Quotes
Symbols and Meanings
Common Sense
Before the Crash
Red Flags
100

What could the plane crash symbolize?

Tragedy

The destruction of Kathryn's marriage

100

What emotion would most people feel after learning a loved one kept a huge secret?

Betrayal/hurt/shock

100

What was the name of the other woman Jack was with?

Muire

100

What was one major reason Kathryn often had to parent Mattie alone?

Jack was frequently away from home working as a pilot. 

200

“She thought about the impossibility of ever knowing another person. About the fragility of the constructs people make. A marriage, for example. A family” (Shreve 233).

Who is this quote about?

Kathryn

200

What does Kathryn's role in her marriage symbolize?

The stereotypes that society puts on women. 

200

What is important for a healthy relationship?

Trust/honesty/communication.

200

Who is the teenage daughter of Jack and Kathryn?

Mattie

200

What was suspicious about Jack’s behavior during many of his phone calls and trips?

He was secretive and often unavailable or emotionally distant.

300

“She opened the door. ‘Mrs. Lyons?’ he asked. And then she knew”(Shreve 5).

What is the context of this quote?

When Kathryn learns that her husband has been in a plane crash. 

300

What can the title of the book symbolize?

It symbolizes how Kathryn is mainly defined by her relationship to Jack.

300

Why can secrets damage a family?

They break trust between people.

300

What was Kathryn’s main role in the family while Jack traveled for work?

She mostly stayed home and took care of the household and Mattie.

300

What was Kathryn's big discovery?

Jack had another family/relationship. 

400

What could Jack's Pilot uniform symbolize? 

Things can seem perfect on the outside while hiding deeper problems. 

400

What can happen when someone ignores warning signs in a relationship?

They break trust between people.

400

How did Jack’s career affect his relationship with his family before the crash?

His job kept him away from home often.

400

Why was it unhealthy for Kathryn to center her entire life around Jack?

She was losing her sense of individuality. 

500

How do the books The Pilot's Wife and The Handmaid's Tale have connecting themes?

Loss of female independence

Unequal power

Societal issues

500

Why is it unhealthy for one person to control all the information in a relationship?

Because it creates an imbalance and prevents honesty and trust.

500

What illusion did Kathryn believe about her marriage?

She believed her marriage was loving and stable. 

500

What larger message does the novel suggest through the red flags Kathryn ignored in her marriage?

Love and trust can sometimes blind people to unhealthy behavior or deception.

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