The Perks of Being a Wallflower Study Guide
1-21
- Who do you think Charlie is writing to? Are there certain age groups/people who listen better than others?
- How did Charlie react to Michael’s suicide?
- Describe Charlie’s family. What is his relationship with the various people in his family?
- Who is Susan? Do you think she is a typical freshman having made the transition from middle school to high school?
- Describe the incident with Sean.
- Describe the relationship between Charlie’s sister and her boyfriend. Is this a healthy relationship?
- Who is Nothing? What do you think the significance of this name is to Charlie?
- Who is Sam? What is Charlie’s immediate reaction to her?
- What do we learn about Charlie during his last letter?
21-39
- Sam says that girls like guys who give them a “purpose.” Do you agree with this statement?
- Do you agree with Bill’s statement, “We accept the love we think we deserve?”
- What relationship does Charlie have with Bill? Is this a healthy student/teacher relationship?
- What did Charlie see at the party at his house? What bothers him the most about recounting the experience?
- Describe the feeling of being “infinite.” Is it something you have ever experienced?
- What does Charlie see at Bob’s house? Was this event foreshadowed earlier in the novel?
- What is a wallflower? Does Charlie fulfill your definition?
- After reading part one, what are you impression of Charlie? Is he a “typical” teenager, or is he more similar to Holden. Is one or the other “more” healthy?
42-64
- Who is Mary Elizabeth?
- Describe the relationship between Patrick and Brad.
- What is the Rocky Horror Picture Show? How might this show/scene appeal to Charlie?
- Charlie says, “Old pictures look very rugged and young, and the people in the photographs always seem a lot happier than you are.” Do you agree with this statement?
65-96
- What is the significance of the poem Charlie read aloud? Is there a connection to Michael or Charlie?
- What presents was Charlie given by his friends? Do any stand out as being symbolic?
- What is significance of the typewriter?
- Charlie refers to the “bad place” where he used to go. What does this imply?
- One of the books Charlie is given is Catcher in the Rye. What is that novel “appropriate for this time?”
- Does Charlie have problems at home? Explain.
- What happened to his Aunt Helen? What was it particularly hard on Charlie? Describe their relationship.
- Detail what happens to Charlie at the New Years Eve party.
96-126
- Charlie speaks of the “good” things that have begun happening to him. Explain them.
- What happens to Charlie’s sister? Do relationships grow out of turmoil?
- Describe Charlie’s relationship with Mary Elizabeth.
126-139
- Evaluate this quote, “Everything can’t be low self-esteem, can it?”
- At this point Charlie has made many references to his Psychiatrist. What do you think he’s suffering from (if anything)?
- What did Charlie do at Craig’s house? Was he right in doing this?
142-172
- What is the significance of the little boy being lost and returned by the “older kid?”
- Describe Charlie’s people watching during his April 29th letter. How is this impacting his outlook?
- Has Charlie regressed? Explain.
- What happens with Brad and Patrick?
- What happens between Charlie and Patrick?
172-end
1) What do we learn about Charlie’s past? Does this answer Charlie’s questions of “what is wrong with me?”