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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 keeps Esther from losing her virginity to Constantin?

2. Who is Esther "cursed" to have had to eat breakfast with in the hotel cafeteria?

3. What does Esther do to let Constantin know she is interested in having sex with him?

4. What does Buddy tell Esther she should get used to seeing?

5. What does Esther decide about her relationship with Constantin during their dinner date?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who is Mrs. Ockenden?

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

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

6. Describe the events that lead to Esther's food poisoning

7. Why is Esther upset when Buddy tells her he is no longer a virgin?

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

9. How does Esther convince the college to exempt her from the chemistry course requirement?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath provides a commentary on American women. Choose three major scenes or characters from the novel and:

1) describe them as they relate to women

2) explain what you think Plath was trying to say about women through this scene/character.

Be sure to cite specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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