Flowers for Algernon, Questions to Answer as you Read:
Questions over Pages 336-343
Read “Build Background on page 339. Dr. Howard Gardner identified nine
kinds of intelligence: linguistic (verbal and writing skills), logicalmathematical (ability to see numerical patterns), spatial (ability to
visualize), existentialist (asking deep questions about life), naturalist
(ability to recognize and categorize nature), bodily-kinesthetic (ability to
control physical movements), musical (ability to produce and appreciate
music), interpersonal (people skills), and intrapersonal (selfunderstanding).
1. Read “Build Background on page 339. Which of the intelligences do
you think are most commonly found in people? Where do you see
this?
2. Which intelligences are most valued in our society? Why?
3. Which intelligence do you think you are strongest in? Give examples.
4. Irony- define on page 339
5. Key Literary Element Irony. What information do you have that
Charlie does not have? What’s the irony in this passage? Page 343
6. Define Author’s Purpose.
7. What are the character Charlie’s reasons for writing his journal
(page 340) and the author’s reasons for writing the story (page
338)?
8. Define foreshadowing. Page 357.
Questions over Pages 343-348
1. Compare and Contrast Charlie’s actions, thoughts, words, and beliefs
before and after the operation.
Before the Operation
After the Operation
2. Making Inferences: page 346. Notice the change in Charlie’s
personality from earlier in the story. Why do you think he is getting
cranky and calling everything stupid?
3. Irony: page 347. What is the dramatic irony here? Hint: What are
Charlie’s thoughts about his friends’ behavior? How do his thoughts
about his friends differ from yours?
4. Point of View: page 349. Chose to tell the events of April 3rd from
either a friend’s point of view or an objective point of view. Write a
short retelling in at least 5 sentences.
5. How does this point of view change the story telling from what Charlie
has written?
Questions over Pages 348-353
1. How would the story differ if it was told by Dr. Nemur? Miss
Kinnian? Algernon the mouse?