Flowers for Algernon Review

How does Charlie Gordon’s perspective on intelligence evolve throughout the story?

• Charlie initially believes that being intelligent will lead him to be loved by everyone, but he later realizes that it isolates him.

• Charlie’s intelligence only grows without any emotional changes, and he remains the same person throughout the story.

• Charlie sees his intelligence as a curse that makes others treat him poorly, but by the end, he embraces his new abilities and remains content.

• Charlie’s perspective on intelligence is unaffected by his surgery and remains consistent with his previous understanding.

How does the character of Dr. Strauss contribute to the development of Charlie’s understanding of his intellectual growth?

• Dr. Strauss offers support and understanding, but his medical methods create more confusion for Charlie.

• Dr. Strauss continuously challenges Charlie’s emotions, leading him to question his own worth and identity.

• Dr. Strauss serves as a guide who encourages Charlie’s intellectual progress and helps him understand the consequences of his changes.

• Dr. Strauss remains a neutral character who doesn’t influence Charlie’s development in any significant way.

How does Alice Kinnian’s relationship with Charlie illustrate her changing perspective on intelligence and love?

• Alice is initially repelled by Charlie’s intelligence but later falls in love with him because of his emotional depth.

• Alice views Charlie’s intelligence as something that elevates him, but as he becomes smarter, she feels disconnected from him.

• Alice sees Charlie’s transformation as something that helps her understand love more deeply, but she remains emotionally distant.

• Alice is indifferent to Charlie’s transformation and always sees him as a person with potential, regardless of his intellectual ability.

In what way does the author show the perspective of the doctors regarding Charlie’s experiment?

• The doctors view Charlie’s intellectual growth as a scientific success but fail to recognize its emotional toll on him.

• The doctors believe Charlie’s experiment will be a failure from the start, and their negative outlook affects his journey.

• The doctors see Charlie as an experiment that could change the world, but they empathize with his emotional challenges throughout the process.

• The doctors remain emotionally detached from Charlie and are only concerned with his intelligence levels and results.

How does the character of Joe Carp influence Charlie’s perception of friendships and social interactions?

• Joe teaches Charlie that true friendships are based on intelligence and social status, which Charlie eventually embraces.

• Joe initially mocks Charlie, but by the end, he feels guilty about his past behavior and seeks to apologize.

• Joe’s treatment of Charlie highlights how Charlie’s social understanding changes as he gains intelligence and begins to see Joe’s cruelty.

• Joe’s friendship with Charlie deepens as both characters evolve, creating mutual respect based on shared intelligence.

How does the theme of intelligence versus emotional growth show itself in Flowers for Algernon?

• The story shows that becoming smarter makes Charlie feel more lonely, and his emotional problems grow as his intelligence increases.

• The theme of getting smarter is always shown as a good thing, and Charlie’s emotional life gets better as his intelligence grows.

• Charlie’s emotional life stays the same throughout the story, no matter how much smarter he gets.

• The story shows that emotional growth is more important than intelligence, and Charlie’s emotional life improves while his intelligence stays the same.

How are the themes of loneliness and wanting to fit in connected in Flowers for Algernon?

• As Charlie gets smarter, he feels more alone, and his need to fit in with others becomes stronger, even though he changes.

• Charlie never feels lonely, and getting smarter helps him build stronger friendships.

• The theme of fitting in isn’t important in Charlie’s story, as he focuses only on becoming smarter.

• The theme of loneliness goes away when Charlie forms close friendships, no matter how his intelligence changes.

How does Flowers for Algernon explore the theme of human dignity (self-respect) in relation to intelligence?

• The story shows that a person’s dignity is tied to how smart they are, and Charlie loses his dignity as he becomes less intelligent.

• The theme of dignity stays the same for Charlie, no matter how smart or not-smart he is.

• The story shows how society judges Charlie based on his intelligence, and how this judgment changes as his intelligence changes.

• The story argues that dignity doesn’t matter, and Charlie’s transformation is just about getting smarter.

How do the themes of science and ethics (right and wrong) work together in Flowers for Algernon?

• The story questions the rightness of using science to change Charlie, showing the emotional and mental costs of the experiment.

• The story praises science, showing how Charlie’s change is a great success, with no thought of what is right or wrong.

• The right and wrong issues of the experiment aren’t important, and the story only focuses on Charlie’s scientific success.

• The story doesn’t talk about science or ethics, just focusing on Charlie’s personal growth and feelings.

How does Flowers for Algernon show the themes of love and self-identity (who we are)?

• The story shows that love doesn’t depend on being smart, and Charlie finds real love as his intelligence starts to decrease.

• As Charlie becomes smarter, he has trouble understanding love, and he becomes confused about who he really is.

• The themes of love and identity aren’t connected, as the story only focuses on Charlie becoming smarter and making friends.

• The story shows that love depends on looks and intelligence, with Charlie’s changing identity affecting his romantic relationships.