Discussion questions for The Haunting (part 1)

1. Consider the first sentence of The Haunting of Hill House: ""No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood for eighty years and might stand for eighty more."Do you believe that a house can have a form of consciousness?

2. Consider this quote: "Don't do it, Eleanor told the little girl; insist on your cup of stars; once they have trapped you into being like everyone else you will never see your cup of stars again; don't do it; and the little girl glanced at her, and smiled a little subtle, dimpling, wholly comprehending smile, and shook her head stubbornly at the glass. Brave girl, Eleanor thought; wise, brave girl.” Why do you think these words have had such a powerful impact on so many readers? What does the cup of stars signify?