Thanks to Anonymous for being the only one to respond to the trivia questions. This was my second attempt at this (See the trivia 16 June 2008 and the answers on 29 June 2008 ) and both were relatively poorly received. Ho hum; seems like the “Did you know...” is a better way to go. The answers are: 1. In the fall of 1954, during the first semester of her senior year at Smith College, which charitable activity did Sylvia Plath do? D. Read aloud to a dear old blind man. 2. To whom did she write of this activity? B. Gordon Lameyer In a letter simply dated "Saturday" Plath asked id he mentioned this activity to him. She reported that she read aloud to the dear old blind man on Monday's. 3. How much money did Sylvia Plath lose playing roulette in Monte Carlo during her winter break from Cambridge in December 1955/January 1956? C. $3 In a letter from January 21, 1956 to Gordon Lameyer, Plath recounts her continental excursions, admitting to the loss of funds...

Today Sylvia Plath Info Blog is four years old. In blog years, that is about 80 - which is half as old as Joan Rivers. With that - and I have been thinking about this a long time - I have done a redesign of the blog, which I hope you all like! Here are some trivia questions for you to consider. The answers will be posted in a few days. In the fall of 1954, during the first semester of her senior year at Smith College, which charitable activity did Sylvia Plath do? A. Pick up trash on Green Street B. Tutor extraterrestrial creatures in the theory of haiku C. Hold open church doors Sunday’s D. Read aloud to a dear old blind man E. Fly kites on behalf of handicap children F. Grade freshwomen German assignments G. Plant excitable tulips H. Assist the college librarian in tracking down overdue books I. Help police and boy scouts search for missing 20 year olds J. Skim Paradise Pond of algae K. Crochet blankets for cold local grandmothers L. Start a petition to force Smith to go co-ed M. Giv...

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...

After a brief three day research visit to the Sylvia Plath mss . housed at the Lilly Library in Bloomington , Indiana, I learned, or re-learned, some things about Sylvia Plath. 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 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. Please post your answers and opinions to the Comments feature available! I'll post my answers/opinions later this week I hope!