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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. Who is the only man that Esther ever considered losing her virginity to?

2. Which of the girls at the Amazon does Esther spend the most time with?

3. What does Jay Cee give Esther as she leaves for her lunch date with the two authors?

4. What wakes Esther up later in the night?

5. Why does Esther begin reading Finnegan's Wake?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Esther's opinion of Betsy?

2. What is Esther's standing joke with her grandfather about caviar?

3. Who is Mrs. Ockenden?

4. Why does Jay Cee want Esther to come into the office instead of attending the fur show?

5. Contrast Esther's and Buddy's feelings about his diagnosis

6. What does Esther think makes her a neurotic?

7. Describe what runs through Esther's head when she and Constantin are visiting the UN.

8. Describe the Amazon.

9. Describe Esther and Hilda's conversation at breakfast.

10. How does Jay Cee attempt to cheer Esther up the day of the photo shoot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrator talks about Joan being Esther's double. Compare and contrast these two characters focusing on:

1) their personality traits

2) their progression towards mental illness

3) their progression towards recovery from mental illness.

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

Essay Topic 2

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.

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)

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