Flowers for Algernon Part 1 Questions

(Due Tuesday November 8)

Directions: Please answer the following questions in FULL sentences.

Makes sure your answers are in a different color so that it is easy to

differentiate between the questions and answer. If a questions asks for
TEXTUAL EVIDENCE, please make sure you add a page #.

ELA STANDARDS:
RL.8.1 Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of
what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RL.8.6 Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and
the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony)
create such effects as suspense or humor.
Review THIS PRESENTATION before you start reading. The story begins on
page 672, and part 1 ends on page 686. Part 1 is due on Tuesday November 8!

AFTER PROGRIS REPORT 3:

1. Why does Charlie say I never tell lies? What is he talking about?
The lady wanted him to make up stories about the pupil and he said he never
lies because he would just get caught.
2. What does this say about his personality and intelligence?
He is very honest and smart because he knows if he lies he will most likely
get caught so there is no point in lying.
3. Who is Algernon?
Algernon was a white mouse.

AFTER PROGRIS REPORT 4:

4. What were Dr. Nemur and Dr. Strauss arguing about?
They were arguing about Charlie being the one to write the progress reports.
5. Charlie will be the first human being to ever have something happen to
him. What is it?

Charlie will be the first human to ever have his intelligence tripled by surgical
means.

AFTER PROGRIS REPORT 5 & 6:

6. Dr. Strauss tells Charlie not to worry about the operation. What is his
reasoning for this?
He doesnt want Charlie to be nervous about his operation and he doesnt
want Charlie to try to stop them from doing it and freak out.
7. Dr. Strauss wants Charlie to concentrate on what in his journal entries?
Dr. Strauss wants Charlie to work on spelling the word progress.

AFTER PROGRESS REPORT 7 & 8:

8. What is Charlies opinion of Algernon now? Why does it change?
He does not like Algernon and thinks that it is not working how they said it
would. His opinion changes because Algernon always beats him.
Text Evidence #1: Nothing is happening. I had lots of tests and different races
with Algernon. I hate the mouse. He always beats me.
page #678
9. Charlie says Joe and Frank are friends and they like him. What are Joe and
Frank really doing to Charlie?

Joe and Frank are making fun of Charlie.

AFTER PROGRESS REPORT 9:
10. What is a victory for Charlie?
A victory for Charlie is beating Algernon at a race.
Text Evidence #1: I beat Algernon! I didnt even know I beat him until Burt the
tester told me.But after that I beat him 8 more times. I must be getting
smart to beat a smart mouse like Algernon.
Page #: 682
11. Why did Mrs. Kinnian run out of the room? What does this tell you about
how she feels about Charlie?
Mrs. Kinnian runs out of the room because she is crying. This shows that she
feels bad for Charlie and how people are treating him badly but he doesnt
realize it.
12. List 3 improvements in Charlies intelligence from the beginning until the
end of Part I.
Charlie beats Algernon when they race, learns how to use commas,

Text Evidence #1: I beat Algernon! I didnt even know I beat him until Burt
the tester told me.
Text Evidence #2: Today I learned the comma. THis is a comma (,) a period
with a tail.
Text Evidence #3: Then I saw it was the same way as Miss Kinnian was trying
to tell me, but I didnt get it. I got up in the middle of the night, and the whole
thing straightened out in my mind.
Page #s: 682, 684, 685
13. What does it mean to pull a Charlie Gordon? How does Charlie react
when he realizes this?
Pulling a Charlie Gordon means doing something stupid. Charlie feels
ashamed when he realizes that.
Text Evidence #1: Now I know what it means when they say to pull a Charlie
Gordon. Im ashamed.
page # 686

Flowers for Algernon Part 2 Questions

(Due Wednesday November 9)
Directions: Please stop reading after each b
olded section below and answer
the following questions demonstrating your knowledge of
and
. Part 2 is due on Wednesday November 9!

After page 695:

1. Provide a one sentence summary of these four pages:
Charlie realizes his friends only hang out with him to make fun of him and
everyone wants him fired.
2. How does Charlie view himself? He views himself as becoming smart and
understanding of things.
Text Evidence: Whats wrong with a man becoming intelligent and wanting
to acquire knowledge and understanding of the world around him?

Page #: 697
3. How do OTHERS view Charlie? They dont like him anymore because they
cant laugh at him or make fun of him for him being unable to understand
things.
Text Evidence: Before, they laughed at me and despised me for my
ignorance and dullness; now, they hate me for my knowledge and
understanding.
Page #: 697

After page 699:

1. Provide a one sentence summary of these four pages:
Charlie realizes a lot of things that have and are going on.
2. How does Charlie view himself?
He now believes in himself and thinks he is good enough.
Text Evidence: With all due respect to both these fine scientists, I am well
aware of their limitations. If there is an answer, Ill have to find it out for
myself.
Page #: 703
3. How do OTHERS view Charlie?
They dont believe in him or want to help him.
Text Evidence: Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur have asked me not to come to the
lab anymore. I know what theyre thinking but I cant accept it. I am going
ahead with my plans to carry their research forward.
Page #: 703

After page 703:

1. Provide a one sentence summary of these four pages:
Charlie is starting to grow less smart and everything he has improved on is
being undone.
2. How does Charlie view himself? Hes growing duller and the intelligence is
starting to ware off and go back into the other direction.

Text Evidence: Im forgetting things that I learned recently. It seems to be

following the classic pattern-the last things learned are the first things
forgotten.
Page #: 707
3. How do OTHERS view Charlie? They view him as not smart again and see
that hes getting worse.
Text Evidence: Dr. Strauss comes around almost every day, but I told him I
wouldnt see or speak to anybody. He feels guilty. THey all do.
Page #: 707

After page 707:

1. Provide a one sentence summary of these four pages:
Charlie starts forgetting everything he learned and is no longer a genius.
2. How does Charlie view himself?
He doesnt believe in himself anymore and he is very forgetful.
Text Evidence: I keep saying over and over Ive got to do something but then
I forget or maybe it's just easier not to do what I say I'm going to do.
Page #: 708
3. How do OTHERS view Charlie?
They are worried for him because it seems like he is getting very sad about
what is happening to him.
Text Evidence: My landlady Mrs Flynn is very worried about me. She says the
way I lay around all day and don't do anything I remind her of her son before
she threw him out of the house. She said she doesn't like loafers.
Page #: 708

After page 711:

1. Provide a one sentence summary of these four pages:
Charlie leaves and goes somewhere where nobody knows that he used to be
smart.

2. How does Charlie view himself? He views himself as dumb.

Text Evidence: I don't know why I'm dumb again or what I did wrong maybe
it because I didn't try hard enough.
Page #: 711
3. How do OTHERS view Charlie?
They view him as someone who used to be a genius, but is not anymore.
Text Evidence: Everybody feels sorry for me at the factory and I don't want
that either so I'm going someplace where nobody knows that Charlie Gordon
was once a genius.
Page #: 711