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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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