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Sylvia Plath Trivia - Answers!

On the 16th of June (Bloomsday and Plath's anniversary), I posted a trivia quiz which, sadly, went unanswered. Therefore, the $2 (£1.00270, €1.26984) cash prize goes to me.

1) Between the Fall of 1948 and August 1949, how many boys did Sylvia Plath date?

A: 37
B: 25
C: 21
D: 16
E: 99 (the sum of A-D)
F: None of the above

Answer: The answer to question 1 is C, 21. In Plath's 1949 journal, held at the Lilly Library, Plath lists all her dates for posterity. The 1949 journal is the first of its kind; her private thoughts and writing prior to this being more diary-like. Do you know what I mean in differentiating them? For those who have read Plath's early diaries, you will. The 1949 writing seems more sophisticated and and deeper. This is when Plath wrote her now famous statement: "I think I would like to call myself 'the girl that wanted to be God.'"

2) True or False:

Prior to Sylvia Plath's breakdown and suicide attempt in 1953 and the subsequent therapy - which continued in person through 1959 - she had a decent opinion about her childhood? Please support your answer with a compelling statement or argument.

Answer: The answer two question 2 is far more subjective. But I think the answer would be true, Plath did have a good opinion of her childhood prior to the bad effects of psychotherapy. Plath's later poetry really does turn against her parents; but is it necessarily justified? A full examination of Plath's life is necessary, but I encourage readers to not ignore the materials from Plath's childhood. Taken in the context of her life during the time, I think the young Sylvia Plath coped quite well with being fatherless. She had a mother, brother, and grandparents in close proximity to her who always, always gave her the love and attention she needed. I think the therapy Plath underwent through the 1950s did more to distort the truth than to reveal it.

Again, it would benefit your opinion on the matter if you've read through Plath's 1940s era letters, journals, and scrapbooks. This was the World War II era, so times were tough...there was rationing, and this was a period when women routinely had to work as the men were off fighting.

And as for Otto being a controlling, domineering figure in Plath's life - I suspect this may be a usurpation (à la "The Disquieting Muses") of another's feelings and experiences. Once Plath was old enough for walking, talking, and then writing, Otto Plath was far too ill, I think, to have been such a figure as is previously portrayed. But, if we remember, Aurelia Plath did much of the research and organization for Otto Plath's Bumbleebees and Their Ways and was barely acknowledged for her effort. I suspect Aurelia Plath may have harbored anger and frustration towards Otto, but the young Sylvia did appear to love and admire the man.

There is more so say on the subject; if anyone else would care to weigh in (anonymously or not).

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