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The Glass Castle

Jeannette walls.

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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Jeannette Walls's The Glass Castle . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Glass Castle: Introduction

The glass castle: plot summary, the glass castle: detailed summary & analysis, the glass castle: themes, the glass castle: quotes, the glass castle: characters, the glass castle: symbols, the glass castle: theme wheel, brief biography of jeannette walls.

Historical Context of The Glass Castle

Other books related to the glass castle.

• Full Title: The Glass Castle
• When Written: around 2005
• Where Written: United States (Virginia)
• When Published: 2005
• Literary Period: Contemporary
• Genre: Memoir
• Setting: American Southwest; Welch, West Virginia; New York City
• Climax: Jeannette escapes from her family and childhood by moving to New York: As she leaves the bus station she tells herself she’ll never return to Welch, West Virginia again.
• Antagonist: Sometimes, Mom and Dad; other times, the American economic and political “system”; also, the various bullies and perverts of Jeannette’s childhood
• Point of View: First person

Extra Credit for The Glass Castle

What’s the Dish? Before writing a memoir, Walls had already published one book, entitled Dish: The Inside Story of the World of Gossip , which delves into the historical and cultural context of gossip and relies upon her years as a gossip columnist.

Based on a Bestseller. The Glass Castle spent 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list when it came out in 2005, and in 2017 it was adapted into a movie starring Brie Larson.

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The Glass Castle

74 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-15

Chapters 16-22

Chapters 23-28

Chapters 29-41

Chapters 42-54

Chapters 55-68

Key Figures

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

What does the Glass Castle symbolize for both Dad and Jeannette? How does it play into the slow erosion of Jeannette’s illusions concerning her father?

To what extent are the family’s struggles the result of Dad’s alcoholism? Clearly it has grievous effects on the family, but do you the think the Wallses would thrive if Dad simply stopped drinking? Why or why not?

In what ways does Mom and Dad’s marriage represent a codependent relationship? How does Mom enable Dad’s alcoholism, both implicitly and explicitly?

Related Titles

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72 The Glass Castle Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best the glass castle topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 good essay topics on the glass castle, 🔎 most interesting the glass castle topics to write about, ❓ the glass castle essay questions.

• “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls Overview To avoid taking their children away from them, the Walls decided to move to the home of Grandma Smith, who was Rose Mary’s mother.
• “The Glass Castle: A Memoir“ by Jeannette Walls Review For instance, the birth of a younger brother or sister, the beginning of school, or the divorce of parents would change the relationship between the child and his or her environment. In the given case, […]
• “The Distance Between Us” by Grande and “The Glass Castle” by Walls Regardless of the trauma and neglect caused by addiction problems in the families depicted in “The Distance Between Us” and “The Glass Castle,” the only obstacles to accomplishment and happiness are inside the individual.
• “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls Analysis In the end by the end, Jeannette’s aspiration was the opposite of her family, bringing to success and acceptance not only herself but also those close to her.
• “The Glass Castle“ by Jeanette Walls Analysis The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that influence the successful future of the main character Jeannette. A series of memories of Jeannette dwells on her childhood, wandering with parents, a brother […]
• Jeanette Walls’ “The Glass Castle” Book Response All the events in the book are connected to the author herself and their entire family and those who happen to be born in poor backgrounds, whereby she is after informing the reader on the […]
• The Role of Fire in the Novel “The Glass Castle”
• The Theme of Alcoholism in “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls
• The Role of Bended Joshua Tree in the Novel “The Glass Castle”
• Overcoming Challenges in “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls
• The Effect of a Parenting Style Illustrated in “The Glass Castle”
• The Theme of a Prison Made of Glass in “The Glass Castle”
• The Effect of Childhood on a Person’s Life in “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls
• Analysis of Rex and Rosemary’s Parenting in “The Glass Castle”
• Depiction of a Childhood Trauma in “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls
• Look at the Theme of Forgiveness and Resilience in “The Glass Castle”
• The Development of a Child in “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls
• “The Glass Castle” and the Seven Deadly Sins
• The Major Achievement for the Characters in “The Glass Castle”
• American Dream Turning Into American Nightmare in “The Glass Castle”
• “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls: The Character of Father
• The Role of the Setting in the Novel “The Glass Castle”
• The Relationship Between a Mother and a Son in “The Glass Castle”
• Rose Mary Walls’ Role as a Mother in “The Glass Castle”
• The Part of Nature in “The Glass Castle”
• The Theme of Making Peace With Past in “The Glass Castle”
• A Stick of Margarine as a Symbol of Walls’ Lives in “The Glass Castle”
• Independence and Self-Sufficiency in “The Glass Castle”
• The Character Growth and Process of Forgiveness in “The Glass Castle”
• “The Glass Castle”: The Memoirs of Jeannette Walls
• The Metaphors of “The Glass Castle”: Resilience and Growing Up
• The Depiction of Poverty in “The Glass Castle”
• The Ideas of Home in “The Glass Castle”
• The Family’s Escapades to Collect Money in “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls
• Ecological Systems Theory in “The Glass Castle”
• Examples of Irony in “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls
• The Portrayal of Family in “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls
• The Role of Mountain Goat in the Novel “The Glass Castle”
• “The Glass Castle”: Fact or Fiction
• The Theme of Guilt and Redemption in “The Glass Castle”
• Life Lessons From “The Glass Castle”: Courage, Perseverance, and Self-Esteem
• The Impact of Addiction on Family Dynamics in “The Glass Castle”
• Mental Illness and Homelessness in “The Glass Castle”
• The Structure of the Memoir “The Glass Castle”
• The Hardship and Suffering of the Author in “The Glass Castle”
• Building Autonomy in Children’s Actions in “The Glass Castle”
• Why Is “The Glass Castle” Controversial?
• What Is the Most Important Lesson From “The Glass Castle”?
• What Does the Phrase “Glass Castle” Mean?
• What Mental Illness Does Rose Mary Have In “The Glass Castle”?
• What Happens to the Kids in “The Glass Castle”?
• What Is “The Glass Castle” Based On?
• How Does “The Glass Castle” End?
• What Is the Time Period of “The Glass Castle”?
• What Does the Cactus Symbolize in “The Glass Castle”?
• Does Rex Die in “The Glass Castle”?
• What Happens at the Zoo in “The Glass Castle”?
• Who Is the Villain in “The Glass Castle”?
• What Stories Does the Father Tell in “The Glass Castle”?
• Why Should Students Read “The Glass Castle”?
• What Are the Difficulties and Sufferings of the Author in “The Glass Castle”?
• What Is “The Glass Castle” All About?
• What Is the Connection Between “The Republic” and “The Glass Castle”?
• What Does the Piggy Bank Symbolize in “The Glass Castle”?
• What Is Shame in “The Glass Castle”?
• How Do Gender Roles Impact Jeannette in “The Glass Castle”?
• What Does the Fire in “The Glass Castle” Symbolize?
• What Was Rosemary’s Dream in “The Glass Castle”?
• How Is the Ecological Systems Theory Reflected In “The Glass Castle”?
• What Is the True Story About the Family in “The Glass Castle”?
• What Is the Structure of the Memoir in “The Glass Castle”?
• Parenting Research Topics
• Freedom Topics
• Homelessness Questions
• Social Enterprise Topics
• American Dream Research Topics
• Family Titles
• Poverty Essay Titles
• Children’s Rights Research Ideas
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Bibliography

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The Glass Castle

By jeannette walls.

• The Glass Castle Summary

The Glass Castle details the story of Jeannette Walls and her family. Constantly short on cash and food, the family moves around the country frequently and tries to re-settle. Though the family is dysfunctional, the memoir communicates itself without condemning either of the Walls parents. Humor frequently imbues the work with a light-spirited tone.

For the first half of the work, the family lives in various mining towns on the West Coast of America. This part of the work is characterized by frequent moves from town to town. As Jeannette grows up in the desert she is enchanted by the limitless bounds of nature and the fantasies her father dreams up for her and her siblings. While living in the desert Jeannette begins a rock collection and explores the natural and man-made features of the environment with her brother Brian. Life in the desert ends when Rex's alcoholism worsens and the family runs out of funds. They leave the desert and relocate to Welch, West Virginia, the town where Rex grew up, to find better prospects.

Life in Welch, West Virginia is completely different than the life the Walls led in the desert on the West coast. Most notably, Welch has a winter season which brings new challenges to the Walls family. From their arrival, the Wells children are itching to leave Welch and return to the desert. But eventually circumstances become so bad that they realize they must move away from their parents in order to achieve stable lives. Lori and Jeannette set their sights on New York and begin saving money to move out of Welch once and for all.

Eventually the siblings all end up relocating from Welch to New York in an attempt to be liberated from the stifling environment in Welch. For a time everyone is settled and living independently until Rex and Rose Mary show up in Manhattan in a van. After just a short while, the couple ends up poor and homeless once again and despite their efforts, the children are unable to take on the burden of hosting their parents anymore. Consequently, Rose Mary and Rex become squatters in abandoned apartments until Rex dies after having a heart attack.

By the memoir's end, Jeannette has finally reconciled her past and present and no longer feels the need to hide behind lies or half-truths. The memoir liberates her and allows her to do what she enjoys most about writing; communicate with the world.

The Glass Castle Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Glass Castle is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What is ironic about the fact that Dad “owed the mine company eleven cents” and that “He thought it was funny and told them to put it on his ta

• Describe the parenting style of Jeannette’s mom and dad.

Describe Erma, Grandpa, and Stanley. How does Jeannette feel about meeting her fathers family?

After a month of driving, the family finally makes it to Welch, West Virginia. After meeting Erma, her father’s mother who refuses to be called ‘Grandma,' Grandpa Walls, and Uncle Stanley, Jeannette is shocked to find no resemblance between them...

What is the family's life like in Battle Creek?

The answer to your question is readily available in GradeSaver's detailed summary and analysis for Part II of the novel.

Study Guide for The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle study guide contains a biography of Jeannette Walls, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Glass Castle
• Character List

Essays for The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.

• Adventures First, Explanations Take Such a Dreadful Time
• The Glass Prison
• The Effect of Parenting Style on Childhood Development: A Reading of The Glass Castle
• Throwing Stones-Resilience and Forgiveness in The Glass Castle
• Alcoholism in the Walls Family

Lesson Plan for The Glass Castle

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Glass Castle
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Glass Castle Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Glass Castle

• Introduction

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — The Glass Castle

Essays on The Glass Castle

Prompt examples for "the glass castle" essays, jeannette walls' resilience and determination.

Analyze Jeannette Walls' resilience and determination in overcoming the challenges of her unconventional upbringing, and how these traits contribute to her success.

Parental Neglect and Unconventional Parenting

Discuss the themes of parental neglect and unconventional parenting as portrayed in the memoir, focusing on the behavior of Rex and Rose Mary Walls.

The Impact of Poverty and Instability

Examine the effects of poverty, instability, and constant relocation on Jeannette and her siblings, and how these experiences shape their lives.

Sibling Bonds and Support

Explore the importance of sibling bonds and support among Jeannette and her siblings, and how they rely on each other in challenging circumstances.

The Role of Education and Aspiration

Analyze the role of education and the aspiration for a better life in Jeannette's journey, and how they lead her to escape her tumultuous family life.

Symbolism of the Glass Castle

Discuss the symbolism of the "glass castle" as a recurring motif in the memoir, and its significance in the lives of the Walls family members.

Social Services and Government Intervention

Examine the portrayal of social services and government intervention in the memoir, and how they impact the Walls family's lifestyle and choices.

Author's Perspective on Family

Analyze the author's perspective on family, love, and forgiveness as conveyed through her narrative, and how it evolves over the course of the memoir.

Writing as a Form of Catharsis

Discuss the therapeutic and cathartic aspects of writing for Jeannette Walls and how she uses her memoir to come to terms with her past.

Comparison to Other Memoirs

Compare "The Glass Castle" to other memoirs that explore themes of poverty, resilience, and family dynamics, examining commonalities and differences in their narratives.

Three Years Old Jeannette Walls Family

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Family Values in "Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

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The Relationship Between a Mother and a Son in "The Glass Castle"

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Jeannette's Overcoming Challenges in The Glass Castle

The complexity of family relationships in jeannette walls' "the glass castle", rose mary walls character analysis, symbolism in the glass castle, rex walls: a dance between dreams and reality, the glass castle theme, what freedom means to me, poverty in the glass castle, symbolism in the glass castle: fire, the glass castle fire analysis.

Jeannette Walls

Bildungsroman

Jeannette Walls, Dad, Mom, Lori Walls, Brian Walls, Maureen Walls, Grandma Smith, Erma Walls, Dinitia Hewitt, Uncle Stanley, Billy Deel, Grandpa Walls, Eric, John

Fire, animals, hypocrisy, The Glass Castle, stars, Joshua trees

Abuse, compassion vs. boundaries, strength from hardship

“You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.” “One time I saw a tiny Joshua tree sapling growing not too far from the old tree. I wanted to dig it up and replant it near our house. I told Mom that I would protect it from the wind and water it every day so that it could grow nice and tall and straight. Mom frowned at me. "You'd be destroying what makes it special," she said. "It's the Joshua tree's struggle that gives it its beauty.” “I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes.” as reading.” “You didn't need a college degree to become one of the people who knew what was really going on. If you paid attention, you could pick things up on your own.”

This book has been used in the elementary school curriculum in North America, causing some controversy as The Glass Castle was ranked 9th on the Intellectual Freedom Office's list of 10 most problematic books in 2012. The Glass Castle was adapted as a feature film released in the summer of 2017. He also has been translated into 31 languages. The Glass Castle was ranked the 17th most banned book in the US in 2010 and 2019, according to the American Library Association.

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