Childhood & Identity
What was Marilyn Monroe’s birth name?
Norma Jean Baker
What image did Hollywood give Marilyn Monroe?
The “dumb blonde” image.
What is the past tense of “to go”?
went
How many times was Marilyn Monroe married?
Three times.
Why does the song talk about Marilyn Monroe in a sad way?
Because her life was short and full of problems.
What problem in her family caused her to be sent away from home?
Her father left before she was born and her mother was mentally ill.
Give two examples that show Marilyn Monroe was more intelligent than her public image suggested.
She loved reading, studied literature, and took acting classes seriously.
Why do we use past tense when talking about Marilyn Monroe’s life?
Because her life is over and we are looking back.
How did Marilyn try to deal with her problems?
She used medication to cope with stress and pressure.
What does the candle symbolize in the song?
Marilyn’s short and fragile life.
Why did the movie studio want Norma Jean Baker to change her name to Marilyn Monroe?
They thought her real name was not exciting enough for Hollywood.
Name one way Marilyn Monroe tried to improve herself as an actress.
She studied acting or read books.
What is the difference between a regular and an irregular verb?
Regular verbs add -ed in the past tense and irregular verbs change in a different way.
why do people say Marilyn Monroe paid a high price for fame?
Fame brought success, but it also led to stress, addiction, and an early death.
What kind of people does “they crawled out of the woodwork” describe?
People who appeared because of her fame.
How might her childhood explain her fear of being alone as an adult?
Since people left her when she was young, she became afraid that others would leave her again.
Why was Marilyn Monroe not happy even though she was very famous?
She had success and attention, but she did not feel safe, loved, or satisfied in her private life.
How do words like “lonely” or “fragile” help us understand her life?
They help us imagine how she felt and what her life was like
Name one famous person Marilyn Monroe was married to.
Joe DiMaggio or Arthur Miller.
What does the treadmill image tell us about Marilyn’s life?
She worked constantly but never felt satisfied or at peace.
How did Marilyn Monroe’s childhood influence the way she behaved as an adult?
She worked very hard to please others and wanted attention because she never got enough care as a child.
Why couldn’t fame protect Marilyn Monroe from personal struggles?
Success did not give her emotional stability or happiness.
Why do writers use both regular and irregular verbs in a story?
Some verbs don’t end with -ed in the past, and writers use both kinds to tell what happened.
What role did marriage play in Marilyn Monroe’s life?
She hoped marriage would give her stability, but it did not last.
Why do people see the song as a way to honor Marilyn Monroe and not just a normal pop song?
Because it is meant to honor Marilyn Monroe and show respect for her life