Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does Jeanette see outside her cab?
What does Jeanette see outside her cab?
Her mom digging through the trash.
How did Jeanette catch on fire?
How did Jeanette catch on fire?
She was cooking hot dogs.
The nurse gave Jeanette gum for the first time, and her mom approved.
The nurse gave Jeanette gum for the first time, and her mom approved.
False (B)
What did the Walls call it when they had to leave town quickly?
What did the Walls call it when they had to leave town quickly?
What was the name of the sister who died and how old was she?
What was the name of the sister who died and how old was she?
What was Rex's plan regarding their constant moving?
What was Rex's plan regarding their constant moving?
What was the important invention her father had to find gold?
What was the important invention her father had to find gold?
What happened to Jeanette on her and her family's way to Las Vegas?
What happened to Jeanette on her and her family's way to Las Vegas?
Why did the Walls move from Las Vegas?
Why did the Walls move from Las Vegas?
What does Jeanette become fascinated with at a young age?
What does Jeanette become fascinated with at a young age?
What is the name of the doll Jeanette melted?
What is the name of the doll Jeanette melted?
What was the name of their first pet and what happened to it?
What was the name of their first pet and what happened to it?
What is the glass castle?
What is the glass castle?
What two things does Wells compare her family to?
What two things does Wells compare her family to?
What did Jeanette want for her 10th birthday?
What did Jeanette want for her 10th birthday?
What are the names of Jeannette's three sisters?
What are the names of Jeannette's three sisters?
What are Rex's two main addictions?
What are Rex's two main addictions?
What does Rose Mary want to be?
What does Rose Mary want to be?
At the zoo, what animal did Rex let his children pet?
At the zoo, what animal did Rex let his children pet?
What did Rex give Jeanette one year for Christmas?
What did Rex give Jeanette one year for Christmas?
When Jeanette was in 1st grade, why did the two Mexican girls beat her up?
When Jeanette was in 1st grade, why did the two Mexican girls beat her up?
What is Jeanette's nickname?
What is Jeanette's nickname?
What is Jeanette's favorite book?
What is Jeanette's favorite book?
What was the ugliest pet that the Walls ever owned?
What was the ugliest pet that the Walls ever owned?
Where do Jeanette and her mother agree to meet to talk in the first chapter?
Where do Jeanette and her mother agree to meet to talk in the first chapter?
How did Jeanette learn how to swim?
How did Jeanette learn how to swim?
How did Jeannette's mother finally help bring in money for the family?
How did Jeannette's mother finally help bring in money for the family?
What is the name of the van the Walls drive everywhere?
What is the name of the van the Walls drive everywhere?
Since the Walls were on a mission to find gold, Jeannette's dad found a place in northern Nevada called?
Since the Walls were on a mission to find gold, Jeannette's dad found a place in northern Nevada called?
At Battle Mountain, what kind of job did Jeannette's father get?
At Battle Mountain, what kind of job did Jeannette's father get?
Why was Jeanette's father tied up and 'tortured' for a short time?
Why was Jeanette's father tied up and 'tortured' for a short time?
What was Jeannette's one thing she could bring with her to Phoenix?
What was Jeannette's one thing she could bring with her to Phoenix?
What did Rex use to fix the neighbor's TV?
What did Rex use to fix the neighbor's TV?
How long did Rose Mary claim she was pregnant with Lori?
How long did Rose Mary claim she was pregnant with Lori?
Where did the kids ride during the move from Blythe to Battle Mountain?
Where did the kids ride during the move from Blythe to Battle Mountain?
Where did Jeannette learn how to swim?
Where did Jeannette learn how to swim?
What is the 'Battle of Little Hobart Street'?
What is the 'Battle of Little Hobart Street'?
What name did Jeannette want to name her new baby sister?
What name did Jeannette want to name her new baby sister?
What is Jeannette's baby sister's real name?
What is Jeannette's baby sister's real name?
Study Notes
Key Characters and Family Dynamics
- Jeanette Walls reflects on her unconventional childhood with her parents, Rex and Rose Mary, and her three sisters: Lori, Maureen, and Mary Charlene.
- Rex is characterized by his two main addictions: gambling and alcohol, impacting the family’s stability.
- Rose Mary aspires to be an artist, illustrating the family's artistic inclinations despite financial struggles.
Childhood Experiences
- Jeanette survives a fire caused by cooking hot dogs, marking her adventurous and reckless childhood.
- Raises concerns regarding their lifestyle, as her mother disapproves of simple pleasures like chewing gum, viewing it as a "low class vulgar habit."
- Fascination with fire leads to notable incidents, including the melting of her Tinkerbell doll and an interest in seeing the world through fire.
Family Ventures and Moves
- The family engages in frequent moves, referred to as "skedaddle," due to Rex's gambling issues and dishonesty.
- They leave Las Vegas after Rex is caught cheating at blackjack by a casino owner.
- Jeannette learns to swim after being repeatedly thrown into a hot spring by her father, showing a harsh yet practical approach to life skills.
Peculiar Family Life
- The children endure unusual experiences like petting a cheetah at the zoo and absurd parental choices, such as throwing their cat Quixote out the window.
- Rex maintains a whimsical outlook on their misfortunes, including ambitious dreams like building a "glass castle" that symbolizes hope and stability.
- The Walls' van is named "The Green Caboose," which signifies their transient lifestyle.
Significant Events and Interactions
- A pivotal moment occurs when the kids ride in the back of a U-Haul truck during their move from Blythe to Battle Mountain.
- Jeanette's longing for normalcy is evident when she wishes her father would stop drinking for her tenth birthday.
- Their journey brings them to Battle Mountain, where Rex gets a job as an electrician in a barite mine, showing a brief return to stability.
Notable Incidents
- Jeanette is bullied in school for her height and appearance, illustrating challenges faced during her formative years.
- The family experiences hardship, evident when Rose Mary eventually becomes a teacher to contribute financially.
- A memorable Christmas gift from Rex to Jeanette is the planet Venus, symbolizing the magical yet erratic nature of her upbringing.
On Relationships and Challenges
- Jeanette expresses a desire for connection and normalcy, seen in her poignant wishes and imaginative dreams for her family’s future.
- The family's nickname for their life is juxtaposed with harsh realities, demonstrated through quirky yet troubling events.
- The metaphor of the "Battle of Little Hobart Street" symbolizes sibling solidarity during confrontations with bullies, showcasing their resilience.
Dreams and Aspirations
- The "glass castle" represents both a literal and metaphorical aspiration for safety and beauty in Jeannette's chaotic home life.
- Throughout their journeys, the children maintain a sense of hope and curiosity, embodied in Jeanette's attachment to a single geode during their travels.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of Chapter 1 from 'The Glass Castle' through these flashcards. Explore key moments and facts including Jeanette's experiences and her family's dynamics. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of the text.
