âFlowers for Algernonâ
“Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes
Text Dependent Questions During Reading: Part I 1. Using evidence from Progress Report 1, who is Charlie Gordon? 2. What do we learn about Charlie Gordon’s character from Progress Report 2? What conflict does CHarlie face as the story opens (Exposition)? 3. In Progress Report 3, why does the author tell us that Charlie thinks, “maybe white mice are smarter than other mice?” 4. Is Charlie a good candidate for the experiment? 5. Why does Charlie want so badly to be smart? 6. In Progress Report 8, what can you tell about Charlie from his laughing at his own ridicule and his certainty that these men are his friends? 7. In Progress Report 9, what tricks do the factory workers play on Charlie? 8. In the April 9 report, what do we learn about Charlie through his own analysis of Robinson Crusoe? 9. In the April 20 report, what does Charlie mean when he says “I felt naked”? 10. How have Charlie’s feeling changed from earlier in the story? 11. In the April 22 report, what do you think that the “pair of bats tugging at something” and “two men fencing with swords” symbolizes? 12. In the April 27 report, do the doctor’s seem to have Charlie’s best interests at heart? What does Charlie’s reaction to his encounter with the doctors suggest about how he is changing? 13. In the April 28 report, Miss Kinnian remarks to Charlie,” I just hope I wasn’t wrong to advise you to go into this in the first place.” Looking back through the text, and considering your own beliefs, do you feel that Miss Kinnian properly advised Charlie to go through with the experiment? 14. In Progress Report 11, How does the following passage, “it was evil when Eve listened to the snake and ate from the tree of knowledge,” compare to Charlie and his experience? 15. At this point in the story, what evidence do you have that Charlie’s heightened intelligence has created difficulties in his relationship with others? Part II 16. In the May 20 report, how does the dishwasher’s experience resemble episodes from Charlie’s own life?
17. Why is Charlie furious at himself as well as the crowd? 18. In Progress Report 12, what complication has made Charlie so conscious of time? 19. On May 31, Charlie says, “I’ve got to know if and when it will happen to me,” what evidence exists that Charlie will or will not regress like Algernon? 20. What are some of Charlie’s symptoms of deterioration in his June 5 progress report? 21. In the July 27 report, what evidence suggests Joe and Frank have or have not developed as characters? 22. As the story ends, what evidence in the text do you have that Charlie has or hasn’t changed since the beginning of the story?
Text Dependent Questions During Reading: Part I 1. Using evidence from Progress Report 1, who is Charlie Gordon? 2. What do we learn about Charlie Gordon’s character from Progress Report 2? What conflict does CHarlie face as the story opens (Exposition)? 3. In Progress Report 3, why does the author tell us that Charlie thinks, “maybe white mice are smarter than other mice?” 4. Is Charlie a good candidate for the experiment? 5. Why does Charlie want so badly to be smart? 6. In Progress Report 8, what can you tell about Charlie from his laughing at his own ridicule and his certainty that these men are his friends? 7. In Progress Report 9, what tricks do the factory workers play on Charlie? 8. In the April 9 report, what do we learn about Charlie through his own analysis of Robinson Crusoe? 9. In the April 20 report, what does Charlie mean when he says “I felt naked”? 10. How have Charlie’s feeling changed from earlier in the story? 11. In the April 22 report, what do you think that the “pair of bats tugging at something” and “two men fencing with swords” symbolizes? 12. In the April 27 report, do the doctor’s seem to have Charlie’s best interests at heart? What does Charlie’s reaction to his encounter with the doctors suggest about how he is changing? 13. In the April 28 report, Miss Kinnian remarks to Charlie,” I just hope I wasn’t wrong to advise you to go into this in the first place.” Looking back through the text, and considering your own beliefs, do you feel that Miss Kinnian properly advised Charlie to go through with the experiment? 14. In Progress Report 11, How does the following passage, “it was evil when Eve listened to the snake and ate from the tree of knowledge,” compare to Charlie and his experience? 15. At this point in the story, what evidence do you have that Charlie’s heightened intelligence has created difficulties in his relationship with others? Part II 16. In the May 20 report, how does the dishwasher’s experience resemble episodes from Charlie’s own life?
17. Why is Charlie furious at himself as well as the crowd? 18. In Progress Report 12, what complication has made Charlie so conscious of time? 19. On May 31, Charlie says, “I’ve got to know if and when it will happen to me,” what evidence exists that Charlie will or will not regress like Algernon? 20. What are some of Charlie’s symptoms of deterioration in his June 5 progress report? 21. In the July 27 report, what evidence suggests Joe and Frank have or have not developed as characters? 22. As the story ends, what evidence in the text do you have that Charlie has or hasn’t changed since the beginning of the story?
