“Flowers for Algernon” Review Team Bluff

Rules for Bluff Students are divided in teams of 4-7 players, seated together. The teacher will put a review question on the screen. Everyone is to answer for him or herself--NO TALKING. Members of the team “at bat” stand up if they know the answer or stay seated if they don’t. The teacher will choose which of the players standing to call upon, and the team’s score for that round is based on: Correct answer--score +2 points per person standing Wrong answer--score -1 point per person standing 3. If people are talking at any unauthorized time, their team could lose points. The winning team has the highest score.

1. Name Charlie’s two doctors who are in charge of the experiment.

Name Charlie’s two doctors who are in charge of the experiment. Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur

2. What is the name of Charlie’s landlady?

What is the name of Charlie’s landlady? Mrs. Flynn

3. Why does Charlie consent to be part of the experiment (two reasons required)?

Why does Charlie consent to be part of the experiment? Because he has always wanted to be smart and he wants to be closer to other people by being able to understand them better.

4. What work does Charlie do?

What work does Charlie do? He’s a janitor.

5. What is the name of Charlie’s teacher from night school?

What is the name of Charlie’s teacher from night school? Miss Kinnian

6. What is a Rorshacht test?

What is a Rorshacht test? An inkblot test.

7. By which method of characterization do we know that Charlie is motivated? Explain.

By which method of characterization do we know that Charlie is motivated? Other character’s opinions--Miss Kinnian and the doctors think he is motivated. Character’s actions--we see him trying his best to succeed

9. Who has a demanding wife?

9. Who has a demanding wife? Dr. Nemur

10. Name one of Charlie’s co-workers (first and last name).

10. Name one of Charlie’s co-workers (first and last name). Joe Carp, Frank Reilly, Fanny Girden

11. Why does Charlie stop working (the first time, not counting his recovery from the operation)?

11. Why does Charlie stop working (the first time, not counting his recovery from the operation)? All his co-workers but one sign a petition to ask to have him fired.

12. What’s the name of the lab technician in charge of the experimental animals?

12. What’s the name of the lab technician in charge of the experimental animals? Burt

13. How old is Charlie?

13. How old is Charlie? 37 years old

15. What’s the name Charlie uses for the game he plays with Algernon?

15. What’s the name Charlie uses for the game he plays with Algernon? “Amazed”

16. What’s some evidence that Joe and Frank change their attitude towards Charlie at the end of the story?

16. What’s some evidence that Joe and Frank change their attitude towards Charlie at the end of the story? They stand up for him against the new worker’s teasing.

Science should be guided by ethics is an example of a _________ that applies to the story. {Hint: This is a lesson the reader learns from the story.}

Science should be guided by ethics is an example of a _________ that applies to the story. {Hint: This is a lesson the reader learns from the story.} theme

20. What’s the name of the white mouse that is the most successful animal subject?

20. What’s the name of the white mouse that is the most successful animal subject? Algernon

18. What’s the name of the local bar where Charlie went with Joe and Frank?

18. What’s the name of the local bar where Charlie went with Joe and Frank? Muggsy’s Saloon

21. Give one reason why Dr. Nemur reluctantly agrees to use Charlie as subject of their operation.

21. Give one reason why Dr. Nemur reluctantly agrees to use Charlie as subject of their operation. *Ms. Kinnian recommended him *He’s highly motivated to do well; he attended night school and learned to read better on his own

22. What’s the basic definition of science fiction?

22. What’s the basic definition of science fiction? A story based on real or imagined advances in science or technology

23. Name three typical subjects for science fiction stories.

23. Name three typical subjects for science fiction stories. *space or time travel *encounter with non-humans or aliens *utopian/disutopian societies *possible human futures *advances in science

24. The conflict of a science fiction story is typically ______________.

24. The conflict of a science fiction story is typically ______________. Character vs society

25. Give two reasons why “Flowers for Algernon” is a science fiction story.

25. Give two reasons why “Flowers for Algernon” is a science fiction story. *Advances in technology (the operation) *Possible human futures (the doctors plan to use the operation widely if it’s successful) *Character vs society conflict (Charlie is an outcast when he’s brilliant)

26. What event that Charlie witnesses decide him in a focus for his work during his brief time as a genius?

26. What event that Charlie witnesses decide him in a focus for his work during his brief time as a genius? A retarded busboy breaks some dishes and gets mocked by the restaurant customers.

27. During the last entry in his journal, Charlie plans what action?

27. During the last entry in his journal, Charlie plans what action? To leave NY to live some place else.

28. What is the point of view of this story?

28. What is the point of view of this story? First person by Charlie

29. Where does the title “Flowers for Algernon” come from?

29. Where does the title “Flowers for Algernon” come from? In his final journal entry before he leaves, he asks whoever reads his words to put flowers on Algernon’s grave in his backyard.

30. Define mood in literature.

30. Define mood in literature. Mood is the story’s atmosphere, the feeling the reader gets from reading.

31. Give a mood word that applies to this quote and tell why you chose that word. “Now my mind is deteriorating rapidly. I won’t let it happen. I’ll fight it. I can’t help thinking of the boy in the restaurant, the blank expression, the silly smile. No--please--not that again….”

31. Give a mood word that applies to this quote and tell why you chose that word. “Now my mind is deteriorating rapidly. I won’t let it happen. I’ll fight it. I can’t help thinking of the boy in the restaurant, the blank expression, the silly smile. No--please--not that again….” The mood here is sorrowful, heart-rending, and hopeless. I feel this because I feel sympathy for Charlie’s pain and I know his intellectual decline can’t be stopped.

32. Name two examples of relationships with people that become worse for Charlie as he becomes more intelligent.

32. Name two examples of relationships with people that become worse for Charlie as he becomes more intelligent. Ms Kinnian--he falls in love with her but surpasses her mentally. Co-workers--they can’t accept the changes and ask for him to be fired Doctors--they feel inferior to Charlie when he’s a genius

33. Give an example of foreshadowing in the story.

33. Give an example of foreshadowing in the story. Algernon’s mental decline and death foreshadow that Charlie won’t stay intelligent.

34. Desribe three types of irony.

34. Describe three types of irony. *situational irony--when the story’s circumstances have an unexpected twist in them *verbal irony--when a character says the opposite of what he means *dramatic irony--when the reader knows something a character doesn’t know

35. Give an example of irony in “Flowers for Algernon 35. Give an example of irony in “Flowers for Algernon.” Identify it’s type.

35. Give an example of irony in “Flowers for Algernon 35. Give an example of irony in “Flowers for Algernon.” Identify it’s type. *situational irony--Charlie expects to have better relationships with people when he gets smarter, and actually he becomes more isolated from everyone *dramatic irony--we know Charlie’s friends are teasing him but at first he is clueless

36. Tell why the first person point of view improves this story.

Tell why the first person point of view improves this story. First person from Charlie’s point of view allows the reader to have a demonstration of his changing intelligence as he tells his story.