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Questions and Answers
What is the name of the protagonist in the novel Flowers for Algernon?
What is the name of the protagonist in the novel Flowers for Algernon?
What is the narrative format of Flowers for Algernon?
What is the narrative format of Flowers for Algernon?
In what year was the novel Flowers for Algernon first published?
In what year was the novel Flowers for Algernon first published?
Why is the setting in Flowers for Algernon significant?
Why is the setting in Flowers for Algernon significant?
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Where does Charlie initially live in the novel?
Where does Charlie initially live in the novel?
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What is the significance of the time period in which the novel is set?
What is the significance of the time period in which the novel is set?
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What would be a necessary step in experimenting on a human being today that was not required in the 1960s?
What would be a necessary step in experimenting on a human being today that was not required in the 1960s?
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What is the reason Mr. Donner gives Charlie a job at his bakery?
What is the reason Mr. Donner gives Charlie a job at his bakery?
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Where does Charlie take classes to improve himself?
Where does Charlie take classes to improve himself?
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What is the name of the mouse used in the experimental medical procedure?
What is the name of the mouse used in the experimental medical procedure?
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What is the result of the experimental medical procedure on Charlie?
What is the result of the experimental medical procedure on Charlie?
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Why does Alice break off her relationship with Charlie?
Why does Alice break off her relationship with Charlie?
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What does Charlie realize about the procedure's effects?
What does Charlie realize about the procedure's effects?
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What is the significance of the change in setting in the story?
What is the significance of the change in setting in the story?
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What does Charlie's story highlight about people with mental disabilities?
What does Charlie's story highlight about people with mental disabilities?
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Study Notes
Flowers for Algernon: Overview
- The novel is a science fiction story about Charlie Gordon, a developmentally handicapped man, written by Daniel Keyes in 1966.
- The novel is told through Charlie's journal entries, which initially show his mental state through spelling errors.
- The story is set in the 1960s in New York City, which provides a mundane setting for the fantastical element of intelligence-boosting surgery.
Setting
- The setting is critical in the novel, highlighting the difference between the 1960s and modern-day attitudes towards disabilities and medical ethics.
- Charlie's surroundings change throughout the novel, showcasing his growing mental state.
- The story takes place in and around New York City, with key events happening in Brooklyn and Chicago.
Plot Summary
- Charlie's uncle gets him a job at a bakery to prevent him from being sent to the Warren Home.
- Charlie takes classes at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults, where he meets Alice Kinnian, who helps him volunteer for an experimental medical procedure to boost intelligence.
- Charlie's IQ increases to genius levels over three months, and his journal entries become more focused and professional.
- Charlie's increased intelligence leads to strained relationships with others, including Alice and his coworkers.
- Charlie runs away with Algernon, a mouse who was also subjected to the procedure, and begins to research the procedure to improve it.
- Charlie realizes the procedure's effects are temporary and Algernon dies, leading to Charlie's intelligence slowly fading away.
Analysis of Setting
- The change of setting provides Charlie with new opportunities and experiences.
- The setting highlights the preconceptions regarding people with mental disabilities and their treatment in the 1960s.
- Charlie's experiences in New York City and Chicago show him the lack of compassion and understanding in people with supposedly advanced intellects.
- The novel highlights the difference between analytical intelligence and emotional intelligence, as Charlie struggles with social relationships despite his increased intelligence.
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Description
Quiz about Daniel Keyes' novel Flowers for Algernon, published in 1966, about a developmentally handicapped man named Charlie Gordon. The novel is a science fiction story told through Charlie's journal entries.
