Lesson 16:

Analyze Character
Development and Irony in
“Flowers for Algernon”
RL8.1, RL8.3, RL8.6, RL8.10, W8.2a-f, W8.4,
W8.9a, W8.10, L8.1b, L8.2a, L8.2c, L8.3
Today we will:
● Read April 21-28 from “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes.
● Continue completing the before/after surgery chart and the irony tracker.
● Review character traits and analyze Charlie’s character.
● Determine the irony of what happens to Charlie as a result of the surgery.
 Read April
Add to your 21-May 18 Add to
before/after
surgery from your Irony
chart “Flowers for Tracker
Algernon.”
Character Traits
● Character traits describe a character on the inside.
● They're the same words that we might use to describe ourselves or others, but we're
using them to describe fictional characters.
● Authors show a character’s traits through:
○ Thoughts EXAMPLES:
○ Words ● adventurous
○ Feelings ● brave
● clever
○ Choices
● dependable
○ Actions ● energetic
● You must infer the character’s traits based on what they say, do, and think.
Character Traits - practice
Pay attention to the thoughts, words, feelings, actions, and choices of the
characters listed below.
● Captain America
● Shrek
● Princess Tiana
Characterization - Charlie Gordon
Complete your Characterization handout - front & back
 Flowers for
Algernon - Lesson
16 Questions
● Answer all six questions on your
chart
○ Cite textual evidence to
support your answers
Journal response -
ACE
Turn in this assignment today!
● Charlie has surgery to be like
others around him. What happens
as a result of the surgery? How is
this ironic?
○ Include evidence from the
text to support your answer.
 In this lesson, you learned more
about the results of Charlie’s
surgery.

You also analyzed how irony

impacts the reader and contributes
to the development of events and
characters in a text.