Day 5

The Bell Jar Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

  1. 1

    The Bell Jar is a semi-autobiographical novel; the protagonist is named Esther Greenwood, not Sylvia Plath. What is the difference between fiction, biography, and autobiography? How does the genre impact the reader's expectations?

    A biography is a factual account of a person's life, and Plath is writing about her than just her life. An autobiography is a personal account, and while Plath journalled extensively, she did not offer those writings for publication. The reader might understand that a biography or an autobiography has less "wiggle-room" and adheres more uniformly with historical events. The writer's perspective differs, of course, between biography and...

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2368 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11017 literature essays, 2791 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in