1. Flowers for Algernon Chapters 1-8

2. How is the novel written?
First person

3. Describe the main character?
Charlie Gordon
32 years old
Mentally challenged
Works at a bakery
Has been selected to undergo an experiment to raise intelligence

4. 2a. List five possible struggles he may face as a retarded adult.
Discrimination
Pity
Lack of identity
Being too trustworthy
Being taken advantage of

5. 2b. Describe how you would feel if your sibling were in the same position as Charlie.
Sad
Jealous
Angry

6. 2c. Infer three reasons why Charlie’s family is visibly absent.
They are dead
They don’t want anything to do with Charlie
They don’t know where he is

7. What kind of test did Burt give Charlie? What was the result?
Rorschach Test
He only saw spilled ink

8. Describe Miss Kinnian. Charlie’s teacher Kind
Supportive of Charlie and his surgery

9. 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

10. 4b. What does what Miss Kinnian tell the doctors reveal about her and Charlie’s relationship?
She believes in him

11. What happened when Charlie was given the Thematic Apperception Test?
He thinks that he is lying when he creates stories

12. Who is Algernon?
A mouse who has undergone the same operation

13. 6a. Describe Charlie’s first meeting with Algernon.
Charlie and Algernon race
Charlie is surprised that mice are so smart
He isn’t mad that Algernon beats him because he thinks he can learn from him

14. 6b. Predict how Algernon and Charlie’s relationship will evolve
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 situations
Charlie might be jealous of Algernon
Competitiveness might put a strain on their relationship

15. What was Professor Nemur worried about with regard to the operation?
The long term effects

16. Why did Charlie want to be smart?
He wanted to read and write for his mom

17. 8a. What might be some of the downfalls of going from being mentally retarded to being genius?
Isolation – mental and emotional

18. Who is Mr. Donner?
Charlie’s boss

19. 9a. What is Mr. Donner’s relationship with Charlie?
He was friends with Charlie’s uncle and promised to take care of him

20. How long after the surgery was it when Charlie started to see results
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

21. 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