the perks of being a wallflower essay examples

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

By stephen chbosky, the perks of being a wallflower essay questions.

What does Bill mean by "We accept the love we think we deserve," and how does Charlie apply this quotation to his own life?

The answer to this question should address the context within which Bill offers this idea to Charlie - the moment when Charlie's sister is hit by her boyfriend. However, an effective answer should also focus on Bill's concern over Charlie's observational tendencies. Charlie is constantly thinking about how other people experience love, and Bill tries to provide a framework that will help Charlie to work through his own relationships. Charlie uses this quote to talk to his sister and also to handle his erotic and romantic feelings for Sam.

Who is the "friend" to whom Charlie is writing, and what is the overall effect of the phrase "Dear friend," as used in Charlie's letters?

The "friend" in Charlie's letters goes unnamed throughout the novel. Because of the "friend's" anonymity, the reader of the novel can feel an intimacy with Charlie. By the end of the novel, the reader feels as though Charlie has been writing to him or her in all of the letters.

How is Charlie a "wallflower," and how does this idea relate to the title of the novel?

Patrick calls Charlie a wallflower at Bob's Homecoming party and says, "You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand." Previously, Charlie's observational tendencies had been framed in a negative light, but now Charlie has found a group in which these traits are seen as positive attributes. Charlie is becoming more comfortable in his own skin and with his past experiences, and he is finally discovering "the perks of being a wallflower."

What is the role of sexuality in the novel, and what forms does sexuality take for the characters?

Sexuality plays a major role in the novel and takes many forms: LGBTQ identities, sexual abuse, and sexual desire. To take one major example, Patrick's experience concealing his sexual relationship with Brad is one of the breakthrough literary portrayals of LGBTQ youth. Sexual abuse also lurks behind many of the major characters: Aunt Helen, Sam, and Charlie were all sexually abused as children. Lastly, the novel deals with Charlie's sexual awakening, which is in important ways a result of his relationship with Sam, though he also has a sexual relationship with Mary Elizabeth.

How does Charlie develop through the novel and become more comfortable with his identity?

This essay should address the reason why Charlie began writing the letters in the first place - he was about to start high school. As he fosters both a personal and literary relationship with Bill, Charlie begins to think about his feelings in a more productive manner. Likewise, friendships with Sam, Patrick, and their larger group of friends help Charlie to see the positive aspects of his personality, and he begins to acknowledge the value he brings to society.

What is the significance of Charlie's decision not to provide the names of his family members?

While Charlie claims that he does not provide his family members' names in order to preserve his anonymity, there is significance in the fact that he provides the names of all of his friends. Charlie's identity could be easily determined from the information he provides about these acquaintances. This essay could talk about the significance of naming Charlie's friends, and could also explain how this writing strategy reflects the priority that they have in his life - a priority that, arguably, causes them to trump Charlie's own family.

In light of the specifics of Charlie's life, how can readers relate to his high school experiences?

This essay should touch on the fact that The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age story that describes a difficult time for many people: high school. However, people of all ages have struggled with fitting in and finding positions in society, two issues that Charlie is constantly writing about and reflecting on in his letters. Additionally, the story's coverage of drug use, or of experimentation more broadly, touches on issues that many people have explored in their own lives (whether directly or indirectly). Finally, it is hard not to relate to Charlie at the end of the novel, since the letters here are so intimate and leave the distinct impression that Charlie, seeking sympathy, is writing directly to the reader.

What is the role of secrecy in Charlie's life?

This essay should address the secrets that Charlie keeps for other people: Patrick's homosexual relationship, his father's crying, his sister's abortion, his sister's abusive relationship, and own his childhood sexual abuse. In some cases, secrets bring Charlie closer to other people; this is very much the case when he drives his sister to the abortion clinic and when he keeps Patrick's relationship a secret. In other cases, the secrets tear him down - for instance, when he conceals his own sexual abuse. An effective answer should compare and contrast the different ways that the secrets operate in Charlie's life, with both positive and negative results.

How does Charlie's writing style change depending on his mental state?

When Charlie is excited, his writing becomes sporadic and frequently takes off on tangents. He assumes a similarly choppy yet more panicky style when sadness begins to creep into his mind. When his actions are frenetic, so is his writing: he moves from one activity to another just as his writing jumps from one idea to another in surges of emotion. In contrast, when Charlie is happy and stable, his writing reflects such a state of mind and progresses in a much slower, much more logical manner.

What exactly are the perks of being a wallflower?

The answer to this question should delve into Charlie's life when he focuses on observation as contrasted to his life when he focuses on participation. An effective essay could discuss the moment when Patrick first calls Charlie a "wallflower" and Charlie's response to the label. In addition, the writer could offer some personal commentary on the perks of being a wallflower - perhaps by drawing on personal experience, or by explaining how Chbosky's novel relates to the contemporary high school scene.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

why do sam and craig break up

d. He's been cheating on her

Where in the story does Charlie meet people with difficult personal issues like cheating, abortion, and drug use?

February 15, 1992

That’s when she told me she was pregnant.

I would tell you about the rest of the night, but I honestly don’t remember much about it. It’s all a very sad daze. I do know that her boyfriend said it wasn’t his baby, but...

1. What do we learn about how Aunt Helen was? What happened to her when she was younger? Also, how did this affect her as she got older?

Aunt Helen was molested by a family friend, and she went into a downward spiral with drinking and drugs. You need to ask your question one at a time. Thanks.

Study Guide for The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower study guide contains a biography of Stephen Chbosky, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

About The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Perks of Being a Wallflower Summary
Character List

Essays for The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

Coming of Age in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Content with the Mediocre: The Underside of Acceptance in Chbosky's Novel
Tragedy and Toxicity in Kitchen and The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Lesson Plan for The Perks of Being a Wallflower

About the Author
Study Objectives
Common Core Standards
Introduction to The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Relationship to Other Books
Bringing in Technology
Notes to the Teacher
Related Links
The Perks of Being a Wallflower Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Introduction
Background and writing
Style and themes
Publication and reception

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower Essay Examples

The perks of being a wallflower: the theme of coming of age.

The perks of being a Wallflower written by Stephen Chbosky was released 1999 which was then released as a movie in 2012. The novel is a well-known coming of age story, which was set in 1991, follows Charlie, who is 14, through his life in...

Friendship Value in the Film "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

Perks of Being of Wallflower is set in the 1990s in the state of Pittsburgh. The film begins with the main character, Charlie, writing a letter to his best friend. This sets him up as the narrator for the remainder of the film in which...

The Benefits of Being an Introvert in the Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Many people do believe that being a wallflower is all negative. However, there is much evidence in the book that says otherwise. In the text, you will get to know the main person by the name of Charlie who is described in the novel as...

The Theme of Coming of Age in the Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is about Charlie a fifteen-year-old boy who has just entered his freshman year of high school. Charlie is a “wallflower.”A wallflower is a person who has no one to dance with or who feels shy, awkward, or excluded at...

The Role of Friends in Stephen Chbosky's the Perks of Being a Wallflower

One of the strongest messages portrayed in the novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is that life contains many obstacles, but to obtain true happiness, fears must be overcome with the help of friends. Throughout the novel, Charlie matures and gets exposed to different...

Analysis of the Main Messages in the Film Perks of Being a Wallflower

In this paper, I will analyze the messages in the film Perks of Being a Wallflower by looking at the story it tells about middle-class expressive individualism. First, I will introduce the movie and provide a brief summary of the film. I will closely analyze...

Review of the Book the Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The story is about a 15-year-old boy named Charlie who is an introvert and never gets involved in life directly and has just started his life in a high school and is terrified of making new friends. Although, he is an introvert yet he pays...

Why the Banning of the Perks of Being a Wallflower Was Justified

Coming-of-age novels are a fixture in reading lists of high schools across America. One such novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, has caused controversy due to the sensitive topics it covers and the controversy has raged on for nearly over a decade. Stephen Chbosky...

Why the Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Should not Be Banned

The first time I had ever heard the word depression I was five years old. When I say “heard” I don’t mean happening to hear it exchanged amid strangers conversation as I walked by. I was at a family barbeque with many of my relatives...

Reading Response to the Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower was written in 1999 by Stephen Chbosky, an American Novelist. He was in 20’s when he wrote the said novel. In his teenage life, he was captured by the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger and...

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About The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky

Young adult/Epistolary

United States

February 1, 1999

Championsination and celebration of inclusivity and tolerance by showing both how people can blossom when they are accepted for who they are and how painful life can be for people who are ignored or mistreated.

Charlie, Patrick, Sam, Craig, Bill Anderson, Mary Elizabeth, Brad, Bob, Charlie’s family and other.

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