Flowers for Algernon: Analyzing Irony

The story being told through the journal writings of Charlie Gordon is an example of which of the following points of view?

• First Person P.O.V.

• Second Person P.O.V.

• Third Person P.O.V.

Carefully read the following quote from "Flowers for Algernon".

"Sometimes somebody will say hey look at Joe or Frank or George he really pulled a Charlie Gordon. I don't now why they say that but they always laff" (paragraph 35)

The following is an example of...

• Dramatic Irony

• Situational Irony

• Verbal Irony

Carefully read the following quote from "Flowers for Algernon".

"Sometimes somebody will say hey look at Joe or Frank or George he really pulled a Charlie Gordon. I don't now why they say that but they always laff" (paragraph 35)

When the author uses irony in this situation, he does so in order to... (select all that apply)

• Demonstrate how positively Charlie's coworkers perceive him

• Highlight Charlie's personality, and show how feeble-minded he is

• Create tension between Charlie and his coworkers

• Make readers laugh at Charlie

Carefully read the following quote from "Flowers for Algernon".

"Dr. Strauss says I shud rite down what I think and every 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..." (paragraph 1)

Based on the author's use of word choice -- consistently misspelled words -- and the fact that Charlie is 37 years old, the following is an example of...

• Dramatic Irony

• Situational Irony

• Verbal Irony

Carefully read the following two quotes from "Flowers for Algernon".

[Before Charlie's surgery] "Dr. Strauss says I shud rite down what I think and every 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..." (paragraph 1)

[After Charlie's surgery] "Nothing is happining...I hate that mouse. He always beats me...Thse inkblots are stupid. And these pictures are stupid too...I thot Dr. Strauss was my frend but he don't help me. He dont tell me what to think or when Ill get smart...I think writing these progress reports are stupid too." (paragraph 28)

The following is an example of...

• Verbal Irony

• Dramatic Irony

• Situational Irony

Recall Charlie's inability to identify images in the inkblots in paragraph #2-7.

Charlie's struggle is an example of...

• Dramatic Irony

• Situational Irony

• Verbal Irony