Text Analysis
What point of view is "Flowers for Algernon" told?
1st person POV
Why does Charlie leave New York City at the end of the story?
He wants to start a new life where nobody knew he was once a genius and now is not.
Which of these situations would most likely arouse suspicion?
a. you are running late for school, and your little sister is ready to go.
b. you are studying for a test, and your little sister is working on her homework
c. your piece of cake is missing, and your little sister has chocolate stains on her shirt.
d. your piano recital is on Saturday, and your little sister has invited two of her friends to attend.
c. your piece of cake is missing, and your little sister has chocolate stains on her shirt.
At the end of the story, what does Charlie ask Miss Kinnian to do?
put flowers on Algernon's grave
Which example from the story best demonstrates dramatic irony?
A) Charlie says "I hope they use me" at the beginning, while readers can predict the experiment will ultimately fail
B) Charlie tells his coworkers "I didn't like her any more" about Miss Kinnian when he actually still loves her, but he won't admit that to people who mock him.
C) The factory workers call making mistakes "pulling a Charlie Gordon" but Charlie doesn't know the meaning
D) Charlie becomes so intelligent that he can no longer communicate with the people around him, and it affects his relationships negatively.
C) The factory workers call making mistakes "pulling a Charlie Gordon" but Charlie doesn't know the meaning
When Charlie writes "I pulled a Charlie Gordon" in his July 28 entry, what does this reveal about his character development?
He now understands how others used his name as an insult, showing painful self-awareness
Without Charlie telling us he is losing his intelligence, how did we know as we read the story?
He started spelling badly again as well as using incorrect grammar and neglected punctuation.
What does deterioration mean?
Something is getting worse
What is the name of the test Charlie takes using inkblots?
Rorschach test
When Charlie writes "Its easy to make frends if you let pepul laff at you" in his final entry, this is an example of:
A) Dramatic irony, because readers know Charlie will never see his friends again
B) Situational irony, because Charlie has learned the opposite of what friendship really means
C) Verbal irony, because Charlie means the exact opposite of what he's saying
D) Verbal irony, because Charlie is being sarcastic about how his coworkers treated him and poking fun at the idea
B) Situational irony, because Charlie has learned the opposite of what friendship really means
The phrase "I feel the darkness closing in" (June 15 entry) creates what effect through its figurative meaning?
It symbolizes Charlie's fear of losing his intelligence and returning to his former state
Throughout the story, Charlie's relationships with his coworkers at the factory change dramatically. What does this transformation reveal about human nature and society's treatment of people who are different?
A) People are naturally cruel and will always mock those who are different from them
B) Society often struggles to accept people who don't fit expected norms
C) Intelligence is the only factor that determines how people treat each other
D) Friendship is impossible between people of different intellectual levels
B) Society often struggles to accept people who don't fit expected norms
What kind of behavior would be most typical of someone who is introspective?
a. warm, outgoing friendliness
b. consistent disobedience
c. thoughtful self-analysis
d. heartbreaking sorrow
c. thoughtful self-analysis
What is Charlie's IQ at the beginning of the story?
68
The most powerful example of situational irony in the story occurs when:
A) Charlie discovers his coworkers were always making fun of him, and they were not actually being friendly
B) Charlie becomes too intelligent to relate to Miss Kinnian, so they no longer have a relationship
C) The operation that was supposed to make Charlie permanently smart actually makes him lose his intelligence faster
D) Algernon dies before Charlie, so he knows death is approaching him very soon too.
C) The operation that was supposed to make Charlie permanently smart actually makes him lose his intelligence faster
The dramatic irony in Charlie's early progress reports is most evident when:
A) Readers understand Charlie is being mocked while Charlie believes his coworkers are true friends
B) Charlie beats Algernon in the maze races after his hard work and motivation pays off
C) Dr. Strauss argues with Dr. Nemur about the experiment, and they continue arguing throughout the story
D) Charlie learns to use punctuation correctly, he learns new languages, and he develops a broad vocabulary
A) Readers understand Charlie is being mocked while Charlie believes his coworkers are true friends
Charlie's final decision to leave New York demonstrates his growth as a character. Which statement best explains the significance of this choice?
A) He wants to escape responsibility for his scientific contribution, since he doesn't know exactly what he did for science.
B) He is ashamed of losing his intelligence and wants to hide from everyone, since new people won't know he was ever smart
C) He has developed enough self-awareness and dignity to protect both himself and others from painful situations
D) He believes he can regain his intelligence by starting over in a new place with new people, new places, and new doctors
C) He has developed enough self-awareness and dignity to protect both himself and others from painful situations
Using context clues from this excerpt, what does subconscious mean?
"I told Dr Strauss what good is it to get smart in my sleep. I want to be smart when Im awake. He says its the same thing and I have two minds. Theres the subconscious and the conscious (thats how you spell it). And one dont tell the other one what its doing. They dont even talk to each other. Thats why I dream."
mental activity that occurs without someone’s being aware of it
What does Charlie title his scientific theory?
Algernon-Gordon Effect
Which of the following is an example of direct characterization from the story?
A) Charlie writes "I am 37 years old and 2 weeks ago was my brithday" in his progress report
B) Charlie becomes upset when he realizes people have been laughing at him at the factory party
C) Charlie puts flowers on Algernon's grave every week after the mouse dies
D) Charlie asks Dr. Strauss if he will beat Algernon in the race after his operation
A) Charlie writes "I am 37 years old and 2 weeks ago was my brithday" in his progress report
What is the tone of the following excerpt?
"It happened today. Algernon bit me."
shock/surprise
When Charlie realizes how people had been treating him before the operation, he experiences a complex mix of emotions. How does this realization contribute to the story's central theme about the relationship between intelligence and happiness?
A) It proves that ignorance is always better than knowledge because knowledge brings only pain and suffering to those who learn
B) It demonstrates that intelligence allows people to understand truth, but this understanding can be both enlightening and painful
C) It shows that intelligent people are naturally unhappy while people with disabilities are naturally content with whatever life they've been given.
D) It suggests that people should never try to change themselves because change always leads to suffering and have negative impacts.
B) It demonstrates that intelligence allows people to understand truth, but this understanding can be both enlightening and painful
Using context clues from this excerpt, what does despised mean?
"Before, they laughed at me and despised me for my ignorance and dullness; now, they hate me for my knowledge and understanding. What do they want of me?"
hated or scorned
Why do Charlie's coworkers want him fired from the factory?
He has become too smart, and they're uncomfortable.
Charlie's reaction to the dishwasher boy who breaks plates at the restaurant is an example of indirect characterization that reveals:
A) Charlie's inability to understand social situations due to his low intelligence
B) Charlie's growing empathy and self-awareness as his intelligence increases
C) Charlie's fear of being embarrassed in public places like restaurants
D) Charlie's desire to impress others and fit in with his newfound intelligence
B) Charlie's growing empathy and self-awareness as his intelligence increases