Socratic Seminar Questions for "Flowers for Algernon"

• Your HW tonight is to prepare for our Socratic Seminar on "Flowers for Algernon."
• The more thoroughly your respond to the questions, the better prepared you'll be.
• You can bullet your thoughts and ideas, and you can bring your responses with you to the seminar.
• Respond to the questions in JE #4/left and right. Please copy the question before you respond.

1. Is it morally right or wrong to experiment with altering intelligence or personality through artificial means (experimental operations, etc.)? Make sure to support your opinion well. Anticipate the challenges of those who disagree with you.

2. In the writing of the story, some of Daniel Keyes's editors wanted him to make it have a happy ending with Charly and Miss Kinnian getting married and living "happily ever after." In what ways would this have changed Keyes's message?

3. Is ignorance bliss? Was it harder for Charly to find out what he used to be like, or would he have been better off never knowing? What did he learn about tolerance (and intolerance)?

4. What other movies, books, or stories have you read or heard about which deal with this theme of altering the mind? Why do you think it's a prevalent theme in science fiction?

5. Do you believe the doctors in the story acted responsibly or irresponsibly in dealing with Charly? If you believe they acted irresponsibly, what should they have done differently?