Flowers for Algernon (Short Story) - structure and form

This story is constructed in diary form, which is advantageous for characterisation. Initially too naive to be self-conscious about his written thoughts and feelings, Charlie later keeps the diary in secrecy, thus writing can remain very personal. The sensation is one of eavesdropping on Charlie's most private introspections - hopes;fears - which fosters a strong connection between reader and character, a one way personal relationship.

From the story's beginning, vocabulary is very basic, strewn with spelling and grammatical errors. Charlie's frustration comes through in the tone of the writing (which indicates that it is strenuous even to commit these words to paper), as well as in everyday situations. His honest expression makes for easy communication of emotion to readers. ‘Their going to use me! I’m so e

Later, Charlie’s great rise in intelligence is described through similes. ‘ “…like giant steps on a ladder that take you up higher and higher to see more of the world around you…each step will open new worlds that you never knew existed.” ’ The sensation here is one of elation, as Charlie rises above the figurative plateau of the norm.

And so this story stands witness to the fact that, through delicate, almost scientific, manipulation, a short story’s elements of structure, diction, imagery, symbolism, narrative viewpoint and foreshadowing can congeal into a whole, far more emotionally compelling than might have been possible, had the story been written in less conscientious a fashion.

Very effective metaphors act to highlight Charlie’s recent stupidity, as well as his more recent state of transcendental intelligence. Re: ‘the mind of low intelligence peering from a dark room, through the keyhole, at the dazzling light outside.’ Charlie is made, in retrospect, to seem like a sad child trapped in the

Some topics in this essay:
, Adam Eve, Fanny Girden’s, dazzling light outside’, light outside’, charlie’s regression, dazzling light,