Dr.+Heidegger's+experiment

Short Stories - Literary Devises Title:Dr. Heidegger's experiment

Point of View: Third person

Protagonist: Dr. Heidegger

What type of character is the Protagonist? Round and dynamic character

Antagonist: 4guests and old age.

Describe the setting

Doctors study was placed in weird place where there is closet with skeleton inside and cobwebs and dust.

Type of Conflict: Man vs themseleves.

Describe the main conflict: The main conflict is Dr. Heidegger's internal conflict whether he should drink fountain of news. Then Doctor decided not to drink eat after watching his 4 guests making same mistakes again.

Describe the Climax of the Story: The climax of the story is when doctors guests drink fountain water.

How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? In the beginning of the story Dr. Heidegger is a weird and creepy man who wants to prove that people can change their behaviour when given a second chance to relieve. However when he tested his 4 guests with the fountain water of youth, He found out that his belief was not correct. Then he decided not to take fountain for himself.

Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. A theme of the story is that we should always try to live our lives fully because, like Dr. Heidegger's guest, it is possible to make same mistakes even after given second chance. The title, Dr. Heidegger's experiment relates with the theme because the Doctor once interested to drink fountain water before his experiment then he changed his mind. After the experiment,Dr. Heidegger decided to be happy with what he is now instead of wanting something in the past.

How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? When Dr. Heidegger's 4 friends had fountain of youths, they became young but they made same mistakes again and eventually they knocked over the vase while fighting each other. The fountain of waters effect was short and they became old again.After watching his 4 guests acting stupid and making same mistakes over and over Dr. Heidegger learned the fountain of water is not good for him. Howver his 4 guests learned nothing and went to Florida to find fountain of youth.

How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? The vase that was holding fountain of youth was smashed and shattered into many fragments. Then Dr. Heidegger's 4 guests became old shortly after. This tells us the fountain of water act only as an illusion, it is important to be happy with what we have right now.

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

Simile: As black as ebony

Metaphor: The skeleton is in the closet.

Personification: The statue's eyes followed me.

Symbol: The Rose(Flash rose symbolize love and youth. Dry and fragile rose fymbolizes that.)

Foreshadowing (give both elements): In the beginning in the story Dr. Heidegger's 4 friends each made a mistake and it is foreshadowing their behaviour when have fountain of youth they will make same mistake again

Irony: Dr. Heidegger's 4 guests lived for long time and supposed to be wise however they act foolish when their physical appears became young and made a same mistake just like they were young and immature.

Imagery: The sunshine came through the window, between the heavy festoons of to faded damask curtain.

Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. It is not a good idea to desire something against natural flow and live our lives passionaly and fully when given a first chance. The story Dr. Heidegger's experiment tell us it is meaning less to have second chance since 4 guests make a same mistakes again.

Completion 5/5 Effort 5/5 Content 4/5 Total: 14/15