View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who "rescues" Esther from the public hospital?

2. How does the shock treatment make Esther feel?

3. Why does Valerie have scars on her head?

4. Who is Joan having an affair with at the asylum?

5. What complaint do all of the patients at the hospital have of Esther's volunteer work?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Esther's shock treatment experience at the private hospital different than the one she had with Dr. Gordon?

2. What does Esther do at Deer Island?

3. Describe Esther's encounter with the sailor

4. Characterize Esther's behavior in the psychiatric wards of the hospitals

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

6. Describe the scene at the cemetery.

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

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

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

10. What does Dr. Nolan tell Esther to help her feel better about Joan's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The Bell Jar is written from Esther's first person point of view. Write an essay examining the novel's point of view focusing on:

1) the narrator's bias

2) the amount of information given based on this point of view

3) comment on how the novel would be different if it was told from a different point of view.

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

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 980 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample