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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 treatment does Dr. Gordon suggest for Esther?

2. What does Esther notice about the people outside of the hospital?

3. What does Joan find in a magazine that shocks Esther?

4. Who is Esther's doctor at the private hospital?

5. What treasure does Esther take with her to solitary confinement?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Esther feel as she is waiting to enter her exit hearing?

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

3. Describe Esther's feelings about the women living in Belsize

4. How does Esther find out about Joan's homosexuality?

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

6. Describe Irwin

7. What thoughts consume Esther after finding out she must have shock treatments?

8. Describe Esther's feelings as she visits the gynecologist.

9. Describe Esther's encounter with the sailor

10. What news does Esther expect Dr. Nolan to give her after her insulin reaction? What news does she actually give her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Romantic relationships have a major impact on Esther's development throughout the novel. Choose two of the men who Esther has relationships with (even short relationships) and:

1) describe the relationship

2) discuss the impact that this relationship had on Esther

3) analyze what the author is saying about romantic relationships and their impact on women in general.

Cite several 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

The Bell Jar is often considered a "coming of age" story. In your essay:

1) describe Esther's journey from adolescence into adulthood

2) describe and comment on the events in her life that help her transition between adolescence and adulthood

3) discuss how successful her transition was. Is she an adult at the end of the novel? Why or why not?

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

(see the answer keys)

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