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes suggests when putting with the motivation you will have to strive in order to complete the goal. During the book, Charlie was faced with 3 main stages of life to make it to his end goal which [...]

In the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell uses several literary techniques to develop the theme that totalitarianism is destructive. He does so by using extensive imagery, focusing on the deterioration of the Victory Mansions, [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

compare and contrast essay flowers for algernon

IMAGES

  1. "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes Essay Sample

    compare and contrast essay flowers for algernon

  2. Flowers For Algernon Compare And Contrast Characters

    compare and contrast essay flowers for algernon

  3. The Play of Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon Free Essay Example

    compare and contrast essay flowers for algernon

  4. Compare & Contrast Flowers For Algernon & Of Mice And Men. by erik

    compare and contrast essay flowers for algernon

  5. Flowers For Algernon Movie Comparison Worksheet Answers

    compare and contrast essay flowers for algernon

  6. "Flowers For Algernon" Graphic Essay by Anthony Low

    compare and contrast essay flowers for algernon

VIDEO

  1. Review

  2. Flowers For Algernon

  3. Flowers for Algernon

  4. flowers for algernon

  5. "flowers for algernon theme

  6. Compare Contrast Essay Insight

COMMENTS

  1. Flowers For Algernon Compare And Contrast Essay

    In Flowers For Algernon, the book ends with Charlie becoming increasingly paranoid and unstable. In contrast, the film ends with Charlie living a relatively normal life after his surgery. Although both endings are bittersweet in their own ways, the film's ending is arguably more satisfying. Many well-known novels are frequently turned into ...

  2. Analysis of Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon

    By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on May 24, 2021. "Flowers for Algernon," first published in 1959, is considered a landmark work in both science fiction and disability literature. It was expanded into a novel of the same name, which was published in 1966. Both the short story and the novel consist of a series of progress reports that track Charlie ...

  3. Flowers For Algernon Compare And Contrast Essay

    The movie, Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keyes, is not true to the short story, either. There are many reasons for why this is. There are many reasons for why this is. There are similarities and differences all throughout the movie.

  4. Flowers for Algernon Analysis

    The Plot. Flowers for Algernon unfolds in a series of diary entries. In the first, dated "martch 3," Charlie describes himself as a thirty-two-year-old man who works at a bakery and attends ...

  5. Flowers for Algernon: Suggested Essay Topics

    Suggestions for essay topics to use when you're writing about Flowers for Algernon. ... Compare and contrast the characters of Professor Nemur and Dr. Strauss. How do their reactions to Charlie's intelligence differ? ... Ace your assignments with our guide to Flowers for Algernon! BUY NOW. Please wait while we process your payment. Unlock ...

  6. How do the "Flowers for Algernon" short story and movie compare and

    This was one of the most interesting things in the novel because we could literally see his transformation through his progress reports as he changed from that of a child to that of a genius and ...

  7. Flowers for Algernon and Charly Comparison

    Keyes's Flowers. There are a few impertinent differences in the film version Charly. First, Dr. Strauss is a woman in the film, which provides a more motherly appeal to Charly's operation and post-operative evaluations. Besides the fact that Strauss is a psychologist, she is very worried that Dr. Nemur is pushing him too far intellectually and ...

  8. Essay Questions

    Compare and contrast the novel Flowers for Algernon with the movie CHARLY. What specific elements of the story line are altered to make it more effective on the big screen? Do you think that the viewer or the reader has a better feel for Keye's intent? Why or why not? 11. Compare and contrast Charlie's personality before and after his surgery.

  9. Compare & Contrast Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

    Compare & Contrast Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Daniel Keyes This Study Guide consists of approximately 84 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Flowers for Algernon.

  10. PDF Flowers for Algernon Text

    "Flowers for Algernon." You will then read an excerpt from the script for a film adaptation of the story. Finally, you will compare the short story and the script. Flowers For Algernon (short story) About the Author Raised in Brooklyn, New York, writer and teacher Daniel Keyes (1927-2014) was also a photographer, a merchant seaman, and an ...

  11. Flowers For Algernon Compare And Contrast

    209 Words. 1 Page. Open Document. The story Flowers for Algernon has both similarities and differences with the film version Charly, such as Charlie attending night school and going through testing, Charlie and Ms. Kinnian falling in love with each other, and Charlie's friends teasing him. Just like in the story, Charlie attends night school ...

  12. Flowers for Algernon: An Analysis: [Essay Example], 752 words

    The novel "Flowers for Algernon" has poignant themes of identity, empathy, and intelligence. It presents essential ethical and moral considerations made throughout the narrative. By analyzing Keyes' work, society can better understand the challenges that the developmentally disabled population faces today. Keyes' novel has helped to shed light ...

  13. Flowers For Algernon Compare And Contrast

    Flowers For Algernon and Charley have the same characters for the most part. Charlie/Charley is the main character of both works, with the exception of a petty spelling difference that in the film it is spelt as Charley rather than Charlie. Mr. Gordon's occupation of Flowers For Algernon and Charley are quite disparate.

  14. Compare And Contrast Essay On Flowers For Algernon

    In this essay I am writing of intelligence and how it is in correlates to the book Flowers for Algernon. My main points of this essay are to identify the effects if knowledge. I believe that our society today we do not put enough importance on intelligence. Learning can both benefit and harm us mentally.

  15. Flowers For Algernon Theme Analysis: [Essay Example], 641 words

    One of the central themes of "Flowers For Algernon" is the idea that intelligence can be both a gift and a curse. At the beginning of the story, Charlie Gordon is a mentally disabled adult with an IQ of 68. He yearns to be smarter and longs for acceptance in a world that often treats him as an outcast. When presented with the opportunity to ...

  16. Flowers For Algernon

    The brilliant fiction novel, Flowers for Algernon written by Daniel Keyes, was developed into a dramatic television film. Flowers for Algernon is about a mentally retarded man who is given the opportunity to become intelligent through the advancements of medical science. This emotionally touching novel was adapted to television so it could ...

  17. Compare and contrast Fay and Alice in "Flowers for Algernon".

    Get an answer for 'Compare and contrast Fay and Alice in "Flowers for Algernon".' and find homework help for other Flowers for Algernon questions at eNotes

  18. Compare And Contrast Flowers For Algernon

    Mr. Gordon's occupation of Flowers For Algernon and Charley are quite disparate. For example, in the condensed version of Flowers For Algernon Charlie works in a plastic manufacturing factory. While in the 1968 film Charley works in a bakery. Both in the book and film Algernon portrays a very witted and agile mouse.

  19. Flowers for Algernon: Study Guide

    Overview. "Flowers for Algernon" is a science fiction short story by Daniel Keyes that was first published in 1959. The novel is presented as a series of progress reports written by Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man who undergoes an experimental procedure to increase his intelligence. The story explores themes of intelligence ...

  20. Flowers For Algernon Comparison

    Flowers for Algernon Compare/Contrast Essay "Flowers for Algernon" is a short story by Daniel Keyes and the movie Charly, sends the message to not change for society. An example from both, the short story, and the movie, is that Charlie Gordon has a defect where he isn't smart like the others.

  21. Flowers For Algernon Compare And Contrast

    The characters being compared and contrasted are Noah from Phantoms in the Snow and Charlie Gordon from "Flowers For Algernon.". The first aspect of the similarities of the two characters is behavior, this is an aspect because both characters are good people, they never commit wrongdoings and they are always trying to do the right thing.

  22. Flowers for Algernon Character Analysis

    Get custom essay. In conclusion, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes provides a compelling exploration of the complexities of human nature through the character of Charlie Gordon. Through Charlie's transformation from a mentally disabled man to a highly intelligent but emotionally conflicted individual, the novel delves into the intricate ...

  23. Flowers For Algernon: Comparison Of Book And Movie

    178 Words1 Page. In the short story " Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes and the movie "Charly" have many differences and similarities. The short story and movie are about a guy named Charly Gordon. Charly is mentally challenged but has a operation later on. Here are a few examples about the comparison and contrast.