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Sylvia Plath Biography Trivia Quiz

Sylvia Plath led a fascinating life that ended in tragedy. This is a quiz dedicated to her life, her work, and her brilliance.

A multiple-choice quiz by katiek54. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
katiek54

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
75,738

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
546

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. In which state was Sylvia Plath born? Hint

Massachusetts

Vermont

Connecticut

New York

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Question 2 of 15

2. Sylvia's father, a professor, died a few days before her eighth birthday. What was his area of expertise? Hint

Mosquitos

Butterflies

Wasps

Bees

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Question 3 of 15

3. What college did Sylvia Plath attend? Hint

Barnard College

Smith College

Boston University

Sarah Lawrence

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Question 4 of 15

4. Sylvia was offered a 'guest editor' position with what magazine? Hint

Cosmopolitan Magazine

Mademoiselle Magazine

Ms. Magazine

Redbook

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Question 5 of 15

5. Sylvia won the Fulbright Scholarship which sent her to study at what university? Hint

Cambridge

Harvard

Oxford

Yale

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which one of the following was NOT written by Sylvia Plath? Hint

Ariel

Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams

Crossing the Water

Dark Fields

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Question 7 of 15

7. When was Sylvia Plath born? Hint

October 16, 1963

February 28, 1963

February 11, 1932

October 27, 1932

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Question 8 of 15

8. What well known 'women only' hotel did Sylvia and her fellow co-editors stay in during their stint at "Mademoiselle"?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 9 of 15

9. Sylvia Plath graduated Magna Cum Laude from Smith College.

True

False

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Question 10 of 15

10. What is the name of the famous writer that Sylvia met and later married? Hint

John Steinbeck

Henry David Thoreau

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Ted Hughes

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Question 11 of 15

11. How many children did Sylvia have with her husband? Hint

Two

Four

Three

One

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Question 12 of 15

12. What is the title of the first book Sylvia Plath did? Hint

Ariel

Colossus

River Deep

The Plains

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Question 13 of 15

13. What year was 'The Bell Jar' published? Hint

1962

1959

1964

1963

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Question 14 of 15

14. Sylvia's ultimately life-ending suicide attempt was the first attempt she had ever made.

True

False

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Question 15 of 15

15. Sylvia Plath ended her life on what day? Hint

January 31, 1963

January 19, 1967

February 28, 1972

February 11, 1963

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which state was Sylvia Plath born?

Answer: Massachusetts

She was born in Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, and eventually lived in Beacon Hill and Northampton.

2. Sylvia's father, a professor, died a few days before her eighth birthday. What was his area of expertise?

Answer: Bees

She was fascinated that he could catch tons of bees and never get stung. However, male bees do not have 'stingers,' thus he only caught male bees.

3. What college did Sylvia Plath attend?

Answer: Smith College

This is a focal part of her novel 'The Bell Jar.'

4. Sylvia was offered a 'guest editor' position with what magazine?

Answer: Mademoiselle Magazine

Again, this is features as a key part of her novel 'The Bell Jar.'

5. Sylvia won the Fulbright Scholarship which sent her to study at what university?

Answer: Cambridge

She was very upset about not getting accepted by Harvard. But she was commended for her writing and given the scholarship after graduating from Smith.

6. Which one of the following was NOT written by Sylvia Plath?

Answer: Dark Fields

7. When was Sylvia Plath born?

Answer: October 27, 1932

8. What well known 'women only' hotel did Sylvia and her fellow co-editors stay in during their stint at "Mademoiselle"?

Answer: Barbizon Hotel

In 'The Bell Jar' she refers to the hotel as The Amazon Hotel.

9. Sylvia Plath graduated Magna Cum Laude from Smith College.

Answer: False

She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Smith - an achievement that got her the scholarship to Cambridge.

10. What is the name of the famous writer that Sylvia met and later married?

Answer: Ted Hughes

They had a sordid love affair, eventually ending in a separation before she killed herself.

11. How many children did Sylvia have with her husband?

Answer: Two

She, at one point, had a miscarriage at St. Pancras Hospital in London, but she did have two other children.

12. What is the title of the first book Sylvia Plath did?

Answer: Colossus

13. What year was 'The Bell Jar' published?

Answer: 1963

This is the same year she killed herself. The book was published under pseudonym a month before she killed herself.

14. Sylvia's ultimately life-ending suicide attempt was the first attempt she had ever made.

Answer: False

There is some controversy, as stories differ, but at least one previous attempt is documented (by taking an overdose when she was in college).

15. Sylvia Plath ended her life on what day?

Answer: February 11, 1963

Sylvia locked her children out of her kitchen and placed her head in an oven.

Source: Author katiek54

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