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Sylvia Plath's Literature Trivia Quiz

A quiz detailing the life and literature of one of the 20th century's greatest poets.

A multiple-choice quiz by MntT77. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
MntT77

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
328,584

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
416

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. How old was Sylvia when she had her first poem published? Hint

Fourteen

Twelve

Eight

Ten

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Question 2 of 15

2. True or False: The character "Buddy" in "The Bell Jar" is based on Ted Hughes, who was Sylvia's spouse from 1956 to 1963.

True

False

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Question 3 of 15

3. In several poems, including 'Lady Lazarus' and 'Daddy', Plath used the 'Holocaust' as a metaphor. Why? Hint

To encourage remembrance

To provoke controversy

To symbolise oppression

To highlight her Jewish background

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Question 4 of 15

4. In 2006, a previously unpublished Plath poem called "Ennui" was discovered. What structure did the poem take? Hint

Sestina

Villanelle

Sonnet

Free verse

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Question 5 of 15

5. In which of the following poems does Sylvia Plath talk about her poetry? Hint

Suicide off Egg Rock

A Birthday Present

Stillborn

Lady Lazarus

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Question 6 of 15

6. How many poetry books did Plath publish in her lifetime? Hint

One

Three

Two

Four

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Question 7 of 15

7. When Sylvia Plath published "The Bell Jar" in 1963, what name did she publish it under? Hint

Her own name - Sylvia Plath

Victoria Lucas

Esther Greenwood

Freida Hughes

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Question 8 of 15

8. In the short story "Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit", when the children are at the movies a war film is shown before the main feature. What was the main feature called? Hint

Fantasia

Dumbo

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Pinocchio

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Question 9 of 15

9. In which of the following poems does Sylvia not mention children? Hint

Nick and the Candlestick

Electra on Azalea Path

Balloons

I Want, I Want

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Question 10 of 15

10. How did Plath eventually commit suicide? Hint

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Overdosing on pills

Hanging

Firearms

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which institution did Sylvia attend in 1950? Hint

Boston University

Newnham College

Smith College

Yale University

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Question 12 of 15

12. Several of her poems have a month in their title. Which of these months is never used as the title of any of her poems? Hint

February

October

July

November

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Question 13 of 15

13. 'Tulips' was written after receiving some flowers during a stay in hospital. Why was she in hospital at the time? Hint

Appendectomy

Miscarriage

Suicidal urges

Broken leg

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Question 14 of 15

14. True or False: Sylvia Plath has written at least one villanelle.

True

False

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Question 15 of 15

15. In "The Bell Jar", in what year does the novel begin? Hint

1954

1953

1955

1956

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How old was Sylvia when she had her first poem published?

Answer: Eight

Indeed, Plath started writing prose from a very young age. It was published in the children's section of "The Boston Herald".

2. True or False: The character "Buddy" in "The Bell Jar" is based on Ted Hughes, who was Sylvia's spouse from 1956 to 1963.

Answer: False

Actually, it was based on Dick Norton, a Yale senior who she had dated in her junior year. She wouldn't meet Hughes until later.

3. In several poems, including 'Lady Lazarus' and 'Daddy', Plath used the 'Holocaust' as a metaphor. Why?

Answer: To symbolise oppression

When she refers to someone else as a 'Nazi', she usually signifies herself as being a Jew, thus suggesting that she feels heavily oppressed by them. Although provoking controversy was probably not a primary aim, it certainly did so. Also, Plath's family weren't Jewish; they were Unitarian.

4. In 2006, a previously unpublished Plath poem called "Ennui" was discovered. What structure did the poem take?

Answer: Sonnet

The poem takes the form of a sonnet, in that it has fourteen lines and a regular rhyme scheme: a,b,a,b,c,d,c,d,e,f,e,g,f,g. It was written in her undergraduate years at Smith College, but was not published until 2006, in the online journal Blackbird. It may have been initially intended for publication, because her address is typed in the top-right corner, though this may simply have been a case of identifying the poem for her tutor.

5. In which of the following poems does Sylvia Plath talk about her poetry?

Answer: Stillborn

In "Stillborn", Plath likens her poetry to stillborn children. Despite being "proper in shape and number and every part", she does not feel they are alive: "And still the lungs won't inflate and the heart won't start" Though she feels that she put in the effort, she sees her poems as artificial.

It's worth noting that Plath's second pregnancy ended in miscarriage, and perhaps prompted this unorthodox metaphor.

6. How many poetry books did Plath publish in her lifetime?

Answer: One

That's right, just one. That poetry collection was entitled "The Colossus and Other Poems", published in 1960. "Ariel" was not published until 1965, two years after her death.

7. When Sylvia Plath published "The Bell Jar" in 1963, what name did she publish it under?

Answer: Victoria Lucas

Esther Greenwood is the persona Sylvia takes in the novel and Freida Hughes is the name of her daughter.

8. In the short story "Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit", when the children are at the movies a war film is shown before the main feature. What was the main feature called?

Answer: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The narrator's mother had checked the feature before letting her go, not realising that a war film would also be shown. The propaganda film featured the Japanese torturing and killing prisoners of war, which disturbs the narrator so much she ends up vomiting.

Although it has never been confirmed, it's likely that this story is at least somewhat autobiographical. In 1941, the year America entered World War II, Sylvia Plath would have been nine years old, which fits well with her horrified reaction to what is being shown.

9. In which of the following poems does Sylvia not mention children?

Answer: Electra on Azalea Path

"Electra on Azalea Path" is based on Plath visiting her father's grave for the first time.

10. How did Plath eventually commit suicide?

Answer: Carbon monoxide poisoning

More specifically, she stuck her head inside the oven after sealing the room off with wet towels. Her first ever suicide attempt involved an overdose of sleeping pills, and is documented in "The Bell Jar".

11. Which institution did Sylvia attend in 1950?

Answer: Smith College

However, she did later go to Newnham College after graduating from Smith College with honours.

12. Several of her poems have a month in their title. Which of these months is never used as the title of any of her poems?

Answer: February

Three poems that she wrote include 'Poppies in July', 'Poppies in October' and 'Letter in November'.

13. 'Tulips' was written after receiving some flowers during a stay in hospital. Why was she in hospital at the time?

Answer: Appendectomy

In the poem, she feels that the red tulips are interrupting her calm stay at the hospital: "I didn't want any flowers, I only wanted/ To lie with my hands turned up and be utterly empty".

14. True or False: Sylvia Plath has written at least one villanelle.

Answer: True

The villanelle in question is 'To Eva Descending the Stair', pre-1956.

15. In "The Bell Jar", in what year does the novel begin?

Answer: 1953

At the beginning she refers to the upcoming Rosenbergs' execution, which took place on 19th June 1953.

Source: Author MntT77

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
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