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Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

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Student Question

In Flowers for Algernon, what three things does Charlie carry for luck?

Quick answer:

Charlie carries a rabbit's foot, a penny, and a horseshoe for luck. These items are traditional good luck charms, which he brings with him before undergoing experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. As he becomes more rational post-surgery, he abandons these superstitions, recognizing them as naive. However, when he loses his enhanced intellect, he considers reverting to his old beliefs and carrying the charms again.

Expert Answers

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Flowers for Algernon is 1966 critically acclaimed science fiction and epistolary novel written by American writer Daniel Keyes. The narrative was originally published in 1959 as a short story, which Keyes extended into a novel.

Both the story and the novel share a similar plot, following Charlie Gordon, a 32-year-old janitor and delivery man with an IQ of 68. Algernon is actually a laboratory mouse that is used in an experiment to enhance intelligence. The experiment is successful, and Charlie volunteers as the first human specimen to undergo the same experimental surgery, after which he gains a genius level IQ.

However, when Algernon suddenly loses his intelligence and dies, Charlie realizes that he too might be in danger and tries to figure out the problem in the experiment. Unfortunately, he fails and, just like Algernon, loses his enhanced intellect. Unable to get accustomed to his old life again, Charlie leaves New York and checks himself into the Warren State Home and Training School for the mentally handicapped.

Charlie always carries three items with him: a rabbit's foot, a penny, and a horse shoe. All of these items are commonly regarded as good luck charms, which is why Charlie decides to take them before he has his surgery. As he becomes smarter and starts to think more rationally, however, Charlie realizes that he was being naive and superstitious and decides to no longer carry these items. When he goes back to the way he was before the surgery, he thinks that maybe he should carry them again.

I got my rabits foot and my lucky penny and my horse shoe. Only a black cat crossed me when I was comming to the hospitil. Dr Strauss says dont be supersitis Charlie this is sience. Anyway Im keeping my rabits foot with me.

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