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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. With whom was Ted Hughes having an affair at the time of Sylvia Plath's death?

2. Linda Wagner-Martin wrote a biography of Sylvia Plath. Upon what did her relationship with the Hughes family deteriorate in Part One: Chapter IV?

3. Sylvia Plath told A. Alvarez of two previous suicide attempts--one in which she took an overdose of pills and another when she _____________.

4. What university had Sylvia Plath attended?

5. What poet and playwright had previously lived at the residence where Sylvia Plath committed suicide?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Anne Stevenson's response at a meeting of the University Women's Club in London where she was being taken to task for her portrayal of Sylvia in her book?

2. What correspondence did Malcolm have with Olwyn Hughes in Part One: Chapter IV? What was illustrated through the letters?

3. How did Sylvia's demeanor and image change from her youth to her death?

4. What lecture did Malcolm read of Anne Stevenson's defense of her biography in Part Two: Chapter I?

5. What was Sylvia Plath's response to her mother's criticism of her dark works?

6. How did Janet Malcolm compare her writing to Anne Stevenson's in college? What was Stevenson's career like?

7. What happened between Linda Wagner-Martin and Ted and Olwyn Hughes?

8. Where did Olwyn and Malcolm go together in Part One: Chapter VII? What did Malcolm learn there?

9. What qualities of Sylvia Plath's work made her appealing to feminists?

10. When were Ted and Sylvia separated? What did Sylvia reveal to Alvarez during that time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the two introductions of The Journals of Sylvia Plath and analyze the introductions of each. What differences are in the work of Ted Hughes in the book?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the life and career of the author. What led Janet Malcolm to approach this subject and book?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the relationship between Anne Stevenson and Ted and Olwyn Hughes. How did Anne come to work with Olwyn on the biography?

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