Flowers for Algernon Section 1

Part A: What reason did Jupiter give for not wanting mankind to have fire?

• Mankind did not deserve kindness from the Mighty Ones.

• Mankind would be happier living a simpler life.

• Mankind should not live better lives than the beasts.

• Mankind might become as powerful as he is.

Part B: Which quotation from the story supports why Jupiter did not want to give mankind fire?

• "…let them live like the beasts."

• "It's is best for them to be poor and ignorant.."

• "…we Mighty Ones may thrive and be happy."

• "…they might become strong and wise like ourselves…"

       Prometheus did not care to live amid the clouds on the mountain top. He was too busy for that. While the Mighty Folk were spending their time in idleness, drinking nectar and eating ambrosia, he was intent upon plans for making the world wiser and better than it had ever been before.

What is the author's tone toward Prometheus in this excerpt?

• sarcastic

• disappointed

• supportive

• amused

Part B: Which words in the story support the author's tone of being "supportive"?

• “He was too busy for that.”

• “. . . he was intent upon plans for making the world wiser and better than it had ever been before.”

• “Prometheus did not care to live amid the clouds . . .”

• “. . . the Mighty Folk were spending their time in idleness . . .”

He called out some of the shivering men from their caves and built a fire for them, and showed them how to warm themselves by it and how to build other fires from the coals. Soon there was a cheerful blaze in every rude home in the land, and men and women gathered round it and were warm and happy . . .

Which synonym could replace the word rude as it is used in the excerpt?

• crowded

• primitive

• impolite

• freezing

Which event happened first?

• Jupiter wants to punish Prometheus and mankind.

• Vulcan creates a beautiful woman, Pandora.

Which event happened first?

• Pandora becomes the wife of Epimetheus, Prometheus’ brother

• Before she is sent to earth, Pandora receives a golden box and is told not to open it.

Which event happened first?

• Foreboding fails to escape with the others.

• Pandora peeks inside the box, releasing pain, worry, and death into the world.

Read the following excerpt from “The Story of Prometheus: II. How Diseases and Cares Came Among Men.” Then answer the prompt that follows.

The more she thought about the golden casket, the more curious she was to see what was in it; and every day she took it down from its shelf and felt of the lid, and tried to peer inside of it without opening it. She opened the lid a very little, just to peep inside. All at once there was a whirring, rustling sound, and before she could shut it down again, out flew ten thousand strange creatures with death-like faces and gaunt and dreadful forms, such as nobody in all the world had ever seen. They fluttered for a little while about the room, and then flew away to find dwelling-places wherever there were homes of men. They were diseases and cares; for up to that time mankind had not had any kind of sickness, nor felt any troubles of mind, nor worried about what the morrow might bring forth. These creatures flew into every house, and, without anyone seeing them, nestled down in the bosoms of men and women and children, and put an end to all their joy; and ever since that day they have been flitting and creeping, unseen and unheard, over all the land, bringing pain and sorrow and death into every household.

Write a paragraph that explains how the story communicates the theme that it is human nature to make mistakes. Be sure to use text evidence from the excerpt to support your answer.

Who:

(Did) What:

When/Where:

Why?

What is the result [of the "what"]?

Bonus: What does Pandora's Box represent?