The Glass Castle
Discussion Questions (100-points)
Questions are due on the day that the reading is due. The packet will be collected on the day of the final test.
These questions will prepare you for the class activities, pop-reading quizzes, and discussions. For quotes,
identify the speaker, context, and significance.
Page 1-90
A Woman on the Street
Who is the woman on the street and what is she doing?
How does Jeannette’s mother feel about being homeless?
How does Jeannette feel about her parents being homeless?
The Desert
How old is the author at the start of this section?________Why is that significant?
What is Jeannette doing and what goes wrong?
“I know,” I said, “but if I’m not, that’s okay, too.”
Why are the nurses writing on the clipboard?
Why does Jeannette like the hospital? How is it different from her home?
How would you describe Jeannette’s family?
“I told her I didn’t care if I had some silly old scare. That was good, she said, because from the look of it I had
other things to worry about.”
How does Jeannette leave the hospital? What does this tell us about Jeannette’s father?
“As he held me close, I breathed in his familiar smell of Vitalis, whiskey, and cigarette smoke. It reminded me
of home.”
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“You can’t live in fear of something as basic as fire.”
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What fascinates Jeannette? What might this symbolize?
“I tried to smooth her features back to the way they had been, but I made them even worse.”
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“Don’t be so sentimental.”
Where does the family sleep that night? How does Jeannette feel about it and what does this tell us about her
character?
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What is the “skedaddle” and why is it done?
What is unusual about Jeannette’s childhood?
What might the following symbolize?
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Sandstorms (pg. 21-22)
Rain (pg. 22)
Cactus (pg. 22)
What is the Prospector?
What is the “drinking situation”?
Jeannette’s dad always “has a plan.” Describe what he plans to do when he finds gold.
How would you describe the author’s writing style? What does this say about her?
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Why does Jeannette’s mother say she married Jeannette’s father?
What does this tell us about her mother?
What does this tell us about her father?
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Who is Mary Charlene?
How did she affect Jeannette’s mother?
How did she affect Jeannette’s father?
Does Jeannette like moving around?
Why is the family going to Vegas? How is this similar to why people go to Vegas today?
How does Jeannette define “living somewhere”?
How do you define “living somewhere”?
When does Jeannette feel like Quixote?
Jeannette ends up laughing at the end of this chapter. What does this tell us about her?
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Why does the family leave Vegas?
“…I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire.”
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What could the Joshua tree symbolize?
“They love to frighten people, but the minute you stare them down, they turn tail and run.”
“It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that give it its beauty.”
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How does Jeannette’s family celebrate Christmas differently from other families?
What is the dramatic irony in this quote: “Rich city folks, he’d say, lived in fancy apartments, but their air was so
polluted they couldn’t even see the stars. We’d have to be out of our minds to want to trade places with any of
them.”
What does Jeannette’s dad give her for Christmas this year? What does this tell us about him?
Jeannette never complains or feels sorry for herself. Why do you think this is?
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What does Dad buy before the fight breaks out?
Why might Jeannette’s teacher call on her to read when the principal walks into the room?
Who is Maureen?
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“It seemed like we’d have to ride it out.”
What does it mean to improvise?
List 4-5 ways the family improvises in Battle Mountain.
What is Jeannette’s favorite time of day? Why?
Are Jeannette’s parents literate or illiterate?
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Describe the parenting style of Jeannette’s mom and dad.
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How does Dad react to the fire?
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What is a cathouse?
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“Mom liked to encourage ______________________ in all creatures.”
How does Jeannette learn to swim? Is this surprising?
How would you describe Jeannette’s feelings towards her father?
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Which unspoken rule does Jeannette break?
“Everything’s okay now.”
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What does Jeannette’s mom do for work? How does her parenting style compare to her professional style?
How does Mom keep her job?
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What does Jeannette’s mom give her in a sock?
How do Brian and Lori’s feelings towards Dad differ from Jeannette’s?
Why does Brian like Ginger?
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What is Mom’s theory about delinquents?
How would you describe Jeanette’s first kiss?
“In the pitch-black night, there was nothing to look at by the road ahead, lit by the car’s headlights.”
Page 91-125
Compare Mom and Grandma Smith.
Describe Mom’s emotions about the death.
Both of Jeannette’s parents are addicts. To what is each parent addicted?
Mom_____________________
Dad___________________
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How does Mom feel about Lori needing glasses?
How does Lori feel about getting glasses?
Mom says, “Life is a bowl of cherries, with a few nuts thrown in.” Complete the phrase to reflect your own
philosophy of life:
Life is _____________________________________________________________________, with _________
________________________________________________________________________________________.
List 3 things the kids/family get(s) in Phoenix?
What is Mom’s “solution” to roaches? What is Dad’s “solution” to termite holes?
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“…it was essential that we refuse to surrender to fear.”
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“…she treated the Ten Commandments more like the Ten ______________________.”
In what does Dad believe?
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Why does the family go the zoo?
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List 2 ways that Mom and Dad break the law and how they justify each action.
What happens to the Christmas tree?
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What does Jeannette want for her 10th birthday?
“Don’t worry,” I said. “Dad will fix it.”
“…if I had the proper tools.”
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Write three adjectives to describe Jeanette’s father. Be able to support your choices.
Page 126-154
Welch
“Life is a drama full of tragedy and comedy…you should learn to enjoy the comic episodes a little more.”
Why does the family go to Welch?
What does Dad have in common with his family?
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NOTES ON THE 1950s:
What is Mom’s focus throughout the story? (Hint: NOT her family)
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How is Jeannette’s first day of 5th grade?
Why does Dinitia stop bullying Jeannette?
“Situations like these, I realized, were what turned people into hypocrites.”
What is compassion?
“Everyone has something good about that…you have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.”
Think of a person you hate, or deeply dislike. Think of one redeeming quality that person possesses.
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“…this is not a house for the faint of heart.”
“…you could get creative and wing it.”
Page 154-185
What is symbolic about what happens to the foundation for the Glass Castle?
How does Mom feel about the rat? Is this consistent with what we know about her character?
“Life’s too short to worry about what other people think.”
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How does Jeannette describe her time in California to Ginnie Sue? What does this tell us about her?
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List 3 of the explanations Jeannette gives for the violence in Welch.
How do Brian and Jeannette retaliate against Ernie and his gang?
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How do Lori and Jeannette’s taste in books differ? What does this tell us about each girl?
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How does Jeannette eat lunch in 6th grade?
What does Mom do that emphasizes her selfishness?
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Identify 2 types of figurative language in this description: “…the first big snow started with fat wet flakes the
size of butterflies. They floated down lazily.”
Look up the definition of resourceful and write it here: _____________________________________________
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List 3 ways the children are resourceful in this section (pg. 171-179).
How does the family “splurge”?
“If that were true I’d be Hercules by now.”
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What is an expression we use today that means the same thing as: “I’ve got kites to fly and fish to fry.”
What are Jeannette’s aspirations? Why do you think she has these dreams?
“If you don’t think you’re hurt then you aren’t.”
Page 186-217
How do the children perceive the value of the diamond ring? How does Jeannette’s mother perceive the value of
the ring? What is this unusual?
Why does Jeannette’s mother say she can’t leave Jeannette’s father?
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“Real estate’s about three things, Mountain Goat. _______________, _______________, _____________.”
“I’d never felt cleaner.”
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Why does Jeannette get mad?
What does the painting symbolize?
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Define remedial: __________________________________________________________________________.
Why does Mom buy dented cans?
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Why is Dinitia arrested? What do you think was her motive for this crime?
What is Jeannette insecure about and what does she decide to do? How does her Dad react?
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List 2 things that Jeannette and Miss Bivens have in common.
“I began to feel like I was getting the whole story for the first time, that I was being handed the missing pieces to
the puzzle, and the world was making a little more sense.”
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Where is Maureen most of the time? Dad? Mom?
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How do Lori and Jeannette’s opinions of Mom differ?
“If was like that time I threw you into the sulfur spring to teach you to swim…you might have been convinced
you were going to drown but I knew you’d do just fine.”
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“Being a strong woman was harder than I had thought.”
Where is Jeannette’s first real job and how old is she?
Why does Jeannette want a watch?
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In what way are Jeannette’s choices on pg. 216-217 similar to choices her parents have made?
In what way are Jeannette’s choices on pg. 216-217 different than choices her parents have made?
Page 218-251
Look up the definition of irony and copy it here:
What is ironic about Mom saying, “It’s time I did something for myself”?
What 2 decisions does Jeannette make on pg. 221?
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How can New York City be compared to the Glass Castle?
List the things each child does to save.
Lori:
Brian:
Jeannette:
Why does Jeannette have green and blue spots on her legs?
Who is Elvis? What does Elvis represent?
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What does Jeannette’s job as news editor allow her to do?
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“Sheep don’t win horse races.”
What happens to Oz?
How does Lori get to New York?
What does Jeannette do to boost circulation?
Who does Dad admire? Why do you think this is?
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What idea does Jeannette get after talking to her guidance counselor?
“...it’s not fair.”
Why do you think Dad pulls out the plans for the Glass Castle?
“…you’ll never build the Glass Castle.”
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“I wanted to leave everything from the past behind, even the good things…”
Describe the relationship of the Walls children in one word: ___________________________
Who takes Jeannette to the bus station and what does this say about each parent?
New York City
How is the symbol of fire seen in Jeannette’s first glimpse of New York City? Why might the author continue
this symbolism?
“I hoped when New Yorkers look at me, they would see whatever it was that Dad saw.”
Are you surprised:
Jeannette gets a job so quickly? Explain.
Jeannette fights back against muggers? Explain.
Jeannette invites Brian to live with them in New York? Explain.
Who changes Jeannette’s mind about college?
Who is left in Welch at this point in the book (pg. 251)?
Page 252-279
“To the family.”
“Sometimes you need a little crisis to get your adrenaline flowing and help you realize your potential.”
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“What do you know about the hardships and obstacles that the underclass faces?”
How do you think Professor Fuchs felt after reading Jeannette’s book?
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Throughout the book, Dad is always openly ___________________ of Jeannette.
“And so we talked about the movies.”
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“Ain’t none of us getting out of this alive…”
What does Dad reconsider in his time in the hospital? What might this foreshadow?
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Who does Mom blame for her homelessness on pg. 264?
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To what are Mom and Dad most addicted?
How do Mom and Dad feel about presents?
How does Dad finally come through for Jeannette?
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Why does Jeannette like Eric?
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“Where are the values I raised you with?”
“You never had much going for you except _________________________________________________.”
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What is the irony on pg. 273?
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“I just stood there looking from one distorted face to another, listening to this babble of enraged squabbling as
the members of the Walls family gave vent to all their years of hurt and anger, each unloading his or her own
accumulated grievances and blaming the others for allowing the most fragile on of us to break into pieces.”
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What changes after Maureen breaks? Why do you think this is?
Why does Dad grow a beard?
“He started chuckling because he knew there was only one way I could ever answer that question.”
Page 280-288
Why do you think Jeannette feels better “on the move”?
How does her break from Eric distinguish Jeannette from her parents?
Thanksgiving
Do you think John is a better match for Jeannette than Eric? Explain your answer.
“But she laughs just like you do.”
“Life with your father was never boring.”
What is the tone of the overall book? What is the message?