RW #7 Comprehension Questions

“Flowers for Algernon”

Progress Reports 1, March 5 to Progress Report 9, April 20

  1. What is the main character’s name? How old is he?
  1. What does Charlie see the first time he is given the Rorschach Test? What is are two other tests Charlie is given to test his personality and intelligence? Why does Algernon beat Charlie?
  1. What is Charlie's IQ in the beginning of the story?
  1. Why does Charlie go to Miss Kinnian's class?
  1. Why is Charlie chosen for the experiment? Why does Charlie agree to participate? Are the results of the operation expected to last?
  1. Where does Charlie work? Before the operation, what does Charlie think of Joe Carp and Frank Reilly?How do they treat him? What does it mean to "do a Charlie Gordon"?
  1. What is the significance of Charlie' second outing with Joe and Frank? Can he tell them what is happening to him?
  1. How can the reader tell that Charlie is getting smarter after the operation? What is the first major sign that the operation is working?
  1. What does Ms. Kinnian try to warn Charlie about? How does Charlie respond? How does Ms. Kinnian react to Charlie’s response? Why doesn’t she just come right out and tell him?
  1. Explain Charlie's feeling toward Algernon before and after the operation.

Progress Reports 10, April 21 to Progress Report 11, May 20

1.How is an IQ defined by the various characters (April 21)? By how much is Charlie’s IQ expected to increase as a result of the experiment?

2.What are the differences between the two doctors?

3.Why does Charlie lose his job?

4.What does Fanny refer to when she speaks about Eve, the snake and the tree of knowledge? What has this got to do with Charlie (April 30)? What literary device is being used here?

5.How do Charlie's feelings toward Miss Kinnian change throughout the story?

6.How do Charlie's feelings toward the doctors change after the operation?

7.Why was Charlie upset about the incident with the dishwasher? What “aha” moment did he have? What does Charlie plan to do about it?

Progress Report 12, May 23 to July 28 (ending)

1.What is the Algernon-Gordon Effect?

2.What does Charlie do when he realizes he will lose his intelligence?

3.When Charlie returns to the factory, how do his co-workers react?

4.How does Miss Kinnian react when Charlie returns to night school? Why?

5.Who does Charlie blame for his loss of intelligence? Why?

6.How does Charlie's personality change throughout the story?

7.What is the theme and message of the story?