Dr+Heidegger's+Experiment

Short Stories - Literary DevisesTitle: DR HEIDEGGER"S EXPERIMENT

Point of View: limited Omniscient first Person

Protagonist: Dr Heidegger. He likes 'classical' knowledge (the a Hippocrates head) and doesn't particularly care about appearances ( dusty, cobwebby study)

What type of character is the Protagonist? Round Dynamic

Antagonist: Flat Dynamic The 'test drinkers' are static. Throughout the entire thing they always believe youth is better no matter what.

Describe the setting Dr Heidegger's study: an old fashioned room that is very dusty and full of curious things like a suspicious mirror and a skeleton. The time is about the the nineteenth century (leather and wood and silk/brocade dresses,odd speech like 'five and fifty years ago'). The time of day is just before sunset in the evening. The mood is kind of a place and people past it's time. They aren't in their best years and neither is the room.

Type of Conflict: Man (men/woman) vs themselves

Describe the main conflict: The 'test drinkers' fight aging, and their aging bodies and minds. They want to be young, but they have passed that time. And Dr h wants to see if he would take the Water.

Describe the Climax of the Story: When the water is spilt, because then they find out that without the container of Water it doesn't work, and they are't young after all. Even with the water, they are old.

How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? At the beginning, the Doctor is curious about the water, and possibly thinking about having some. After he sees the effect of the water and how they do not keep their knowledge and wisdom in their second youth, he decides it isn't wise.

Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. The title, Dr Heidegger's experiment, is about how people view aging and how opportunities can give new views on things. The 'test drinkers' didn't really overly mind they were old, until they realized they could be young. Like when you don't think you need something until an opportunity arises where you can get it. Also, and experiment is learning from your mistakes and the test drinkers did not. Dr h probably tried something once without testing it, and it somehow hurt him, so this time he tested it in his friends.

How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? The old people didn't really dare to hope to be young again, until there was a chance for it. Then they became addicted to it. When the Water spilt, they knew just how much they hated being old. The main conflict is the people against their aging ( themselves) and the loss of their new found return to youth reminded them just how awful it was for them to be old, and how they wanted youth.

How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? When the Water spilt, they realized just how much they wanted to be young and to fight their aging selves. They were fine with being old, until they were introduced to youth again, and they loved it and became addicted to it, them saw how much they missed it when it was gone.

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

Simile: 'black as ebony'


 * Metaphor:**

Personification: 'red leaves curled modestly around it's moist bosom'

Symbol: The rose symbolizes how the doctor loved Sylvia. He was recovering from her loss all his life and thought he could possibly be young and find love again if the Water worked, but he needed guinea pigs to see if it worked and when it was re-blossomed, he dared hope he could love again, then it dried, as his hope did.

Foreshadowing (give both elements): 'You might as well ask whether an old woman's wrinkled face could bloom again' says the widow, before they get the Water and the experience of a (possible) return to youth.

Irony: That they use champagne glasses for drink the Water. Champagne glasses are for fun and light and careless events, yet they are using it to return from old age. The Water is a serious matter, yet that is almost opposite from a normal use of a champagne glass. and 'Liquor of youth' when youth (kids) aren't really supposed to have liquor.

Imagery: 'deep and sad iniscriptions' meaning wrinkles

Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. Wanting something that is unattainable, and knowing that other people have what you want and what you once had but can't have again is humanity. The 'test drinkers' want youth, which they already had but wasted and want again. Regret is uniquely human. 1. The purpose of the experiment is to see if knowledge was brought with someone when they return to youth by drinking the water, which they don't. 2. Dr H's friends all wasted their years and made mistakes in life. When the water brought them back, they continued in their old ways. The widow looked first to the mirror, the Mr Medbourne started a business plan, Mr Gascoigne went to politics. 3. Dr H would not drink the Water because he knew through his experiment he would not have his current knowledge. He saw how his friends went back to rheir old ways. His friends would drink because they want youth no matter what. They don't see their mistakes and how they could fix them. 4. The narrator is someone like a servant or butler watching from outside the door or a window or something. They know about all the characters and perhaps embellishes some aspects of the story. Maybe he/she is retelling the tale to someone. The story about the chambermaid would be well known by an employee of the household. 5. The story has characters who view aging as the ultimate punishment, and one who accepts it. It may be trying to point out that youth is better because physical forms are better, but in older age, people have more knowledge and experience. 7. Living 800 years would be a burden on the planet because living longer means a longer impact on the environment. Not dying would hurt the cycle of life and death. Either people have to die, or no one can be born. Living and 800 year life would be terrible.