Reading Comprehension: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

According to the introduction, which novel by Sylvia Plath addresses struggles of mental health, gender expectations, and identity within a society that suppresses individuality?

• Tulips

• The Bell Jar

• Lady Lazarus

• Jane Eyre

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CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

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In the introduction, what does the bell jar symbol primarily represent for Esther Greenwood?

• Empowerment and liberation

• Financial independence

• Mental illness, isolation, and entrapment

• Technological progress

From the context and background section, how were conversations about mental health viewed around the time The Bell Jar was published, especially regarding young women?

• They were widely accepted and frequently discussed.

• They were rare and often dismissed as hysteria or weakness.

• They focused mostly on men’s experiences and ignored women entirely by law.

• They were banned in the UK and only allowed in the US.

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CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

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CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.K.6

Based on the context and background, which treatment did Sylvia Plath undergo as part of her struggle with depression?

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

• Psychoanalysis without medication

• No clinical treatment

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CCSS.RI.11-12.10

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In the textual analysis section, which set of literary devices is identified as central to Sylvia Plath’s craft in The Bell Jar?

• Satire and free verse prosody

• Alliteration and onomatopoeia

• Symbolism, imagery, and motifs

• Epic simile and chiasmus

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CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.K.6

According to the symbolism discussion, what does the fig tree in The Bell Jar most clearly symbolize for Esther?

• A single, fixed destiny she must accept

• Choice, potential, and indecisiveness under societal pressure

• A return to childhood innocence

• Economic prosperity through hard work

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CCSS.RI.11-12.9

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Interpreting the quoted fig tree passage, what meaning does the text ascribe to Esther’s inability to choose among the figs?

• It proves she values tradition over change.

• It represents choice paralysis leading to inaction and loss.

• It shows she prefers adventure to domesticity and succeeds.

• It indicates external forces make her decisions for her without consequence.

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CCSS.RL.6.3

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In the symbolism section, how does mirror imagery function in relation to Esther’s identity?

• It confirms her stable, unified self-image.

• It underscores fragmentation and self-alienation until she can see herself clearly again.

• It serves only as comic relief without thematic weight.

• It represents society’s admiration of her public persona.

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CCSS.RI.11-12.9

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What does the novel’s opening focus on the Rosenbergs’ execution symbolize within the analysis?

• Political indifference and personal optimism

• Death, punishment, societal control, and foreshadowing of judgment for nonconformity

• Economic hardship and class mobility

• Romantic fulfillment and social harmony

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CCSS.RL.6.3

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In the imagery section, how does Plath’s use of claustrophobic and airless description affect the reader’s understanding of Esther’s mental state?

• It highlights her sense of suffocation and depression.

• It celebrates her freedom from societal roles.

• It depicts her energetic engagement with life.

• It focuses on external scenery without emotional significance.