Flowers for Algernon, Homework Part 2
First Thoughts
1. What do you think becomes of Charlie after the story ends? Why?
Shaping Interpretations
2. Why is Algernon important to Charlie?
3. What does Charlie want most
• when we first meet him?
• after he becomes intelligent?
• after his intelligence declines?
Fill in a chart like the one below to show how Charlie’s goals change.
| March 5–April 18 | April 20–June 15 | June 19–July 28 | |
| What Charlie wants |
4. In the April 9 entry in Part 1 (page 53 in your textbook), Charlie’s comments while reading
Robinson Crusoe foreshadow, or hint at, how he will later find himself abandoned and alone. (For more about foreshadowing, see the Before You Read page for “The Landlady” in Collection Three and the Handbook of Literary Terms.) What other examples of foreshadowing do you find in “Flowers for Algernon”? How did that foreshadowing make you feel?
5. Would Charlie’s situation be better or worse if he had not had the operation? Support your opinion with evidence from the story.
Connecting with the Text
6. At the end of the story, Charlie writes, “Its easy to make frends if you let pepul laff at you.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.
7. Describe your feelings about “human engineering”—for example, using science to change a person’s intelligence or personality.
Challenging the Text
8. Comment on whether you find the story believable. (Do you think it shows how people really behave toward those who are mentally challenged? Do you think people will be able to increase intelligence through scientific means someday?)
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