Podcast
Questions and Answers
Describe how Mom looks when J spots her on the street.
Describe how Mom looks when J spots her on the street.
Old, dirty, has rags on her shoulders to keep her warm. She is rummaging through the trash.
Why does J drive away in the taxi without acknowledging her mother?
Why does J drive away in the taxi without acknowledging her mother?
She does not want her mom to call out her name. She does not want people to know she knows the homeless woman. She is embarrassed of her mother and ashamed of herself.
Identify an instance of juxtaposition in this section.
Identify an instance of juxtaposition in this section.
When J is dressed elegantly for a party and sees her mom rummaging through the trash.
Characterize Mom using details from J's lunch with her.
Characterize Mom using details from J's lunch with her.
What does Mom mean when she says J's values are all confused?
What does Mom mean when she says J's values are all confused?
What is a biography?
What is a biography?
What is an autobiography?
What is an autobiography?
What is a memoir?
What is a memoir?
What is juxtaposition?
What is juxtaposition?
What is comic relief?
What is comic relief?
According to Walls, what is her earliest memory?
According to Walls, what is her earliest memory?
When the hospital staff asks why J was cooking hot dogs, what answer does she give?
When the hospital staff asks why J was cooking hot dogs, what answer does she give?
What inference can be drawn from the reactions of the nurses to J's answer about the hot dog incident?
What inference can be drawn from the reactions of the nurses to J's answer about the hot dog incident?
Describe the hospital and how J is treated there. How does J feel about the hospital?
Describe the hospital and how J is treated there. How does J feel about the hospital?
What happens to Brian while J is in the hospital?
What happens to Brian while J is in the hospital?
What does it mean to 'check out, Rex Walls-style'?
What does it mean to 'check out, Rex Walls-style'?
What is Jeanette's dad's name?
What is Jeanette's dad's name?
What is Jeanette's mom's name?
What is Jeanette's mom's name?
What is Jeanette's younger brother's name?
What is Jeanette's younger brother's name?
What is Jeanette's older sister's name?
What is Jeanette's older sister's name?
What is Jeanette's younger sister's name?
What is Jeanette's younger sister's name?
According to J, what does Dad smell like?
According to J, what does Dad smell like?
How does J feel about the fire after the hot dog accident?
How does J feel about the fire after the hot dog accident?
What happens to J's Tinkerbell doll?
What happens to J's Tinkerbell doll?
Why does Dad awaken the family in the middle of the night?
Why does Dad awaken the family in the middle of the night?
How does the family prepare to leave?
How does the family prepare to leave?
What happens in the car that upsets J and what do her parents do to rectify the situation?
What happens in the car that upsets J and what do her parents do to rectify the situation?
Out in the desert, J tells Lori, 'We could live like this forever,' to which Lori replies, 'I think we're going to.' What could Lori's answer foreshadow?
Out in the desert, J tells Lori, 'We could live like this forever,' to which Lori replies, 'I think we're going to.' What could Lori's answer foreshadow?
Describe Dad's paranoid tendencies.
Describe Dad's paranoid tendencies.
Who is Grandma Smith?
Who is Grandma Smith?
What is Grandma Smith's relationship to Dad like?
What is Grandma Smith's relationship to Dad like?
How are the Walls children educated?
How are the Walls children educated?
Describe the weather-related oddities of living in the desert as described by J.
Describe the weather-related oddities of living in the desert as described by J.
What is the Prospector?
What is the Prospector?
What does the reader learn about Dad?
What does the reader learn about Dad?
What is the Glass Castle?
What is the Glass Castle?
What do Dad's plans about the Glass Castle suggest about him?
What do Dad's plans about the Glass Castle suggest about him?
What are two significant events in the relationship between Mom and Dad?
What are two significant events in the relationship between Mom and Dad?
How does J feel about Mom and Dad's first meeting?
How does J feel about Mom and Dad's first meeting?
How does Mom feel about her meeting with Dad?
How does Mom feel about her meeting with Dad?
What is Mom's philosophy about tending to children's injuries?
What is Mom's philosophy about tending to children's injuries?
How did Mom react to Mary Charlene's death?
How did Mom react to Mary Charlene's death?
How did Dad react to Mary Charlene's death?
How did Dad react to Mary Charlene's death?
How would you describe the way Walls organized her memoir?
How would you describe the way Walls organized her memoir?
Why does Dad want to go to Las Vegas?
Why does Dad want to go to Las Vegas?
How do J and her siblings define 'lived'?
How do J and her siblings define 'lived'?
How many places have the Wallses lived based on the children's definition?
How many places have the Wallses lived based on the children's definition?
What happens during the drive after Mom and Dad leave the bar?
What happens during the drive after Mom and Dad leave the bar?
What is an example of comic relief in this section?
What is an example of comic relief in this section?
Why does the Walls family leave Las Vegas?
Why does the Walls family leave Las Vegas?
What item does J play with in the Tenderloin District?
What item does J play with in the Tenderloin District?
What crisis occurs in the hotel room?
What crisis occurs in the hotel room?
Explain what J means when she says, 'I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire.'
Explain what J means when she says, 'I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire.'
Describe the Joshua tree.
Describe the Joshua tree.
What does Mom think of the Joshua tree?
What does Mom think of the Joshua tree?
What does Jeannette think of the Joshua tree?
What does Jeannette think of the Joshua tree?
What is the Joshua Tree symbolism for?
What is the Joshua Tree symbolism for?
In what way does Dad's fabrication of 'Demon' reflect his parenting style?
In what way does Dad's fabrication of 'Demon' reflect his parenting style?
What significant event happens to Mom?
What significant event happens to Mom?
J says, 'I was torturing the fire, giving it life, and snuffing it out.' What occurrence is reminiscent of this same idea?
J says, 'I was torturing the fire, giving it life, and snuffing it out.' What occurrence is reminiscent of this same idea?
Explain Mom's philosophy towards art and writing.
Explain Mom's philosophy towards art and writing.
According to Mom, what makes the Joshua tree extraordinary?
According to Mom, what makes the Joshua tree extraordinary?
What is the irony behind the Walls parents saying the way other families celebrate Christmas isn't normal?
What is the irony behind the Walls parents saying the way other families celebrate Christmas isn't normal?
What is the irony behind the Walls parents saying Santa isn't real?
What is the irony behind the Walls parents saying Santa isn't real?
How does Dad feel about the stars?
How does Dad feel about the stars?
What do the Walls children receive from Dad for Christmas?
What do the Walls children receive from Dad for Christmas?
What is unique about J's choice of star?
What is unique about J's choice of star?
How does J feel about the bats in Midland?
How does J feel about the bats in Midland?
How does Mom and Dad's fight begin?
How does Mom and Dad's fight begin?
What does Mom do in response to Dad's offensive comments?
What does Mom do in response to Dad's offensive comments?
What does Dad do in response to Mom getting out of the car?
What does Dad do in response to Mom getting out of the car?
How does Mom and Dad's argument get resolved?
How does Mom and Dad's argument get resolved?
Describe J's experience at school in Blythe.
Describe J's experience at school in Blythe.
How does J feel about her father's methods?
How does J feel about her father's methods?
How do J and Brian handle the Mexican bullies together?
How do J and Brian handle the Mexican bullies together?
Is J and Brian's plan against the bullies successful?
Is J and Brian's plan against the bullies successful?
What promise does J make to her new baby sister?
What promise does J make to her new baby sister?
Why does Mom wait several weeks before naming her new daughter?
Why does Mom wait several weeks before naming her new daughter?
Why does the Walls family leave Blythe?
Why does the Walls family leave Blythe?
What does J say about riding in the back of the U-Haul? What does this proclamation indicate about her?
What does J say about riding in the back of the U-Haul? What does this proclamation indicate about her?
What happens in the U-Haul while Dad is driving?
What happens in the U-Haul while Dad is driving?
In what condition is the Prospector on the truck?
In what condition is the Prospector on the truck?
What inference can be drawn from how Dad packs the Prospector?
What inference can be drawn from how Dad packs the Prospector?
How does Dad react when he discovers the back doors of the U-Haul open?
How does Dad react when he discovers the back doors of the U-Haul open?
Soon after moving to Battle Mountain, what item does Mom decide the house needs?
Soon after moving to Battle Mountain, what item does Mom decide the house needs?
What happens to the piano?
What happens to the piano?
What kinds of activities and games do J and her siblings partake in while living in Battle Mountain?
What kinds of activities and games do J and her siblings partake in while living in Battle Mountain?
Explain the 'Ergo Game.'
Explain the 'Ergo Game.'
Walls includes various maxims from her parents throughout the memoir. Identify a maxim in this section.
Walls includes various maxims from her parents throughout the memoir. Identify a maxim in this section.
What is a maxim?
What is a maxim?
Describe the Owl Club.
Describe the Owl Club.
Based on the descriptions provided in this section, how does Walls look back on her time in Battle Mountain?
Based on the descriptions provided in this section, how does Walls look back on her time in Battle Mountain?
In what city did the kids go to school?
In what city did the kids go to school?
In what city did Dad seem to have a stable job?
In what city did Dad seem to have a stable job?
Describe Dad's job in Battle Mountain.
Describe Dad's job in Battle Mountain.
Study Notes
Characters
- Jeanette "J" Walls is the protagonist who experiences a tumultuous childhood.
- Rex Walls, J's father, is intelligent but struggles with alcoholism and stability.
- Rose Mary Walls, J's mother, prioritizes art and often neglects conventional parenting.
- Siblings include Brian, Lori, and Maureen, each sharing the family's challenges.
Key Themes
- Juxtaposition: Instances where J's elegant appearance contrasts sharply with her mother's homeless state.
- Poverty: Emphasizes the difficulties faced by the family and their nomadic lifestyle across multiple locations.
- Education: Varied informal education imparted by parents, focusing on survival skills rather than academics.
Major Events
- J's first memory is a traumatic incident with fire while cooking hot dogs, highlighting early childhood neglect.
- Family prepares to flee from their current home, showcasing the chaotic nature of their lifestyle.
- Significant events such as Brian's accident and the family's decision to leave Las Vegas due to Dad's gambling issues.
Symbols
- The Glass Castle: Represents Rex's dreams and unfulfilled promises for a secure and luxurious family home.
- Joshua Tree: Symbolizes both beauty and struggle, reflecting the family's own difficulties and resilience.
Relationships
- J feels ashamed of her mother while also grappling with complex feelings about her parents' decisions and lifestyle.
- Tensions between Rex and Rose Mary often erupt into physical confrontations, yet they quickly revert to normalcy without resolution.
Personal Reflections
- Reactions to episodes of violence, neglect, and unique family traditions, such as celebrating Christmas in unorthodox ways.
- J and her siblings often adapt to their chaotic environment, showcasing resilience amid instability.
Vocabulary and Concepts
- Juxtaposition: Placing contrasting ideas, characters, or situations close together for effect.
- Biography vs. Autobiography: Essential definitions outlining the difference between a life story written by another and one written by the individual.
- Comic Relief: Use of humor to alleviate tension within serious contexts.
Lifestyle and Environment
- Their life is painted vividly with descriptions of the harshness of desert living, including extreme temperatures and dangerous conditions.
- Recurring motif of fire, representing both fascination and danger in the family's life.
Parenting Philosophy
- Rose Mary's take on child-rearing emphasizes resilience through hardship rather than comfort and protection.
- Rex believes in teaching survival skills but frequently loses parental accountability due to his drinking.
Memorable Experiences
- Unique adventures of the children, showcasing their creativity and daredevil spirit amidst their surroundings.
- Experiences with bullies reflect familial loyalty and the instinct to protect one another, although often leading to conflict.
Reflections on Identity
- J's encounters in school depict feelings of isolation due to her height and involvement in class, contrasting with typical childhood experiences.
- Her desire to care for her siblings and later her promise to her new baby sister signifies a protective nature despite their chaotic home life.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz focuses on key questions from the first section (Pages 3-57) of 'The Glass Castle'. It examines character descriptions and emotional responses, specifically concerning the relationship between J and her mother. Engage with these flashcards to deepen your understanding of the themes and character dynamics in this poignant memoir.
