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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of childhood does Jeannette say she had?

2. How is Jeannette able to keep from going hungry at school after her father loses his job again?

3. What is Rex's educational background?

4. Where did Jeannette's mother grow up?

5. What does Jeannette feel when she first sees Rose Mary at the beginning of the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some examples of the neglect that the children suffer during their time in both Battle Mountain and in Phoenix?

2. Why does Jeannette ask the cab driver to go back to the apartment after she sees her mother from afar in Part 1?

3. How was Jeannette's childhood atypical?

4. How does Rose Mary try to make the family's Christmas in Phoenix special, and what happens to ruin it for them all?

5. Why do you think Rose Mary continues to refuse help from her adult children?

6. What gift does Jeannette ask her father for on her tenth birthday and how does he react?

7. Rose Mary and Jeannette have very different views of the world. Why does Rose Mary tell Jeannette that her values are "all confused"?

8. What event happened the day that Rose Mary and Rex met, that Rex says caused him to fall in love with her?

9. What does the glass castle represent, not only to Rex, but to the rest of the family as well?

10. How does Rex teach Jeannette to swim, and how is it representative of his philosophy of parenting in general?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rose Mary's philosophy is that art and freedom are more important than material things. However, she takes this philosophy too far in failing to provide for her children's basic needs. Describe Rose Mary's philosophy of life and parenting. Consider:

1) What is it that makes it so difficult for her to take responsibility?

2) How is she able to justify allowing her children to live in impoverished conditions because of her choices?

3) Recount a few of her actions that demonstrate her philosophy in action.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Grandma Smith and Erma.

1) What, if any, traits or beliefs do the two women share?

2) How are there personalities different and how does this affect Jeannette's relationship with each of them?

3) How do the personalities of each of these grandmothers reflect on the behavior and personalities of their children (Rex and Rose Mary)?

Essay Topic 3

Rose Mary tells Jeannette, as an adult, that her values are "all confused." What does Rose Mary mean?

1) How does Rose Mary view Jeannette's life and career?

2) What are Rose Mary's values like and how do Jeannette's differ?

3) What values or ideas do you think that they agree on? What is important to both of them?

(see the answer keys)

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