| A | B |
|---|
| What is an allusion? | an implied or indirect reference to history, art, literature, or the bible |
| Name three allusions. | Robinson Crusoe, Adam and Eve, and Paradise Lost |
| Mrs. Nemur | a shrew of a wife who pushed her husband to be famous |
| What is Dr. Nemur's secret motivation? | Chair of Psychology at Princeton |
| How does Charlie view Dr. Nemur once he becomes intelligent? | Charlie says Dr. Neumur is not a genius and struggles with self-doubt. |
| How does Charlie view Dr. Strauss once he become intelligent? | Charlies thinks that Dr. Strauss' areas of knowledge are too limited. |
| Charlie 's reason for wanting the experiment? | If he becoms smart he will have lots of friends and he will be able to understand people. |
| What was the stipend Charlie received for his idea to improve the production line at work? | $25 |
| What is the setting of the story? | New York |
| Who is the author? | Daniel Keyes |
| Why is our story called a novella? | It is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. |
| Name two charcteristics about the life of Daniel Keyes that enhanced the story? | He had a degree in psychology and he taught creative writing. |
| What was the motor skill that improved that validated Charlie's increase in intelligence? | typing |
| Why would typing validate an increase in Charlie's I.Q.? | Typing is a motor skill which requires good eye-hand coordination. |
| Name two symptoms of deterioration for Charlie. | irritability and uncooperative |
| What scene in the movie shows the emotional disturbance and imbalance of Charlie's intelligence with his emotional behavior? | When Charlie attacks Miss Kinnian |
| Why was Charlie asked to write progress reports? | The doctors needed documentation for their experiment. |
| Who or what foreshadowed Charlie? | Algernon |
| Name a possible interpretation of the title of the story? | Charlie believes Algernon deserves flowers for his bravery and flowers are associated with mourning a loved one's loss |
| When does Charlie "feel sick" inside? | When Charlie wss exposed and ashamed when he realized his friends were not his friends. |
| What is the T.A. T.? | Thematic Apperception Test |
| What is the formal name for the "inkblot test"? | Rorschach Test |
| From what point of view is the story told? | first person |
| Who is the narrator of the story? | Charlie |
| Why does Charlie leave at the end of the story? | Charlie can't recapture his former self and he does not want anyone's pity. |
| What is the expression "to pull a Chalie Gordon" mean? | to do something dolt |
| What does the metaphor "mental blindness" mean? | When Charlie was mentally challenged he was unable to see the world and understand it |
| Find a simile in the story. | IQ is like a measuring cup; IQ is like a scale; Charlie's brain is like a sponge; levels of intelligence are like the steps of a ladder |
| Name one symbol in the story. | flowers; maze; punctuation |
| Study the quote of Fanny Girden | an allusion to Adam and Eve |
| Why does Keyes use the allusion Robinson Crusoe? | Charlies is also stranded in the world alone and struggling to survive. |
| Why does Keyes refer to "Paradise Lost"? | A poem by John Milton which refers to Charlies loss of paradise which for him is intelligence. |
| In what year was the story first published? | In 1959 in the Magazine for Fantasy and Science Fiction |
| Explain the differences between the definitions of I.Q. by the doctors? | Dr. Nemur= scale and Dr. Strass= measuring cup |
| Name a possible theme. | man's inhumanity to man; it is evil to alter what G-d has given to you naturally |
| What award did the novella receive? | 1966 it received the Nebula Award |
| What was the original qustions posed by Daniel Keyes that led to this creative story? | "What would happen if it were possible to increase a human's intelligence artifically?" |
| What is the "Algernon, Charlie and I: A Writer's Journey"? | Daniel Keyes wrote this to respond to the thousands of questions he was asked about Charlie Gordon |
| Name the five areas measured when administering the Rorschach Test. | emotions, cognitions, self-concept, stress level, and interpersonal relaitonships. |
| Who is the father of Psychoanalysis? | Sigmund Freud |
| Who is B.F. Skinner? | a famous behavorist who initiated extenal stimuli response theory. |
| Why did Algernon have an advantage when racing against Charlie? | Algernon used his innate sensory motivation and Charlie had to use his motor skills |
| How old is Miss Kinnian? | 34 |
| Does Charlie become his former self at the end of the story? | No, Charlie cannot recapture who he was before the operation which is why he leaves at the end of the story. |
| Why won't Charlie cooperate during the administration of the T.A.T.? | He does not want to make up lies about people he doesn't know. |
| Why does Dr Nemur take Charlie's candy away before surgery? | If Charlie eats prior to surgery he could aspirate during the operation and die. |
| Why do we no longer use the term "mentally retarded"? | It is perceived as a derogatory comment. |
| Name two differences between the novella and the movie. | New York/Boston; Strauss is a female/male; Mrs. Flynn/Miss Apple |
| Chart the differences between Nemur and Srauss | check your notes |
| What is the name of the experiment? | the Algernon- Gordon Effect |
| What is the hypothesis for the experiment? | As fast as Charlie's intelligence increased, his intelligence decreased |
| In what category or genre is Flowers for Algernon classified? | science fiction |
| What happened to Charlie's personality as he became more intelligent? | He lost patience for inferior people who lacked his intelligence and he was unable to relate to other people. |
| Why would this experiment be illegal? | The experiment was not successfully tested on enough test mice prior to the use of Charlie. Also Charlie would not have been able to sign the release for the surgery. |
| In the beggining of the novel why does Charlie think Algernon is so smart? | He is a white mouse. |
