Introduction
Unbelievably, it’s 2022 and nearly the end of another school year. My students commented that they went “stalked” my blog and said that I have not published anything in a LONG time. LOL! They’re not wrong. So, please allow me to jump on the Way-Back Machine and post a couple of their essays from earlier this school year.
Writing Task
You have read the short story “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes about a man named Charlie Gordon who undergoes surgery to increase his intelligence. On March 6 and April 22 of the story, Charlie undergoes a Rorschach Test. Write an essay about what is different in Charlie’s mood during each test. Provide evidence to support why Charlie’s mood has changed.
Student Response #1
Has something ever just not made sense or didn’t click then later on it just suddenly made sense? In “Flowers for Algernon,” a short story by Daniel Keyes, Charlie Gordon undergoes surgery to raise his intelligence. Initially, this surgery seems to be successful; however, later on, he starts to deteriorate at a rapid pace both mentally and physically. As people start to feel bad for him, he decides to pack up and move away. In the story, Charlie undergoes two Rorschach Tests. During the first test, Charlie is very discouraged and shows no imagination, while during his second test, he was angry and started to use his imagination.
During the first Rorschach test, Charlie is discouraged because he can’t see anything in the inkblots because he has no imagination. He said, “I dint see nuthing in the ink but he said there was picturs there other pepul saw some picturs” (Keyes 352). The author also states, “He said what does it remind you-pretend somthing. I closd my eyes for a long time to pretend. I told him i pretned a fowntan pen with ink leeking all over a table cloth” (Keyes 352). After seeing the inkblots, he is discouraged because he was being told that he should be able to see pictures but he didn’t. The reader can see this because of the tone of the writing; his tone is very discouraged. Charlie doesn’t have an imagination. He doesn’t see anything in the inkblots. He just sees the ink that is there. He needed to learn to think outside the box. He struggled because he is slower mentally, so he struggled to think normally let alone outside the box.
Later, during the second test, he was very angry, but he was using his imagination as Charlie states, “‘Pictures. Hidden in the inkblots. Last time you told me that everyone could see them and you wanted me to find them to’…He explained to me that the last time he had almost used the same amount of words as was using now. I didn’t believe it, and I still have the suspicion that he misled me at that time just for the fun of it” (Keyes 363). The passage also states, “We went through the cards slowly. One of them looked like a pair of bats tugging at something. Another looked like two men fencing with swords. I imaged all sorts of things” (Keyes 364). Charlie got very mad because he thought he was lied to and that he failed the first one because of it. Though he had had his surgery, this hadn’t been long after. He was still working on learning to think in different ways. He thought that he was going to get a grade like A+ or B-. He didn’t understand that it wasn’t that way. He also was starting to learn to use his imagination because he saw things in the inkblots and said that he could keep going on, and on, and on for hours.
When one considers Charlie being discouraged and not having an imagination during the first Rorschach Test then being angry and having an imagination during the second, one can see that the operation changed Charlie. Thinking outside the box was hard for Charlie even after his surgery. But to succeed in life, you need to do hard things. After you have done the hard thing, it is worth the reward.
Student Response #2
Have you ever had to take a test? Chances are you have, but the real question is have you ever taken one like Charlie Gordon? There is a dramatic difference in Charlie’s responses to the Rorschach tests. The first Rorschach test caused Charlie confusion and he didn’t quite understand what was being asked of him. When the second Rorschach test was given Charlie quickly picked up on what he was supposed to do and showed great improvement.
During the March 6th Rorschach test, Charlie had no imagination and he couldn’t see the pictures that everyone else saw as Charlie explained, “I dint see nuthing in the ink but he said there was picturs there other pepul saw some picturs” (Keyes 3). This shows that Charlie cannot yet understand the concept of the test, which makes him feel defeated because he wants to be normal like everyone else.
During the April 22nd Rorschach test, Charlie’s imagination has grown to new levels and he can now believe beyond his knowledge. He can also see the pictures and better understand the test as he stated, “One of them looked like two pair of bats tugging at something” (Keyes 99). This shows Charlie’s progress and the dramatic effect the operation has taken on his imagination and mind. Charlie is now able to understand the test and imagine pictures giving the doctors knowledge and hope for what is yet to come in Charlie’s future.
Over time, Charlie’s imagination and knowledge have grown to great lengths. He has gained knowledge and understanding of the test over a short period of time. Charlie’s progress proves that there was a dramatic difference between the first and second tests.
Writing Details
I felt both of these responses offered something unique and were worth sharing.
Many students despise writing. Including these two students more than likely.
However, as they gain confidence, I hope they see their potential as I do. Both of these students show so much promise even if they do not yet see it themselves.
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