Flowers For Algernon

The experimental procedure is a major turning point in Charlie’s life. However, Charlie stresses that he was fully human before and after the operation. What aspects of Charlie’s character and environment connect his past and present? Why are they important to his sense of humanity?

Why do you think Charlie does not reveal his identity when he visits his father’s barbershop? Why do you think he later chooses to reunite with his mother but does not return to see his father again?

Explain the importance of Algernon to Charlie. Why does Charlie insist on burying Algernon and placing flowers on his grave? What is the symbolic significance of this decision?

A number of women are vital characters in the novel, including Rose, Alice, and Fay. Consider how the novel represents one or more of these women. Is the novel fair to them? In what ways is the novel’s depiction of the character(s) impacted by the fact that readers view events through Charlie’s eyes?

The later sections of the novel feature some mystical passages in which Charlie feels himself “blending with the universe” and “being lifted off the earth.” What is the significance of these passages? In what ways do they cast the earlier parts of the novel in a new way?

How does the style of the novel, such as the early progress reports with many spelling mistakes, contribute to the understanding of Charlie’s character? Do you agree with Keyes’s stylistic choices, or would you have presented the novel’s information in a different way?

Flowers for Algernon is often classified as a work of science fiction. Do you agree with this classification? Why or why not? What other works does the novel remind you of?

Research the way Flowers for Algernon has been received, including the many calls to ban it from schools or libraries. Why do you think there has been such a strong reaction to the book? Is it justified? Does the novel have qualities that make it worth reading despite the controversy surrounding it?