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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. Where does the Wall family move at the beginning of Part 3 of the book?

2. What happens when Jeannette goes swimming in a public pool?

3. What does Brian's mother do with what Jeanette and Brian find while foraging in the woods?

4. How does Jeannette handle the family's finances while her mother is out of town?

5. Why does Jeannette refuse to invite her father to her graduation?

Short Essay Questions

1. What potentially dangerous situation does Rex put Jeannette in while her mother is out of town for training?

2. How does the condition of the Walls family home worsen during the spring in Welch?

3. What events help form Jeannette's desire to be a professional writer?

4. Describe Jeannette's reaction when her mother comes to her, begging her and her new husband to buy some property in Texas that abutted her own.

5. What are some of the reasons that the children do not like going to school in Welch?

6. Why do Rex and Rose Mary follow their children to New York City to live?

7. What happens to the family's money when Jeannette is put in charge of managing it while her mother is gone?

8. Why does Jeannette enjoy swimming with Dinitia more than going to the pool during the other swim sessions when the rest of the white children in Welch swim?

9. What are some examples of how the Walls parents fail to provide for their children's needs during this first year in Welch?

10. Why does Rose Mary decide to hang on to the diamond ring that the children find in the woods rather than selling it for much needed money? What does this say about her priorities?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

One of the most prominent themes of this book is that of forgiveness. Despite living in such difficult circumstances, and despite being the innocent victims of their parents' selfishness and poor decisions, the Walls children continue to welcome their parents into their lives, particularly as adults. Discuss the theme of forgiveness in "The Glass Castle". Cite examples from the book of how the author is able to forgive others, and herself as well. Consider:

1) How does Jeannette show that she forgives her parents, both as a child and an adult?

2) What is it about Jeannette's personality that allows her to show forgiveness?

3) How does the author's unusual upbringing actually help to develop this quality in her?

Essay Topic 3

One of the author's earliest memories is of being badly burned while she is cooking by herself as a small child. She spends several weeks in the hospital, during which time she is not unhappy. In fact, she responds to the incident in a calm manner that belies her age.

1) What are Jeannette's memories of the incident? How does she react to the staff at the hospital?

2) How does Jeannette respond to the staff when they tell her that she is going to be all right?

3) What is her father's response to the incident? Do you find it surprising, or is it typical of him?

4) What do both Jeannette's and her parents' way of dealing with this incident say about each of their personalities and ways of approaching life?

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