Literary+Devices-Dr.+Heidegger's+Experiment

Literary Devices
 * Dr. Heidegger's Experiment**

3rd person, limited
 * Point of View:**

Dr. Heidegger
 * Protagonist:**

Round, static
 * What type of character is the Protagonist?**

HImself
 * Antagonist:**

A dark, musky office. Very good fashioned, dimly lit. I think it would would the early 20th century, judging by the language used and the room described.
 * Describe the setting**

man vs. man
 * Type of Conflict:**

Indecision; Dr. Heidegger is deciding whether or not he wants to return to his youth by using the 4 who took the eternal-youth-water as pawns, as reflections of himself.
 * Describe the main conflict:**

When the vase spills it's contents. It causes mayhem and Dr Heidegger is now solid in his belief. He mentions that, even if it had spilled at his door step, he would never stoop down to bathe his lips in it.
 * Describe the Climax of the Story:**

He has confirmed that he doesn't want to return young and feels sligthtly frustrated by the actions of the others who returned young.
 * How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?**

The theme seems very scientific and de-humanized, as if r. Heidegger is using his friends as guinea pigs. He saw them as subjects, not people.
 * Describe the relationship between the title and the theme.**

HIs conflict, i.e., deciding if he wants to remain old, or turn young again. I believe it relates to the theme, because he is being responsible and realizing he would make the same mistakes BEFORE he returns to youth.
 * How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme?**

It represents the beginning of the experiment
 * How does the climax help to illustrate the theme?**


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


 * Simile**: "A visage as faded as her dress"


 * Metaphor**: "Whose eccentricity had become the nucleus for a thousand fantastic stories"


 * Personification**: "As if the flower were reviving from a deathlike slumber"


 * Symbol**: The rose. It was what started the illusion of the elixir working. It was a magic trick that got the better of the 4 subjects, and it represented a point in time the Dr. wanted to re-visit.

-When Dr. Heidegger brings the eternal-youth-water into context. It suggests that it will later be consumed.
 * Foreshadowing** (give both elements):

How the subjects believed in something so strongly despite having thought Dr Heidegger at first.
 * Irony**:

"The sunshine came through the window, directly across the vase."
 * Imagery**:

Part of humanity is the desire, nay, the need for believing in things. Sometimes, you can make yourself believe anything. For example, a turning point that kind of represented the end of my innocence is when I realized that Santa Claus is not real. To this day, I want to believe that he is, but I know it's impossible. I don't believe, because, perhaps, I have to maturity or common sense to know the truth. The 4 subjects in the experiment wanted to believe so badly, and their desire became stronger than their common sense.
 * Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story.**


 * Questions**:

1. The purpose of the Dr's experiment was to see whether or not he should drink the water, and return to his youth, the glory days. 2. The members of the experiment had all made horrible mistakes to ruin their almost perfect youth. The are now old, bored, and regret-filled people who feel that youth is the only way to happiness. 3. Dr. Heidegger wouldn't stoop to sip the water on his doorstep, because he matured with age, and is happy where he is. He isn't desperate to return young, and doesn't intend to embarrass himself with the idea of returning to his "prime". 4. The narrator is maybe a nephew or niece of Dr. Heidegger. The Dr had no children, so a strong relationship with a younger relative is highly plausible. I believe the narrator wasn't present at the experiment, because he is unsure of some details. However, he knew exactly what the room looked like, and if he were a relative, it would make sense for him to have at one point been in the room. 5. One of the objectives in the book is that when making decisions, you have to think about the future, as well as the present. If you make a bad decision, it will haunt you forever. That being said, making a good one will stay with you forever, too. All of the members of the experiment had made big mistakes and have come to regret them. Maybe had they thought things through, they wouldn't be so resentful. 7. I would hate to have an eternal life. A short life span challenges you to be the best you could possibly be, pushing you towards jumping at opportunities and living life the fullest. If you had forever, yes, you would probably see so much more, but it wouldn't mean as much, because you had a hundred chances to do it. Also, I would want to grow old with my husband and watch our children and grandchildren grow up. I would want to live through every stage e.g. young adulthood, middle age, senior citizen, and eventually, elderly. I would want to experience the prime-time 30s, as well as the "golden years", where I sit on a rocking chair yelling at trespassing youngsters.