Emily's questions
Why have the doctors asked Charlie to begin a journal?
to monitor and track the increase/decrease of his IQ
What concerns do they have about choosing Charlie for the operation?
his intellectual capacity to consent, potential physical danger, and ethical questions about using a human as a test subject
What does Charlie have to do while he is sleeping? How is it supposed to work
He has to listen to a machine that plays images and speaks to him while he sleeps to help him “get smart.
What trick did the boys at the bakery play on him? How did it backfire?
They told him to try to use the dough mixer, but it backfired because his intelligence was already increasing post-operation, and he even got offered a job.
What 3 things happen to Charlie that prove the statement, ¨the more intelligent you are, the more problems you have¨ to be true?
He started to notice they were picking on him, He remembered things from his past and about his family, and he started to think about things he couldn't comprehend.
What three tests did Charlie compete?
Charlie completed Rorschach, thematic Apperception, and Maze race tests.
What two scenarios did the doctors warn might happen?
The doctors warn that the operation might have no lasting effect and may result in temporary mental recession.
How had Charlie come to know Miss Kinnian?
He had come to know her because she was his teacher.
Why does miss kinnian run out of the room? what is she scared of?
She runs out of the room because her emotions became too strong. She is afraid of what is happening to Charlie.
What three responses does Charlie get from the people he asks to explain an IQ test.
Dr. Nemur defines IQ as a measurement of how intelligent a person is. Dr. Strauss states that an IQ does not actually measure intelligence, but rather shows how much intelligence a person could have. Burt Seldon tells Charlie that both doctors are wrong, stating that IQ tests are flawed, measure a wide variety of learned things, and are not a good, objective measure of true intelligence
What do we learn about Charlie's family?
His family abandoned him, and he was cared for by his uncle.
Why is the nurse Hilda reassigned to a different floor? What biblical allusion is used?
Hilda is reassigned to a different floor because she refuses to care for Charlie after his surgery, believing the procedure is morally wrong and acts against God's will. She references Adam and Eve.
Professor Nemur is identified as a psychologist and scientist who seems to lead in at least getting the funding for Charlie’s procedure and perhaps in helping develop the surgical procedure. What is Dr. Strauss’s role and seeming primary concern?
Dr. Strauss's primary role is to perform the physical surgery and conduct therapy sessions with Charlie following the operation.
What skills does Charlie master quickly?
He quickly excels in reading, writing, languages, math, and science.
What is free association therapy? What is the purpose of it?
where patients express thoughts, words, and images exactly as they come to mind without censoring, editing, or filtering them. It helps to uncover uncensored thoughts and ideas.
Who is Algernon, and how does Charlie come to know him?
Algernon is a laboratory mouse. Charlie meets him because a researcher named Burt introduces them, where Charlie is required to compete against Algernon in solving paper maze puzzles.
Why was Charlie not allowed to tell others about his operations?
because it's a secret until after, just in case it doesn't work.
What happened at Halloran’s Bar?
Frank and Joe take Charlie to a bar and urge him to dance. He doesn’t know they are making fun of him so he laughed along with them.
Why does Charlie get upset and quit work?
He got upset and quit work for a little while because he fell dancing many times while people made fun of him. They gave him a fake apple to eat and laughed at him.
Explain the scene/memory that free association helps Charlie remember from his dream?
He remembers his childhood and how he wanted affection, but his mom rejected him due to his intellectual disability
Why do the doctors say they chose Charlie (2 reasons)?
doctors select Charlie for the experimental surgery due to his exceptional motivation to learn and his cooperative, good-natured personality.
Who is Mr. Donner to Charlie, and why does he help Charlie
Mr. Donner is the owner of the bakery where Charlie Gordon works. He says Charlie is the most motivated. He also made a promise to his uncle.
What was Charlie's first real book?
Robinson Crusoe, the hardest book Charlie has ever encountered
Explain the childhood event he remembers happening in front of the bakery
His friends called him Charlie Charlie fat head barely. They would throw things at him and tease him.
What is a Rourshack Test? Why does Charlie respond with anger?
People are shown inkblots and asked to describe what they see. Charlie responds angrily because he is frustrated by his limitations.