Big Questions

1) What word would best describe Charlie? 

2) Describe how Charlie performed on the inkblot test, and explain how his performance further develops our understanding of his character. 

3) Charlie performed 3 tests: the inkblot, the thematic apperception test and the maze race against Algernon. He failed all of them. Which failure do you think Charlie felt most disappointed about. Why? 

4) Which test do you think gives the doctors the best understanding of Charlie? Why? 

1) Explain the experiment. How does it work? Why was Charlie selected for the experiment? (Report 4) 

2) Charlie mentions that if the experiment is a success, the doctors will make everybody smart all over the world. Explain why making everybody smart might be a bad thing. (Report 5) 

3) How might Charlie's progress reports change over the course of the story? (Report 6) 

4) Charlie's attitude changes in progress report 7. Describe the change, and explain why there was a shift in the character's disposition. (Report 7) 

1) Describe the relationship between Charlie and his work friends.  How does Charlie's view of the relationship differ from reality? (Report 8) 

2) Describe the device Dr. Strauss gives to Charlie.  What is it, what does it do, and how does it work? (Report 8) 

3) Compare and contrast Charlie's relationship with Dr. Strauss and his relationship with Mrs. Kinnian. Who does he have a better relationship with, and why is that the case? (Report 8) 

4) Explain the difference between the conscious and the subconscious mind.  What parts of Charlie's training are directed to the conscious mind, and what part of the training is directed to his subconscious? (Report 9) 

5) Summarize the events of the party. What do you think Charlie learned, and how will he change as a result of the night out with his friends? (Report 9) 

6) Charlie finally beat Algernon. He is very proud of himself, but he is also showing a lot of empathy towards the mouse. Why does Charlie feel empathy, and how he does he show it? (Report 9) 

7) Mrs. Kinnian gives Charlie a book called Robinson Crusoe. Read Charlie's summary of the book on the journal entry from April 9. Why does Mrs. Kinnian choose to give him this book? How is Charlie like the main character in the book? (Report 9) 

1) In the report from April 15, Charlie and Mrs. Kinnian are talking about Charlie's friends. Suddenly, Mrs. Kinnian got something in her eye and ran to the bathroom. What really happened to make Mrs. Kinnian run away? Why did it happen? (April 15)

2) Charlie is learning how to use punctuation, but now he is overusing punctuation marks. What was harder to read: the reports with lots of spelling errors, or the reports with loads of misplaced punctuation marks? Why was it harder to read? (April 17) 

3) Why don't Charlie and Algernon race anymore? (April 18) 

4) What happened on the night Charlie went out with his friends again. What did he do to try to ensure he didn't make a fool of himself this time? How was his plan foiled?  (April 20) 

1) Describe the positive and negative effects of Charlie getting smarter? Do the positives outweigh the negatives? (April 21) 

2) Why doesn't Dr. Strauss want Charlie to read about psychology?(April 21) 

3) What happened on April 22nd that proved Charlie was getting smarter? (April 22) 

4) How has Charlie's relationship with his boss and co-workers changed? Is the new relationship better or worse for Charlie? (April 25) 

5) Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur argue about who deserves more credit for the experiment. Based on what you have read, who deserves more credit? (April 27) 

6) One their date, Mrs. Kinnian seems worried about something, but won't say what it is. What is she worried about, and how might her fear affect her relationship with Charlie? (April 28) 

1) Charlie quit his job at the factory after all but one employee signed a petition that demanded he be fired. Why did everyone want him to be fired?  (April 30) 

2) Charlie has come to understand that people are not what they originally seem to be on the surface. Choose one the characters he talks about on may 15th and describe how his impression of the character has changed.  (May 15) 

3) Charlie is having a hard time communicating with Mrs. Kinnian. He suggests that he should review "Vrostadt’s equations on Levels of Semantic Progression". This is a made-up book, by a made-up author. What do you think it would be about? How would it help Charlie? How might studying the book not have the desired effect? Hint 1     Hint 2    

(May 18) 

4) An experience at a diner challenged Charlie's understandings of people, intelligence, and success. What happened at the diner? What was Charlie's revelation, or new understanding? What did this event inspire Charlie to dedicate himself to?  

(May 20) 

1) On May 25th Charlie wrote that time had become very important to him. Why had time become important? What did Charlie think was going to happen? Why did he think that? 

(May 25) 

2) Summarize Charlie's scientific findings. What law did he uncover about changes to human intelligence?  

(June 4 – 5 ) 

3) The journal entry for June 15th is very emotional. Describe Charlie's emotional state and summarize the two events triggered his anxiety. 

(June 15) 

4) Charlies writes about his parents for the first time. What is he thinking about? Why now? 

(July 7) 

5) Explain why Charlie decided to leave New York. Describe how recent interactions at work and school influenced his decision.  

(July 27 - 28) 

6) The story ends abruptly, without any explanation of what happens to Charlie. Explain what you think happens to Charlie and why you think that. 

(your brain)