Vocab words
impair
to weaken
What is the difference between the word MORNING and MOURNING
Morning: refers to the early part of the day, from sunrise until noon.
Example: I like to go for a walk every morning.
Mourning: refers to the expression of sadness, usually after someone dies.
Example: She was in mourning after her grandfather passed away.
Even though they sound almost the same, their meanings are very different.
What is Charlie's main internal conflict throughout the story?
Charlie’s main internal conflict is his struggle to understand himself and the world as his intelligence changes. He grapples with feelings of isolation, frustration, and confusion as he becomes smarter than the people around him, yet still struggles with emotional and social understanding. Essentially, he must face who he is, who he wants to be, and how he fits into society.
vacuous
lacking intelligence
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: Charlie′s co-workers bullied him because of his .
impairment
opportunist
takes advantage
OPTIMISTIC AND EXCITED!
What does it mean when Charlie's coworkers tell people not to "pull a Charlie Gordon"
The connotative meaning lets the reader know they were making fun of him
introspective
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: Charlie′s co-workers bullied him because they thought he was .
vacuous
naive
lack of judgment
What can you infer from the fact that Charlie wrote a private letter to Dr. Strauss?
Charlie trusted Dr. Strauss more than he trusted Dr. Nemur
Why does the author use progress reports to tell the story?
To show the progression and regression in Charlie Gordon from a 1st person perspective
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: The child was and that caused problems for him.
naive
What happens at the end of the story/resolution?
At the end of Flowers for Algernon, Charlie’s intelligence begins to fade, and he returns to his former mental state. He decides to leave New York to avoid being a burden to others and to protect himself emotionally. The story ends with Charlie asking that someone put flowers on Algernon’s grave, showing he still cares deeply and remembers the bond he shared with the mouse.
proportion
part of a whole
How did seeing the restaurant worker make a mess impact Charlie?
He became angry because it was JUST LIKE HIM
How did the progress reports help the reader understand Charlie's character traits?
The progress reports let the reader see Charlie’s thoughts and feelings in his own words, showing his kindness, curiosity, and intelligence. As his writing changes, we can track his growth and notice how the surgery affects his personality. They let us witness his emotions and development firsthand, making his character more real and relatable.
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: Sometimes people to a younger age when they remember the past.
regress
Charlie took his rabbit′s foot when he left, hoping it would help him. What does the reader learn from this decision? Write in complete sentences.
The reader learns that Charlie is still hopeful and believes in luck, even after everything he has experienced. This decision shows that he is sentimental and holds on to small comforts to give him courage. It also reveals his childlike innocence and desire for something to help him feel safe.
tangible
able to be touched
Which statement is a theme a reader may identify in the short story Flowers for Algernon?
Increased happiness is not always directly connected to advanced reasoning skills
Describe how the point of view of this short story would be different if the progress reports had been written by another character (choose one). Write in complete sentences.
If the progress reports had been written by another character, such as Miss Kinnian, the story would be very different because we would only see Charlie from her perspective. We wouldn’t get to experience his thoughts, feelings, or confusion firsthand, so his personal growth and emotions would be harder to understand. The story would focus more on how others perceive Charlie rather than showing his inner struggles and changes.
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: helps us relate to the feelings of other people as well as our own.
introspection
What is the significance of Dr Nemur calling Dr. Straus an opportunist?
It demonstrates that Dr. Nemur thought Dr. Strauss did not deserve equal credit for the experiment