The Virgin Suicides | Overview & Chapter Abstracts for Teachers

Chapter Abstracts

Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter. They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of characters and objects. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an excellent refresher of the text for either a student or teacher.

Chapter 1 Abstract

* Mary Lisbon is carried out of her house on a stretcher after attempting suicide with sleeping pills.
* Flashing back thirteen months, the narrators describe paramedics arriving in response to the youngest Lisbon sister, Cecilia, attempting suicide by slashing her wrists in a warm bath, and taking her to the hospital. (read more)