Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Study Guide: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Characters: Make a list of at least 10 significant characters in the novel. Briefly describe each character including his or her relationship to or influence on Charlie.

Alice Kinnian/ Mrs. Kinnian: Charlie’s ex-teacher at Beekman School for Retarded Adults. Later in the story, Charlie and she develop feelings for each other, yet old Charlie doesn’t want to allow Charlie , Charlie experiences a different kind of love the last time they have. Emotionally immature.

Fay Lillman: Neighbors with Charlie, likes to dance and party; take Charlie out or goes out a lot. Introduced Charlie to his drinking problem. Distracts him from his work.

Nemur: speaks to Charlie throughout the experiment. He has a hard time making friends because he gets aggravated when people laugh at him. Wants position as Chair of Psychology at Princeton University.

Dr. Strauss: Neurosurgeon who operated on Charlie. Co-leader of the whole experiment and Charlie’s therapist.

Matt: Charlie’s father. He is divorced from his mother because they kept fighting over whether the family should keep trying to fix Charlie- mom- wants to keep trying, dad- wants to stop trying and just accept him for who he is; now owns a barber shop in the Bronx.

Rose: Charlie's mother. She never loved Charlie for who he was and now has dementia. Abused Charlie a lot.

Norma: Charlie's sister. She lives with her mother and struggles for money. She never showed affection towards Charlie as a child; gave permission for Charlie to receive surgery; when meets Charlie again, is warm and welcoming to him. The name “Norma” symbolizes how she is the normal child.

Algernon: the white mouse first tested on with the intelligence experiment, is model to what will happen to Charlie. He eventually deteriorated and died after becoming erratic and aggressive. Charlie asks Burt to bring him home and bury him when he dies, not put in incinerator. Charlie always put flowers on his grave.

Minnie: Algernon’s girlfriend/companion, introduced by Fay.

Bakery Boys (and Fanny)

Mr. Donner: Owner of the bakery. First person to take Charlie in and give him a job.

Frank: One of Charlie's friends at the bakery. Started out as a very mean to him. The fast talker/ ladies man.

Joe: Leader of the group of friends at the bakery. The main man in jeering at Charlie and coming up with ways to embarrass him.

Gimpy: Stole from the store by adjusting prices on items when Mr.Donner was