Background and Plot
What time period does the story take place? (setting)
1960's
Whose point of view is the story in?
First person narrative- Charlie's perspective through progress reports.
Charlie's character is most compared to...
Algernon
How does the story "Flowers for Algernon" prove the idea: Ignorance is bliss?
The more intelligent Charlie becomes, the more problems he has.
What is the first indication that Algernon is regressing?
Why is the story called "Flowers for Algernon" ?
Charlie delivers flowers to Algernon's grave
What is Charlie's perspective about Algernon in the first part of the story?
He dislikes Algernon because he keeps beating him in the maze.
What are some of Charlie's positive qualities/traits...
motivated, friendly, kind
Why does Charlie decide to take part in the experiment?
He wants to be smarter, because he believes the key to happiness is intelligence. He will finally fit in with others. He trusts Miss Kinnian and the doctors.
Why is Charlie still frustrated right after the surgery?
He keeps losing to Algernon, so he doesn't think the surgery worked.
What aspects of Daniel Keyes life inspired him to write "Flowers for Algernon?"
He was forced by his parents to go to medical school, when he wanted to be a writer.
According to Dr. Strauss and Miss Kinnian, why is Charlie a good choice for the experiment?
He has motivation.
The names of the doctors who were in charge of Charlie's operation and experiment.
Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur
Name one theme from "Flowers for Algernon."
Examples: Ignorance is bliss, all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, everyone regardless of a disability can contribute to society, human experimentation can be dangerous.
How does Charlie react to the degrading comments made about the young, mentally handicapped diner worker dropping plates?
Charlie stands up for the diner worker and yells at the diner patrons for making fun of him. It inspires him to help people like him (pre-surgery).
Identify one event that would take place in the falling action of the story.
possible answers: Charlie buries Algernon and puts flowers on his grave, Charlie regresses to his initial state, Charlie goes back to his old job at the factory, Charlie shows up in Miss Kinnian's adult school class and she runs out crying.
When Charlie's coworkers say, "to pull a Charlie Gordon," Charlie realizes they mean...
To do some thing stupid.
Which vocabulary word describes how thoughtful; inward looking and reflective Charlie is through his progress reports?
What is introspective?
How does the structure of the text help readers to develop empathy and contribute to the theme of the story?
By writing in the form of progress reports from Charlie's perspective that allow readers to understand his feelings.
How are Charlie's "friends" from work different towards him when he goes back to work at the factory?
They stick up for him when someone tries to make fun of him, because they realize what he has been through and how wrong they treated him in the past.
When Charlie defends the disabled boy in the diner, it inspires him to help others like him. Where would this fall on a plot diagram?
Charlie's perspective changes as he becomes more intelligent. Name one way his perspective changes towards the relationships in his life?
First he respects and values Kinnian, Strauss and Nemur, then he starts to doubt their intelligence and pushes them away.
What is Dr. Nemur's motives for the experiment?
He wants to be recognized in the scientific community for his advancements in increased intelligence.
What message does the author convey about what he thinks about science?
Science may do unexpected harm and is not always the answer. The key to humanity is not intelligence but how you treat others.
As Charlie's intelligence grows, how does it disprove the idea that intelligence is the key to happiness?
As he grows more intelligent, he isolates himself. He struggles to communicate with people and prefers reading books and listening to music.