Esther's "Bell Jar"
Themes, Metaphors, Motifs
Who said it?
Plot Questions
Random
100
Later in the novel, Esther says that she feels the bell jar has lifted off of her but that it could descend again at anytime. What is she metaphorically referring to?
What is her mental illness
100
At one point, Buddy metaphorically compares a poem to "a piece of _______"?
What is dust
100
"Children make me sick."
Who is Esther
100
What is the name of the male doctor (psychiatrist) who Esther first meets with?
Who is Dr. Gordon
100
What pseudonym does Esther adopt when she goes out with Doreen in the beginning of the novel?
What is Elly Higginbottom
200
As a result of her depression, Esther attempts suicide multiple times. Which of the following is a form of suicide that she does NOT attempt? Hanging, Shooting, Drowning, Sleeping Pills
What is shooting
200
Explain what the fig tree symbolizes to Esther
What is life's many choices and Esther's inability to commit
200
“What a man is is an arrow into the future, and what a woman is is the place the arrow shoots off from.”
Who is Mrs. Willard
200
After her night with Marco, Esther does what with her wardrobe?
What is throws it off the roof of her hotel piece by piece
200
Who is Jay Cee?
Who is Esther's boss at the magazine
300
What does Dodo Conway remind Esther of? How does this contribute to her depression?
What is the fact that she does not want to be a mother - this pressure to be a mother contributes to her depression
300
Esther hears the repetitive "brag" of her heart beating "I am I am I am" on two separate occasions. What are those occasions?
What is when she tries to drown herself in the ocean but fails and when she attends Joan's funeral
300
"I like Mrs. Willard. Mrs. Willard's a wonderful, wonderful woman. She's been a real mother to me."
Who is Joan
300
Why does Esther believe Constantin would never sleep with her?
What is he has feelings for her
300
Whose blood does Esther wear on her face?
Who is Marco
400
There are many representations of types of mental health treatments in the book, and doctors "experiment" on Esther in different ways. One treatment she receives involves injections of _______ . How do these injections affect her physically?
What is insulin (she gains weight as a result)
400
A Bell Jar is used to display an object of ________________
What is scientific curiosity
400
"Propaganda!" she said, and scribbled the name and address of this doctor on a prescription pad
Who is Dr. Nolan
400
What was the name of the waitress Buddy slept with over his summer at Cape Cod?
Who is Gladys
400
When Esther sees Buddy naked, all she can think about is _________________?
What is turkey neck and gizzards
500
What are five symptoms of major depressive disorder?
What are: 1.Depressed mood or irritable most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). 2. Decreased interest or pleasure in most activities, most of each day 3. Significant weight change (5%) or change in appetite 4. Change in sleep: Insomnia or hypersomnia 5. Change in activity: Psychomotor agitation or retardation 6. Fatigue or loss of energy 7. Guilt/worthlessness: Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt 8. Concentration: diminished ability to think or concentrate, or more indecisiveness 9. Suicidality: Thoughts of death or suicide, or has suicide plan
500
Esther says she's numb like a ___________ in the beginning of the story. What is the effect of this simile
What is a trolleybus To show her lack of feeling even though she is supposed to be having the time of her life
500
"I read about you. Not how they found you, but everything up to that, and I put all my money together and took the first plane to New York."
Who is Joan
500
Where did Buddy go to college?
What is Yale
500
Why won't Esther cut her wrists when she's at the beach
What is she doesn't have a warm bath to sit in afterwards
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