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We Have Always Lived in The Castle - Flashcards
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We Have Always Lived in The Castle - Flashcards

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@LavishDiopside625

Questions and Answers

How does Merricat feel towards villagers?

  • Indifferent
  • Uncomfortable around children (correct)
  • Dislikes them, wishes them dead (correct)
  • Likes them

    • How do the townspeople view Merricat?

    Dislike her, find her strange

    What do you learn about Merricat's family?

    They have been dead for 6 years

    How does Merricat feel about change?

    <p>Hates change</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did we learn about the murder of their family?

    <p>Killed with arsenic poisoning, Constance was accused for the murder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship like between Merricat and Constance?

    <p>Mother and daughter relationship</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Merricat not allowed to do?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Constance not allowed to do?

    <p>Go past the garden</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Uncle Julian continue to talk about?

    <p>The murder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do they talk about food?

    <p>As a comfort, isolates them from the real world</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Merricat plan for Charles?

    <p>To drive him away</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Charles's financial situation seem to be?

    <p>He is poor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How has life changed in the Blackwood house now that Charles is there?

    <p>There are lots of changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do you think Charles's plan is?

    <p>To marry Constance and get into the family's wealth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Merricat try to drive away Charles?

    <p>Breaks his mirror, changes everything so that he doesn't know where he is</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Uncle Julian say about Merricat?

    <p>She has been dead for the past 6 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to Uncle Julian during the fire?

    <p>He dies from a heart attack</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has happened to their house and their food supply?

    <p>The fire burns it down, burns to ashes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who comes to visit Merricat and Constance after the fire? What do they say?

    <p>Mr. and Mrs. Clark, they said that the townspeople didn't mean what they did</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Constance apologize to Merricat at the end of the chapter?

    <p>She feels that it is her fault</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do the townspeople treat the Blackwoods now?

    <p>They bring them gifts, feel guilt</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Charles come back?

    <p>For money</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens in the final scene? Why is this significant?

    <p>Someone leaves fresh eggs, talk about cooking/eating children</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does each family member react to the fire?

    <p>Constance and Merricat: run away (move on), Uncle Julian: dies, Charles: disappears after making sure the money is okay</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the sisters plan for their future? How does each feel about the plan?

    <p>Both plan to never leave the house, Merricat is happy she gets Constance to herself</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do you learn about each sister throughout this book?

    <p>Constance worships Merricat, does anything to protect her; Merricat worshiped, kills whoever doesn't worship her</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do you learn about characters in this book? Is it different from the way you learn about characters in other books?

    <p>We learn about characters through Merricat's perspective, which is different from other books (only get one person's perspective on things)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is the book called 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle'?

    <p>They describe the house as a 'castle' = 1 Offerings at the door → separating the rich from the poor = 2 Merricat wants to be worshiped (queen of the castle) = 3 Always live in that same house (generations → food) = 4 Constant (house burned down → they move on) = 5 Constance → beautiful fairy princess (held captive) = 6</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who wrote the book 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle'?

    <p>Shirley Jackson</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During the fire, what does Uncle Julian go back to save?

    <p>His papers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What killed the Blackwood family?

    <p>Arsenic in sugar</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Constance enjoy doing?

    <p>Cooking</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who does Merricat say she would save if she killed the whole town?

    <p>Stella</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How old is Constance?

    <p>28 years old</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the fire start?

    <p>Merricat pushes Charles's pipe on the papers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Merricat do when she is angry?

    <p>Breaks things, runs away</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Uncle Julian obsessed with?

    <p>'That night'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which townsperson threw the first stone at the house?

    <p>Jim Donnell</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Constance and Merricat do when Charles comes to visit after the fire?

    <p>Hide and listen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the fallen notebook from the tree foreshadow?

    <p>Charles coming to visit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who says this quote? 'My niece Merricat has been a long time dead.'

    <p>Uncle Julian</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who says this quote? 'Oh, Constance we are so happy.'

    <p>Merricat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who says this quote? 'I had no dinner last night.'

    <p>Merricat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Mary Katherine wonder about the library books?

    <p>If she would have chosen different books if she had known that they would be the last books she would check out</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Mary Katherine's routine when she visited the village?

    <p>Go every Tuesday and Friday, visit the library, grocery store, and stop at Stella's coffee shop before heading home</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are Mary Katherine's thoughts about the Rochester house?

    <p>She believes it should belong to her sister Constance by rights since it is the nicest house in the village</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How old is Merricat?

    <p>18 years old</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Character Relationships and Perspectives

    • Merricat harbors strong dislike for villagers, wishing them dead and feeling uncomfortable around children.
    • The townspeople view Merricat as strange and dislike her, reinforcing her sense of isolation.
    • The Blackwood family has been affected by death; the family members have been dead for six years.
    • Merricat and Constance share a mother-daughter relationship, highlighting their deep bond despite their eccentricities.

    Events and Plot Points

    • The Blackwood family was murdered through arsenic poisoning, with Constance being accused.
    • Merricat has strict restrictions, including not touching knives, serving tea, or entering Uncle Julian's room; Constance cannot go past the garden.
    • Uncle Julian frequently discusses the murder, indicating his obsession with the past.
    • Food serves as a comfort for the sisters, isolating them from the outside world.

    Character Motivations and Actions

    • Merricat devises plans to drive away Charles, believing he may disrupt their life; strategies include breaking mirrors and creating chaos.
    • Charles is depicted as financially struggling, possibly aiming to marry Constance for the family wealth.
    • A pivotal fire destroys their home and food supply, marking a significant turning point in their lives.
    • After the fire, Mr. and Mrs. Clark visit the sisters and express sympathy for how the townspeople treated them.

    Themes and Symbolism

    • The title "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" embodies themes of isolation, wealth disparity, and the family's traditional hold on their ancestral home.
    • The sisters decide to stay in their home forever; Merricat feels happiness in having Constance solely for herself.
    • Character development reveals Constance's protective nature toward Merricat and Merricat’s willingness to eliminate threats to their bond.

    Significant Quotes and Symbolic Actions

    • Uncle Julian claims Merricat has been dead for six years, emphasizing Merricat's detachment from reality.
    • After the fire, Uncle Julian succumbs to a heart attack, while Charles ensures his financial security before vanishing.
    • Merricat expresses loyalty to Stella, indicating the importance of select relationships in her life.
    • The fallen notebook foreshadows Charles's impending visit, creating suspense in the narrative.

    Reflections and Final Events

    • In the aftermath of the disaster, townspeople begin to treat the Blackwoods with guilt, offering gifts as a form of atonement.
    • Merricat's quote "Oh, Constance we are so happy" signifies her manipulation of Constance, marking the culmination of her desires.
    • The last line of the book reveals Merricat's ultimate manipulation over Constance, reflecting their twisted psychological dynamics.
    • The community's actions and attitudes exhibit the complex interplay of acceptance and rejection toward the Blackwood sisters, shaping the story's tension.

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    Test your knowledge of 'We Have Always Lived in The Castle' through these flashcards. Explore Merricat's relationships with villagers, her family's history, and her feelings about change. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of the novel.

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