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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 is Rose Mary doing when Jeannette first sees her at the beginning of the book?

2. What else does Rose Mary tell Jeannette in their meeting that she should do?

3. How does Rose Mary try to keep Rex from spending the family's money?

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

5. How has Rose Mary reacted to previous offers of help from her children?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author describe her father in Part 2 of the book?

2. What does Grandma Smith provide for Jeannette that she doesn't get at home?

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

4. How does Jeannette's adult life differ from her mother's?

5. What incident precipitates the family's leaving Battle Mountain for Phoenix?

6. "The Glass Castle" is the author's story of the unusual, and some would say tragic, circumstances of her childhood. What is the author's tone as she tells her story? How does this reflect who she is as a person?

7. Why does Rex take the children over the safety fence to touch a cheetah at the zoo?

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

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

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

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

Jeannette's relationship with her mother is conflicted, yet she still feels a fondness and compassion for her as an adult. Discuss the relationship between these two women by answering the following questions:

1) How would you characterize the relationship between the two?

2) How does each of these women play both an adult and a child's role?

3) How does the relationship between them change over time?

Essay Topic 3

The Walls siblings all find different ways to deal with their difficult circumstances. Compare and contrast the responses of Lori, Maureen, Brian, and Jeannette to the stresses of living without resources.

1) How does each of the children deal with their problems emotionally?

2) How do some, if any, of the children work together to relieve some of their misery?

3) What does each of the children do to try to get what they need?

(see the answer keys)

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