Characters
Describe Sydelle Pulaski's character? Why is she significant to the story?
Insecure and Attention-Seeking: Sydelle is initially portrayed as somewhat insecure and desperate for attention. She feels overlooked and undervalued, which leads her to exaggerate her injuries (using crutches and a fake limp) to garner sympathy and interest from others.
Growth Throughout the Game: Over the course of the story, Sydelle begins to assert herself more, stepping out of the shadow of her insecurities. Her partnership with Angela helps her recognize her own strengths, leading to character growth.
Representation of Themes: Sydelle’s character highlights themes of identity, friendship, and the quest for personal significance. Her evolution throughout the game illustrates the importance of self-acceptance and the idea that people can change and grow when given the opportunity.
What do the bombs symbolize in The Westing Game?
They represent the pent up emotions that characters are feeling during the Westing Game - specifically Angela
What are some themes that the story highlights?
Identity
Materialism and Greed
Development and Growth
Illusions
“Turtle felt as if she had been hit by a flying dictionary”
What type of literary device is this?
Simile
“Then one day (it happened to be the Fourth of July), a most uncommon-looking delivery boy rode around town slipping letters under the doors of the chosen tenants-to-be. The letters were signed ‘Barney Northrup’. The delivery boy was sixty-two years old, and there was no such person as Barney Northup.”
Explain the significance of this quote.
This quote highlights the use of foreshadow which suggests readers pay attention to Barney Northup as a character. As well, it helps to create suspense.
Describe Grace Wrexler's character? Why is she significant to the game?
Controlling and Overbearing: Grace tends to be domineering, especially in her relationships with her family. She places high expectations on Angela, often prioritizing her own desires over her daughter's happiness. This control creates tension within the family, highlighting Grace's insecurities.
Character Growth: Throughout the game, Grace experiences moments of realization that lead to some character development. By the end, she begins to confront her priorities and reassess what truly matters in her life.
Representation of Greed and Materialism: Grace embodies the themes of greed and materialism that run through the novel. Her fixation on wealth and status serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of valuing material possessions over genuine connections and happiness.
What do the Sunset Towers represent
Illusion
The sun sets in the west (just about everyone knows that), but Sunset Towers faced east. Strange!
Who is Sam Westing?
Sam Westing is a rich man who apparently passed away. The entire story revolves around the game that he put together in his will/
“The building watched the lake"
What type of literary device is this?
Personification
“Why bother with driving lessons, her mother said, anyone as pretty as you can always find a handsome young man to chauffeur you. She should have insisted. She should have said no just one to her mother, just once. It was too late now.”
Explain the significance of this quote.
It demonstrates Grace's controlling characteristics and how she wishes Angela to conform to her will. It suggests that it is harmful when others choose how we identify with ourselves.
Describe Theo's character? Why is he significant to the game?
Intelligent and Thoughtful: Theo is depicted as a bright and observant young man, with a keen interest in academics and a particular talent for chess. His analytical nature allows him to think critically about the clues in the Westing game, making him a logical thinker among the heirs.
Coming-of-Age Journey: Theo’s character reflects a journey of maturity. As the story progresses, he navigates not only the challenges of the game but also his personal growth and understanding of relationships, especially with Angela Wexler and his family.
Exploration of Themes: Theo embodies themes of family loyalty and the importance of support systems. His relationship with Chris highlights the challenges faced by families with disabilities and underscores the theme of caring for one another, which resonates throughout the story.
What does Turtle's braid represent?
Her independence/uniqueness - willingness to always be herself
Explain the plot of the Westing Game.
The Westing Game follows sixteen heirs brought together after the death of wealthy industrialist Sam Westing, who challenges them to solve the mystery of his death to win his fortune. Each heir receives a clue, leading to rivalries and alliances as they try to decipher the clues. Central characters include Turtle Wexler, who is determined and resourceful, and Angela Wexler, who struggles with family expectations. As the game unfolds, personal secrets are revealed, culminating in a twist that shows Westing orchestrated the game to teach his heirs valuable life lessons about identity, teamwork, and the true meaning of wealth.
What type of narrator does The Westing Game use within its story?
Third-person Omniscient
″‘For instance, I know that Angela doesn’t want to marry that sappy intern.’
‘Ridiculous. You’re just jealous of your sister.’ ‘Maybe,’
Turtle had to admit, ‘but I am what I am. I don’t need a crutch to get attention.’ Oh, oh, she had gone too far.”
Explain the significance of this quote
Demonstrates early tension between Turtle and Sydelle. Also, it reveals Turtle's strong will and independence - but it reveals that Turtle still had a ways to go to grow as a character.
Describe Turtles' character? Why is she significant to the game?
Strong-Willed and Independent: Turtle is fiercely independent and determined. She is known for her tenacity, often refusing to back down from challenges. This strong-willed nature makes her a standout character among the heir
Growth and Transformation: Throughout the game, Turtle experiences significant personal growth. She learns to navigate the complexities of her identity, assert herself, and ultimately embrace her intelligence and capabilities.
Symbol of Transformation: By the end of the novel, Turtle’s character transforms from a misunderstood girl seeking validation into a confident young woman who embraces her identity and capabilities. This transformation underscores the novel’s themes of growth, redemption, and the importance of believing in oneself.
What does the chess game that Theo plays represent?
It represents the Westing Game itself, and the strategy that is needed to solve the puzzle
Name the character pairings for the Westing Game. Why do you think these pairings were made?
Madame Hoo - Jake Wrexler
Turtle - Flora Baumbauch
Chris - Dr. Denton
Sandy - Judge Ford
Grace - James Hoo
Bertha Crow - Otis Amber
Theo - Doug Hoo
Angela - Sydelle Pulaski
The sun sets in the west (just about everyone knows that), but Sunset Towers faced east. Strange!
List examples of foreshadowing found within The Westing Game
The mention of Westing’s many disguises
Westing’s choice of pairs for the game
Turtle’s fondness for the stock market
“Death is senseless yet makes way for the living. Life, too, is senseless unless you know who you are, what you want, and which way the wind blows. So on with the game.”
Explain the significance of this quote.
It demonstrates that Westing wants its players to grow as characters as the only way to live a purposeful life is knowing yourself, and having the ability to choose your own path.
Describe Angela's character? Why is she significant to the game?
Beautiful and Conforming: Angela is initially portrayed as the quintessential "perfect" daughter, admired for her beauty and grace. However, her adherence to societal and familial expectations creates internal conflict, as she often feels pressured to fulfill the dreams of her mother, Grace Wexler.
Struggling with Identity: Throughout the novel, Angela grapples with her identity and the roles imposed on her by her family and society. Her journey reflects her desire to break free from these constraints and assert her own individuality.
Representation of Themes: Angela’s character embodies themes of femininity, societal expectations, and the struggle for autonomy. Her journey reflects the challenges many young women face in navigating family pressures and finding their own identities in a world that often values appearance over substance
What does the Westing Game itself represent?
represents the complexities of life and the challenges we face to solve them
What is the significance of the ending? Why do you think Mr. Westing put this game together?
The climax reveals that Sam Westing, in various disguises, has been manipulating the game to teach his heirs valuable lessons about life, identity, and relationships. The solution to the mystery demonstrates how the clues came together, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collaboration among the characters.
List examples of irony found within the book.
Turtle kicking others for calling her by her real name
The name “Sunset Towers”
Samuel Westing’s ‘death’
“Angela could not be the bomber, not that sweet, pretty thing. Thing? Is that how she regarded that young woman, as a thing? And what had she ever said to her except "I hear you're getting married, Angela" or "How pretty you look, Angela." Had anyone asked her about her ideas, her hopes, her plans? If I had been treated like that I'd have used dynamite, not fireworks; no, I would have just walked out and kept right on going. But Angela was different.”
Explain the significance of this quote.