The Glass Castle Guided Reading Questions

Pages 199-217; 226-241; 264-271; 280-288

Directions: ALL QUESTIONS REQUIRE COMPLETE SENTENCE ANSWERS! Each incomplete sentence will result in points lost. If the question asks you to include text evidence, then do it!

Pages199-217

  1. How does Dinita’s behavior change? What do you think is the reason behind the change?
  1. What aspect of her appearance most preoccupies Jeannette? What does she do about it? What do herattempts reveal about her character?
  1. How does Rex react to Jeannette’s attempts to create her own braces? What do you think of hisreaction?
  1. How does newspaper writing differ from the type of writing (her mother’s) that Jeannette was used to?
  1. What does Jeannette learn about her father’s past experiences?
  1. . What attracts Jeannette to journalism?
  1. Why does Jeannette feel that she is not protecting her little sister, Maureen?
  1. Why is Maureen attracted to Pentecostalism?
  1. Why does Maureen idealize California?
  1. How does Jeannette react to her mother’s breakdown (p. 208)?What does Jeannette resolve in her reaction to the breakdown?
  1. Why can’t Jeannette be honest with her father regarding his behavior?
  1. What happens at the bar? Who is being exploited and/or manipulated?
  1. Why isn’t Rex more protective of his daughter?How does this reflect earlier incidents in Jeannette’s relationship with her father?
  1. Why doesn’t Rex just take Mary’s check outright? Why must he be devious?
  1. What kind of harassment does Jeannette put up with at her job in the jewelry store?
  1. Why does Jeannette steal the watch and how does she rationalize her actions? Where do you think thisattitude comes from?
  1. Why does she eventually return the watch?

Pages 226-241

  1. In what ways does poverty interfere with Lori’s attempts to get a scholarship?
  1. What do you think is the real reason behind Rex’s destruction of Lori’s Shakespeare sculpture?
  1. What happens to “Oz”? Why does Rex deny the obvious?
  1. How does Lori get out of Welch after the money is stolen?
  1. Why doesn’t Rex’s charm work on Jeannette anymore?
  1. Based on the book’s description of Chuck Yeager, why do you think he would be one of Rex’s heroes?
  1. Why does Rex provide Jeannette with her interview questions?
  1. What advice does Jeannette get from the college guidance counselor regarding college? What is her reaction to this advice?
  1. Why is Mary sad when Jeannette says that she is planning on moving to New York City?
  1. How does her father react to her decision? Why does he resurrect his dream of the Glass Castle at that point in time?
  1. Why does Rex give Jeannette his jackknife? Why is this ironic?

Pages 264-271

  1. How does Mary manage to blame New York City for her homelessness?
  1. Is the Walls’ homelessness really a matter of choice?
  1. How does Rex manage to share in Jeannette’s college education?
  1. Why does Rex give Jeannette the money he raised? How does it make him feel?
  1. Why does Mary compare squatters to pioneers? Is she accurate? Why or why not?
  1. What values do the Walls share with other squatters?
  1. What kind of man is Eric? Why is Jeannette attracted to him? How is Eric the opposite of her father?
  1. How do Jeannette’s parents react to her new home?
  1. What does Mary think Jeannette should be writing about? Why?
  1. How does Jeannette justify to herself a career spent writing about the wealthiest people?

Pages 280-288

  1. How would Rex Walls have preferred to die?
  1. Why does Jeannette react by wanting “to checkout Rex-Walls-style”?
  2. How does Jeannette react to her father’s death?
  1. Why does Jeannette divorce Eric? Do you think that this is connected to her father’s death? Why?
  1. Why does Jeannette close her memoir with a Thanksgiving reunion? What does the holiday suggestabout life and family?
  1. What do you think of John’s reaction to Jeannette’s scar (that it proved she was stronger than what triedto hurt her)? What does this suggest about his ability to understand her?
  1. Why does Brian react with anger to the abundance of the dinner table?
  1. What do you think of their toast to their father?
  1. What does the fluttering of the candle flames suggest? Why does Jeannette end with this thought?