The Glass Castle – Jeanette Walls
Reading Assignments
Reading Completion Date:
A Day: Monday, January 9
B Day: Tuesday, January 10
As you read, record passages of characterization for Jeanette and her family members. Also keep in
mind the title and its symbolic significance throughout the novel.
Tone Passages
Due: January 9-10
Identify three different passages throughout the novel that suggest a clear tone. The three
passages must come from different chapters in the book. Record the passage and the page
number and label the tone that is conveyed to the reader. Provide a brief explanation as to why
each selection reflects the tone indicated. Include references to diction, syntax, and descriptive
detail from each passage that illustrate the tone indicated.
Mood Passages
Due: January 9-10
Identify three different passages throughout the novel that create a definitive mood. The three
passages must come from different chapters in the book. Record the passage and the page
number and label the mood that is conveyed to the reader. Provide a brief explanation as to
why each selection reflects the mood indicated. Include references to diction, syntax, and
descriptive detail from each passage that illustrate the mood indicated.
Character Text Poem
Due: Friday, January 13
Create a poem consisting of no fewer than 25 lines to chart the “journey” of Jeanette Walls
over the course of the novel. The poem must consist solely of passages/text quotations from
the novel, placed in a logical order to coherently convey a summarized version of Walls’s
personal experiences (growth and changes, triumphs and challenges). Each passage/quotation
used within the poem must be followed by the page number from which the passage/quotation
was retrieved. Poems should consist of well-integrated text excerpts from various parts of the
book and therefore no more than two consecutive sentences from the novel can be used
consecutively. Text should be manipulated to tell the story with clarity and coherence, i.e.
fragments of excerpts may be used, and quotations may be placed out of original chronological
order.
The Glass Castle – Jeanette Walls
Reflection Questions
Due: January 9-10
Directions: Answer the following questions with thoughtful, reflective responses.
1. Though The Glass Castle is brimming with unforgettable stories; which scenes were the
most memorable for you? Which were most shocking, the most inspiring, the
funniest?
2. The book jacket of the novel contains this quote from the Atlanta JournalConstitution, “Charles Dickens’s scenes of poverty and hardship are no more audacious
and no more provocative than those in the pages of this stunning memoir.” Find a
section in the novel that confirms/proves the above statement that Walls paints a vivid
portrait of poverty in her memoir. List the page numbers on which the example exists
and write a brief summary of the episode.
3. The first story Walls tells of her childhood is that of her burning herself severely at age
three, and her father dramatically takes her from the hospital: “You’re safe now” (14).
Why do you think she opens with that story, and how does it set the stage for the rest of
the memoir?
4. Rex Walls often asked his children, “Have I ever let you down?” Why was this question
(and the required “No, Dad” response) so important for him--and for his kids? On what
occasions did he actually come through for them?
5. What kind of man was Rex Walls? What were his strengths and weaknesses, his flaws and
contradictions?
6. What kind of woman was Rose Mary Walls? What did you think about her description of
herself as an “excitement addict”?
7. In college, Jeannette is singled out by a professor for not understanding the plight of
homeless people; instead of defending herself, she keeps quiet. Why do you think she does
this? Is homelessness a choice?
8. The two major pieces of the memoir – one half set in the desert and one half in West
Virginia -- feel distinct. What effect did such a big move have on the family --and on your
reading of the story? How would you describe the shift in the book’s tone?
9. What was Jeannette’s relationship to her siblings? Were you surprised to learn that, as
adults, Jeannette and her siblings remained close to their parents?
10. The most extraordinary thing about The Glass Castle is that despite everything, Jeannette
Walls refuses to condemn her parents. Were you able to be equally nonjudgmental?
11. What character traits — both good and bad — do you think that Jeannette inherited from
her parents? And how do you think those traits shaped Jeannette's life?
12. Titles are very important whether you are writing a short essay or a novel-length
book. A clever or symbolic title is the reader’s first hint as to what the writing will be
about. What does the title The Glass Castle do for the novel? What does it mean
metaphorically or symbolically? Why do you think Walls choose this particular title?
What other titles could she have chosen from her memoir?
13. As memoirs have emerged as one of the more popular literary forms, many have
come under scrutiny as they have been revealed to be false or have discrepancies. How
do we remember the events of our lives? Could you tell a true story of your life without
embellishment or selective facts? What constitutes a true story?