mouse Algernon

E801391

Mouse Algernon is the highly intelligent laboratory mouse whose experimental brain surgery and subsequent decline parallel the human protagonist’s journey in Daniel Keyes’s science fiction story "Flowers for Algernon."

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Label Occurrences
mouse Algernon canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (40)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fictional mouse
laboratory animal
literary character
appearsIn Flowers for Algernon NERFINISHED
associatedTheme ethics of human experimentation
human-animal comparison in scientific research
intellectual disability and identity
rise and fall of intelligence
associatedWithCharacter Charlie Gordon NERFINISHED
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
createdBy Daniel Keyes NERFINISHED
deathSignificance confirms the temporary nature of the intelligence experiment
diesIn Flowers for Algernon NERFINISHED
firstPublicationContext short story Flowers for Algernon (1959) by Daniel Keyes
gender male
genreOfWork psychological drama
science fiction
influences emotional tone of Flowers for Algernon
keptIn laboratory maze
languageOfWork English
laterAppearsIn novel Flowers for Algernon (1966) by Daniel Keyes NERFINISHED
medium science fiction literature
narrativeFunction embodies the temporary nature of artificial intelligence enhancement
foreshadows Charlie Gordon’s fate
notableTrait exceptional maze-running ability after surgery
marked increase in problem-solving intelligence
plotEvent exhibits erratic behavior as intelligence declines
shows early signs of regression before Charlie Gordon does
relationshipToProtagonist evokes emotional attachment from Charlie Gordon
serves as Charlie Gordon’s counterpart in the experiment
roleInWork experimental subject
symbolic parallel to protagonist Charlie Gordon
species mouse
symbolizes ethical costs of experimental science
fragility of human intellect
transience of artificially induced improvement
undergoes experimental brain surgery
intelligence enhancement procedure
usedAs symbol in literary criticism of Flowers for Algernon
teaching example in discussions of ethics in science fiction

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Charlie Gordon associatedWith mouse Algernon