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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. How does Esther know Buddy?

2. What course does Esther convince her college dean to exempt her from taking?

3. Why doesn't Esther want her picture taken for the magazine?

4. What does Esther label Marco?

5. Who helped foster Esther's appreciation for fine food?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Describe the Amazon.

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

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

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

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

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

9. Compare Constantin and Buddy.

10. Describe the sanatorium where Buddy is receiving treatment for TB.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Bell Jar takes place in several different settings. Compare and contrast three of the settings focusing on:

1) describing the setting and Esther's role within it

2) the significance of the setting in Esther's development.

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

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Throughout The Bell Jar, Esther moves between the present and the past. Select three of the flashback scenes and:

1) describe what happens in each of these scenes

2) discuss the significance of each scene in Esther's life

3) discuss how the flashback scene relates to the "present" time scene it is embedded in.

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

(see the answer keys)

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