Charlie’s Mental Health
This is what Charlie does after school one day that makes him feel terrible about himself and end up crying (pg 133)
What is « return the book that Mary Elizabeth bought for him ? »
On page 157, Charlie and Patrick are sitting on the golf course and watching the sun disappear while drinking a bottle of wine. This is how Patrick was able to buy the wine.
What is a fake ID?
The type of movie that Mary Elizabeth takes Charlie to see on her first date, and the adjective she uses to describe it.
What is « an art film ? » and what is « articulate? »
Earlier in the section, Charlie mentions that he wrote a book report on Walden and sent it to his brother since his brother’s girlfriend loves the book. This is what Charlie’s brother’s girlfriend thinks of the book report.
What is « she never read it because they broke up? »
This is where Charlie and Sam make up their friendship, including the friendships with Patrick and the rest of the group.
Where is « At school, after Charlie gets out of detention? »
Charlie is upset when Sam, Patrick, and Mary Elizabeth attend the family dinner because…
What is « Charlie wanted this to be a time for his parents to meet and get to know Sam and Patrick, but it turned out that Mary Elizabeth talked the whole time, and his parents were more invested in her than in them? »
On page 146, Bob gives Charlie some advice about cigarettes. Name one of these tips that he gives him.
Multiple responses:
What is: « a halfway-lit cigarette means someone is thinking about you, if you’re smoking a cigarette with someone and you have a lighter, you have to light their cigarette first, if you are smoking with someone and you have matches, you should light your cigarette first to avoid them breathing in the harmful sulfur »
This is the book that Charlie gives Mary Elizabeth that she does not seem to like very much.
What is « To Kill a Mockingbird ? »
This is the excuse thar Charlie’s sister gives to Charlie’s parents to explain why they didn’t come home right after school.
What is « going to McDonald’s and the movies? »
This is what Patrick tells Charlie outside after he kisses Sam after truth or dare.
What is «Staying away for a while? »
The piece of advice that Charlie gets from Sam about Mary Elizabeth that has him second guess everything and thus makes him feel sad and upset.
A discussion will follow this question!
What is « be nice to Mary Elizabeth ? »
Charlie decides to do this as a coping mechanism after he has not seen his friends for a week.
A discussion will follow this question!
What is « calling Bob to ask for drugs »?
This is something Charlie and his sister did as kids, but only when their brother wasn’t around.
A discussion will follow this question!
What is « Painting his nails, using her dolls to make up plays, and watching anything Charlie wanted on TV? »
This is what Charlie’s father says to Charlie when he gets home at 1 AM after school when avoiding Mary Elizabeth’s phone call.
A discussion will follow this question!
What is « to act like a man? »
Charlie does not go straight home after school for a while, because he is trying to avoid…
In the beginning of the section, Charlie says, “I couldn’t let anyone see me cry” when sitting and waiting at the clinic for his sister because …
A discussion will follow this question!
Multiple responses: « Why the doctors would not let him drive her sister home, he did not want to let his sister down, etc »
This is some of the concerning behavior that Patrick begins to show towards the end of the section when he spends his evenings with Charlie.
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What is « drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes, and taking Mini Thins, which are drugs that keep him awake? »
Throughout the book, the group performs showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the theater. This is the surprising news that Patrick announces regarding the show towards the end of the section (page 154).
A discussion will follow this question!
What is « not playing Frank ‘N Furter in the show anymore? »
This is why Charlie’s sister is mad at him after she leaves the clinic.
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What is « she sees him in the car smoking? »
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What is « calling Patrick a slur? »
This major event caused Charlie to state, “Something is really wrong with me, and I don’t know what it is” (pg 137)
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What is « Kissing Sam instead of Mary Elizabeth during truth or dare? »
DISCUSSION!
On page 154, Charlie states, "I just drank because I figured that it was about time to stop smoking so much pot" (Chbosky 154).
Why do you think he has chosen to stop smoking? Could this be from past events in the book or is Charlie becoming a better person?
Since this is only a discussion question and there technically are no right/wrong answers, please provide some textual evidence (not necessarily a quote, but reference to an event or idea from the book that backs your claim).
Many answers possible. Based on previous events with him upsetting the friend group when he kissed Mary Elizabeth, he may be trying to avoid destructive behaviors to further hurt the friend group.
This is the name of the poet that Mary Elizabeth loves and even buys a copy of his poetry for Charlie to read (page 132).
A discussion will follow this question!
Who is « e.e. Cummings? »
Name something that Charlie remembers about his sister when they were younger. (Many possible answers)
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What is « She painted his fingernails, they played with dolls, Charlie was able to watch whatever he wanted on TV together, she began feeling insecure about how different she looked when boys called her pretty or when she was in love with a boy, or she taught him where babies come from? »
This is what Patrick does when dropping Charlie off after hanging out all day together.
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What is « Patrick kissed Charlie? »