Mirror by Sylvia Plath

The poem shifts in the second stanza by — 

• revealing the mirror’s feelings of anger 

• exploring the godlike nature of the mirror  

• focusing on the woman’s reactions  

• comparing the light with the darkness

Which two sentences best express possible interpretations of the simile in the last two lines of the poem?

• The woman becomes more terrible each day. 

• The woman’s view of herself makes her grow older. 

• The woman loses a little bit more of her youth when she looks in the mirror. 

• The woman sees her image in the mirror move the same way a fish moves. 

• The woman’s view of her physical self grows more and more negative. 

Which word best characterizes the speaker in the first stanza of the poem?

• Critical  

• Objective  

• Sympathetic  

• Annoyed 

______ When turning to those liars, the candles or the moon in line 12, the woman — 

• avoids discovering her true self  

• recognizes her true identity  

• sees her true physical beauty  

• sees her true physical beauty  

  hopes to hear the truth about herself 

______ The two short sentences in line 15 of the poem contribute to a tone of — 

• detachment  

• cynicism  

• sarcasm  

• earnestness 

______ The poet uses the word drowned in line 17 to suggest — 

• the unavoidable passing of time  

• the eventual death of the girl  

• the woman’s acceptance of her aging  

   

   

• the woman’s sorrow at being alone

Which two statements best describe the structure of the poem?

• The poem emphasizes a steady beat.  

• The poem contains lines without a fixed meter.  

• The poem has a clear and regular rhyme scheme.  

• The poem maintains a strict syllabic count per line.  

• The poem is divided into two stanzas. 

What single idea is developed throughout the poem? Cite evidence from the poem to support your response. 

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
 

______ Part A: Which theme can the reader infer from lines 15–18? 

• Romantic love never lasts. 

• The truth is quickly uncovered. 

• People should reflect on the past. 

• Beauty fading is inevitable. 

______ Part B:  before the highlighted text from the poem that best supports the answer to Part A. 

• I am important to her. She comes and goes. 

• Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness. 

•   in me an old woman/Rises toward her day after day,  

   

• like a terrible fish.