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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. What does Mrs. Bannister discover about Esther one evening?

2. What does Esther wear to her exit hearing at the asylum?

3. What course of treatment does Joan's first psychiatrist recommend for her?

4. Why does Esther's mother bring her roses?

5. Which of the following is NOT a privilege given to residents of Belsize?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Esther feel as she is waiting to enter her exit hearing?

2. What do the voices in Esther's head tell her as she sits in the park contemplating suicide?

3. How does the private hospital staff compare to those at the public hospital?

4. What keeps Esther from drowning herself at the beach?

5. Describe Irwin

6. Describe the circumstances that led to Joan's hospitalization.

7. Describe the scene at the cemetery.

8. What is the only item that gives Esther pleasure in the hospital? Why?

9. What news does Esther expect Dr. Nolan to give her after her insulin reaction? What news does she actually give her?

10. Describe the circumstances that led to Esther's hospitalization.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As The Bell Jar develops, so does the main character's mental illness. In your essay:

1) describe the progression of her illness

2) describe and explain the "red flags" that showed she was getting increasingly worse

3) comment on the role that the other characters played in her deterioration.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Friendships have a major impact on Esther's development throughout the novel. Choose two of the women who Esther is friends with and:

1) describe the friendship

2) discuss the impact that this friendship had on Esther

3) analyze what the author is saying about friendships and their importance for women in general.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

In The Bell Jar there the author uses recurrent symbolism to represent aspects of Esther's story. Select two of the following symbols ( mirrors, water, babies, the bell jar) and:

1) describe how the author uses this symbol at at least two points in the story

2) discuss what the symbol represents about Esther at that point in the story

3) discuss what the overall message the author is trying to send about Esther using this symbol.

Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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