3. -A story or poem in which characters, settings,
and events stand for abstract ideas or moral
qualities
-Allegorical characters are often one-
dimensional, since they are meant to represent
only a particular aspect of human nature
-Allegories also contain a moral
11. -Is there a "moral" to this story? If so, what is it?
What is the point of the first-person narration here (as opposed to
third-person)?
-Do you take the narrator to be Hawthorne, or some fictional
character?
-Is "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" meant to be funny at all?
Where do you see humor in this text, and what is the effect of
such humor on your reading of the story?
-Is Dr. Heidegger a likeable character? A sinister one? As a
reader, do you relate more to him or to his guests?
-You've heard us argue both sides, but what's your final answer –
is the water in the vase really from the Fountain of Youth, or does
Dr. Heidegger just get his guests drunk?
