FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON: PROGRESS REPORT 17

WHAT IS CHARLIE’S POSITION LIKE AT THIS POINT IN THE NOVEL? He is regressing He is feeling suicidal

1A. WHY DOES HE FEEL THIS WAY? CITE TWO EXAMPLES. He can no longer read what he wrote He can no longer speak various

languages

WHAT CHARACTERIZES CHARLIE’S STRANGE THERAPY SESSION? He sees a light at the end of a tunnel

which symbolizes the death of his smart self

WHAT IS CHARLIE AFRAID OF? He is afraid of becoming slow again

WHY IS CHARLIE GETTING FRUSTRATED WITH THE PROGRESS REPORTS? He can no longer read or write them

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHARLIE TAKES THE RORSCHACH TEST? He knows he is supposed to see

something but he cannot

5A. HOW IS HIS FRUSTRATION NOW DIFFERENT THAN HOW IT WAS WHEN HE WAS SMART? He knows that he is supposed to see

something where as before he didn’t even know there was something

WHAT DOES CHARLIE REMEMBER ABOUT READING WITH HIS MOTHER? Rose got frustrated with Charlie when

he couldn’t read

HOW DOES CHARLIE RESPOND TO ALICE BEING IN HIS APARTMENT? He is embarrassed He wants her to leave

7A. HOW DOES CHARLIE RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO ALICE KISSING HIM? Charlie lets Alice kiss him

7B. WHY DOES CHARLIE RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO ALICE KISSING HIM? He is regressing so young Charlie does

not come out He is able to make love to Alice

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CHARLIE’S MEMORY? CITE TWO EXAMPLES. He can’t pay attention When he wakes up he doesn’t

remember where he is

8A. WHAT DOES CHARLIE THINK ABOUT THE ALGERNON-GORDON EFFECT? He cannot believe that he wrote it

WHAT HAPPENS TO ALICE? Charlie makes her leave

9A. WHY DOES CHARLIE TREAT ALICE AS HE DOES? He does not want her to see him regress

GIVE ONE EXAMPLE OF PUNCTUATION REGRESSION THAT HAPPENS IN THE NOVEMBER 2ND PROGRESS REPORT. No apostrophes

WHO IS MRS. MOONEY? She is Charlie’s landlady

11A. WHY IS SHE WORRIED ABOUT CHARLIE? Charlie has not gotten out of bed in

weeks and she thinks he is sick

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHARLIE ASKS FOR HIS JOB BACK? Mr. Donner gives Charlie his job back

12A. WHAT DO THE GUYS AT THE BAKERY DO TO CHARLIE? They defend him against another co-

worker who is making fun of him

WHAT IS CHARLIE’S FINAL REQUEST? He asks that flowers are put on

Algernon’s grave

THE BIG QUESTION: IS CHARLIE’S TRUTH EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING? It is probably a little different because

he has had different experiences