Alamo English 8
Flowers for Algernon, Group Questions
JHW Middle School
Progress Report 10
Group Members:
___________________________________________________
Directions- Answer the following questions by being as detailed and specific
as possible. Provide evidence from the novel and create meaningful
connections to take your answers to the next level. Be prepared to lead a
class discussion based on your group’s questions and responses, urging
your peers to provide textual evidence, as well as insight. *Remember: As
a group, you are expected to teach your peers not only your
responses, but how your group came to those conclusions.*
GROUP VIOLET:
1.What is Charlie’s real motivation for learning to make the rolls?
2. What “silly” things did Charlie do because he wanted to be a part of the
university?
3. What is the purpose of college according to Charlie? What does he mean by
that statement?
4. What seems real about Charlie’s dream of his mother? What seems
unrealistic?
5. What is unique about Charlie’s mother’s tears?
6. Do you agree with Charlie’s father or Charlie’s mother about how they
should treat Charlie and where he should go to school? Why?
7. Who is Matt Gordon and where does he go at the end of Progress Report 10?
Why? What does this tell you about him and his relationship with Charlie?
8. In the April 21 passage, Charlie again views his past through the
window. What might the window symbolize?
English 8
Flowers for Algernon, Group Questions
JHW Middle School
Progress Report 11
Group Members:
___________________________________________________
Directions- Answer the following questions by being as detailed and specific
as possible. Provide evidence from the novel and create meaningful
connections to take your answers to the next level. Be prepared to lead a
class discussion based on your group’s questions and responses, urging
your peers to provide textual evidence, as well as insight. *Remember: As
a group, you are expected to teach your peers not only your
responses, but how your group came to those conclusions.*
GROUP CORAL:
1. Why hasn’t Charlie noticed how beautiful Miss Kinnian is before?
2. What character in the story resembles the depraved governess from the
second film?
3. Why does Charlie say he hates Miss Kinnian more than anyone before?
4. What do you think Charlie is afraid of? How does his dream relate to that
fear?
5. Do you agree with Nemur, Strauss, or Charlie about telling Mr. Donner about
Gimpy?
6. How is the way in which others treat Charlie as a very intelligent man
similar to the way he was treated before the operation?
7. What does Charlie realize about college professors?
8. Who is the boy Charlie saw in the park when on his date with Miss Kinnian?
9. Why did Charlie get fired? Who was the “delegation”?
10. What argument does Fanny Birden make about the moral implications of
the operation? How does this relate to Charlie and his operation?
English 8
Flowers for Algernon, Group Questions
JHW Middle School
Progress Report 12
Group Members:
___________________________________________________
Directions- Answer the following questions by being as detailed and specific
as possible. Provide evidence from the novel and create meaningful
connections to take your answers to the next level. Be prepared to lead a
class discussion based on your group’s questions and responses, urging
your peers to provide textual evidence, as well as insight. *Remember: As
a group, you are expected to teach your peers not only your
responses, but how your group came to those conclusions.*
GROUP TANGERINE:
1. According to Charlie, how can language be a barrier? How can it be a
pathway?
2. Why does Charlie dream that the bride and groom on the cake laugh at him?
Who may they represent?
3. Describe Charlie’s relationship with his sister.
4. How does Alice really feel about Charlie’s operation? How can you tell?
5. Explain the argument between Charlie and Miss Kinnian that takes place in
this progress report. Miss Kinnian expresses feelings that she has not
expressed before. What are they? Do you think she is justified in how she feels?
Why or why not?
6. What drives Charlie to go prowling late at night?
7. What is the significance of Charlie’s remark that he constantly travels “Up
one street, and down another, through the endless labyrinth, hurling himself
against the neon cage of the city”?
8. Compare and contrast Charlie before the operation to the woman in the
park. What do they have in common? What are their differences?
9. Why does Charlie treat the woman in the park the way he does?
English 8
Flowers for Algernon, Group Questions
JHW Middle School
Progress Report 13
Group Members:
___________________________________________________
Directions- Answer the following questions by being as detailed and specific
as possible. Provide evidence from the novel and create meaningful
connections to take your answers to the next level. Be prepared to lead a
class discussion based on your group’s questions and responses, urging
your peers to provide textual evidence, as well as insight. *Remember: As
a group, you are expected to teach your peers not only your
responses, but how your group came to those conclusions.*
GROUP TURQUOISE:
1. Charlie states, “At this point my feelings are more important than anything
else.” Why is this statement ironic?
2. Why is Charlie afraid of being strapped in with the seat belt?
3. What is Dr. Guarino’s motivation? Does he seem qualified? Why?
4. Compare and contrast Nemur/Strauss and Guarino.
5. What do Charlie’s parents forget when they get home?
6. When does Rose Gordon stop trying to make Charlie smart? Why?
7. Based on Charlie’s memory, how did Rose view God?
8. Where did Charlie get his unusual motivation for becoming smart? Is it a
good or bad thing? Why?
9. What does Charlie realize about the knowledge of specialists in their own
field?
10. What pivotal realization does Charlie have at the conference during
Nemur’s speech?
11. Interpret Charlie’s statement about crossing the invisible barrier.
12. How does the scene in the restroom represent a turning point in the book?