Dr.+Heidegger's+Experiment

Point of View: 3rd person

Protagonist: Dr. Heidegger

What type of character is the Protagonist? Round

Antagonist: The fountain of youth

Describe the setting: The setting is located in an old Doctor's study. The author describes into detail about how mysterious, old, and frightening his study is. He writes how it is covered with cobwebs and old dust, and how the room is dimly lite surrounded by old book cases full black portfolios and black-letter quartos. The overall look and feel of the setting is aimed at a mysterious study of a Doctor who's mind is slightly fading with age. This does add a mysterious feel to the beginning of the story and paints a detailed picture of the image in the readers mind. The story was set around 200 years ago.

Type of Conflict: Man vs. Himself

Describe the main conflict: I would say the main conflict is man vs. age, becasue all the subjects drinking the fountain of youth are battleing against their aging, and are trying to regain their youth.

Describe the Climax of the Story: The climax of the story is when the men smash the vase containing the fountain of youth.

How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? At the beginning he doesn't know if he wants to drink the fountain of youth. Near the end, when he sees how everyone acts when they regain their youth, he is positive he doesn't want to drink it.

Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. I feel the overall theam of the story is youth. Youth relates to the title, "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment", becuase the experiment is to test 4 subjects to see how they react to regaining their youth.

How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? The main conflict helps to illustrate the theme because the conflict is the four subjects not acting appropriately to regaining their youth, which helps to prove the theme of youth.

How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? The climax helps illustrate the theme in an ironic way. The climax is when they men knock over the vase containing the fountain of youth. They knock it over becasu e they are acting immaturely, but doing so they diminish the chances of perminately holding on to their youth.

Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):

Simile: "...with a visage as faded as her dress."

Metaphor: " They felt like new-created beings in a new-created universe"

Personification: "... as if the flower were reviving from a death like slumber..."

Symbol: The skeleton in the closet symbolizes a secret from past.

<span style="font-family: Helvetica; tabstops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">Foreshadowing (give both elements): When Dr. Heidegger tells the test subjects to remember the mistakes they made growing through their youth.

<span style="font-family: Helvetica; tabstops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">Irony: The subjects start to act immaturely after regaining their youth from the fountain of youth, but in the struggle destroy the vase containg the water.

<span style="font-family: Helvetica; tabstops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">Imagery: "...some of its delicate red leaves curled modestly around its moist bosom, within which two or three dewdrops were sparkling."

<span style="font-family: Helvetica; tabstops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. The three men are all fighting over the power/privilege of the woman.

1. According to Dr. Heidegger, what is the purpose of the experiment? Dr, Heidegger wanted to see the effects of the fountain of youth on the four subjects that were willing to drink it.

2. What do Dr. Heidegger's friends have in common? How does each of them behave during the experiment? They all went from being wealthy and high up in their youth, to falling under temptations and ruining their lives. During the experiment they all begin to act selfish, and not cherish the second chance they were given.

3. Why would Dr. Heidegger not stoop to bathe his lips in the Fountain of Youth? Do his friends feel the same way? Comment. He sees that becoming young again will not change who he is by observing the experiment. He does not wish to relive his past and would rather carry on in his present day life. Unlike Dr. Heidegger, his four friends would love to experience the perpetual feeling of youth. They are excited to go back to their younger years because they are so unhappy as old people

4. Who is the narrator of the story? Though he is not a participant in the experiment, the narrator relates all the details. How does he know what happened to the doctor and his friends? How certain of his facts is the narrator? The narrator of the story acts as if he is another character observing what is going on as the story takes place. He describes the situation and events but is uncertain of all the characters thoughts and views. It gives the affect that he story is being told of an event the narrator had witnessed long ago and was telling his children or friends.

5. What points are made about youth and aging in the story? Do you agree with the views in the story? Comment. I think the overall point of the story is that growing old is just a part of life and no one should try and avoid it, even if they are given the opportunity to do so. A lesson the story tries to put across in a unique way is that if given a second chance to fix a mistake you made long ago you should take it. Although it does not expect you to become young again and literally make the right choice when the situation is presented to you again, but merely live your life the right way instead of dwelling on a bad decision or decisions you might have mad long ago. Which is why i agree with the overall message of this story.

Completion: 4/5 Effort: 4/5 Content: 4/5 total: 12/15

Question Completion Mark:5/5

total 17/20