Test Your Knowledge of Sylvia Plath

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Sylvia Plath wrote only one novel which was published, 'The Bell Jar'. It was published under an assumed name. This name was: Aurelia Schober Esther Greenwood Victoria Lucas Anne Sexton

2. True or False: 'The Bell Jar' is entirely fiction. True False

3. Hospitalized at age 20 for an attempted suicide, Plath stayed at which hospital? Saint Botolph's Massachusetts General McLean St. George

4. In the fall of 1950 Plath began college, which college did she attend? Harvard Wellesley Cambridge Smith

5. Plath and Hughes had two children, what were their names? Otto and Aurelia Frieda and Nicholas Ted and Sylvia Sylvia and Warren

6. In 1953 Plath won a Guest Editorship at Mademoiselle magazine for a short story she wrote. What was the name of that story? Bitter Strawberries Youth's Appeal for World Peace Sunday at the Minton's And Summer Will Not Come Again

7. Plath wrote a poem about an animal entitled 'Ariel', what type of animal was this poem about? horse dog lion bird

8. To my knowledge,Plath published only one children's book, what was the name of this book? The Bull of Bendylaw Tinker Jack and the Tidy Wives The Bed Book Ella Mason and her Eleven Cats

9. 'The Collected Poems of Sylvia Plath' won a prize in 1981 (18 years after her death). Which prize was this? Answer: (One Word)

10. For many years after her suicide, a vast majority of people believed a specific person was responsible for driving Plath to it, who was this person? Olwyn Hughes Aurelia Plath Ted Hughes Otto Plath

11. Plath wrote a peom titled 'Metaphor' - what is the metaphor this poem is alluding to? animals a year pregnancy the sea

12. What is the date of Plath's birth? December 14, 1937 February 11, 1932 October 27, 1932 June 16, 1932

13. Which of the two children born to Plath and Hughes is now a poet and painter? Answer: (Frieda or Nicholas)

14. True or False: Plath's death could have been avoided? (Just referring to the facts of her death, not her underlying mental condition) True False

15. 'Letters Home' is a published collection of letters between Plath and another person. Who is this person? Aurelia Plath Warren Plath Ted Hughes Otto Plath

16. What is the date of Sylvia Plath's death? February 11, 1963 June 16, 1973 October 27, 1953 August 4, 1983

17. Two editions of Sylvia Plath's journals have been published - which one was highly edited by Ted Hughes (abridged or unabridged)? Answer: (abridged or unabridged)

18. At which college, in March 1957, was Plath offered a teaching position? Oxford Smith Cambridge Wellesley

19. Which well known poem of Plath's was written after her stay in St. Pancras hospital due to a miscarriage and an appendectomy (in 1960)? Barren Woman I Am Vertical Tulips Insomniac

20. One of Plath's published poems was accomplished through a writing assignment given to her by Hughes. Which poem was this? Monologue at 3a.m. Love Letter The Moon and the Yew Tree Conversation Among the ruins

21. How old was Sylvia when her father died of diabetes mellitus? 8 6 10 12

22. In which poem does Plath use a panther to describe Hughes? Pursuit The Glutton Ode for Ted Love Letter

23. Which of Plath's collections of poetry was published 2 years after her death? Ariel Crossing The Water The Colossus Winter Trees

24. Which Indiana Library holds the Plath Estate? Indiana University Lilly Purdue Ball State

25. In what area of Massachusetts was Plath's first home? Wellesley Jamaica Plain Boston Haverford