Flowers for Algernon Chapters 1-8
How is the novel written?First person
Describe the main character?Charlie Gordon32 years oldMentally challengedWorks at a bakeryHas been selected to undergo an experiment
to raise intelligence
2a. List five possible struggles he may face as a retarded adult.DiscriminationPityLack of identityBeing too trustworthyBeing taken advantage of
2b. Describe how you would feel if your sibling were in the same position as Charlie.
SadJealousAngry
2c. Infer three reasons why Charlie’s family is visibly absent.They are deadThey don’t want anything to do with CharlieThey don’t know where he is
What kind of test did Burt give Charlie? What was the result?Rorschach TestHe only saw spilled ink
Describe Miss Kinnian.Charlie’s teacherKindSupportive of Charlie and his surgery
4a. What did Miss Kinnian tell the doctors about Charlie?He is the best student to participate in the
study because he is the most motivated
4b. What does what Miss Kinnian tell the doctors reveal about her and Charlie’s relationship?She believes in him
What happened when Charlie was given the Thematic Apperception Test?He thinks that he is lying when he creates
stories
Who is Algernon?A mouse who has undergone the same
operation
6a. Describe Charlie’s first meeting with Algernon.Charlie and Algernon race Charlie is surprised that mice are so smartHe isn’t mad that Algernon beats him
because he thinks he can learn from him
6b. Predict how Algernon and Charlie’s relationship will evolve? What might put a strain on their relationship?They might become friends because they are
in similar situationsCharlie might be jealous of AlgernonCompetitiveness might put a strain on their
relationship
What was Professor Nemur worried about with regard to the operation?The long term effects
Why did Charlie want to be smart?He wanted to read and write for his mom
8a. What might be some of the downfalls of going from being mentally retarded to being genius?Isolation – mental and emotional
Who is Mr. Donner?Charlie’s boss
9a. What is Mr. Donner’s relationship with Charlie?He was friends with Charlie’s uncle and
promised to take care of him
How long after the surgery was it when Charlie started to see results? What were they?A few days and he corrects his own grammatical
mistakes
THE BIG QUESTION: How and why might Charlie’s truth change regarding Algernon as he gets smarter?He might see him as competition as opposed
to a friend