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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. Why does Jody call Esther?

2. What does the Ladies' Day magazine staff send to the girls as gifts?

3. What does Constantin ask Esther to do when they go to his apartment?

4. Why is Esther afraid of taking chemistry?

5. How does Esther feel about the cadavers that Buddy shows her?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Buddy's letter to Esther (that is waiting for her when she gets home).

2. What news does Mrs. Greenwood deliver to Esther when she picks her up from the train station? How does Esther react?

3. Why does Esther decide to take a bath when she returns to her hotel?

4. Describe the movie that the girls go to see from Esther's point of view

5. What leads Esther to be invited for lunch by Philomena Guinea?

6. According to Esther, what is her mother's opinion of her interest in becoming a writer or editor?

7. What activities does Esther consider taking up after finding out she was not accepted into the writing course?

8. Describe the Amazon.

9. Why is Esther surprised when Buddy comes to visit her at college?

10. Why does Marco give Esther his diamond stick pin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Bell Jar is a thinly veiled autobiography of a period in Sylvia Plath's life. Based on articles read in class about Plath:

1) compare the author's life with Esther's

2) note areas where the author steps away from autobiography. Comment on why she did this.

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

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the significance of the novel's title. Be sure to include:

1) a definition of "bell jar"

2) the relationship between the bell jar and Esther

3) what the bell jar represents about Esther's character.

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

Essay Topic 3

What would you have done if you had developed depression as Esther had? Would you have taken the same actions as her? Why? How would your personal experience be different or the same as Esther's?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 955 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample