My Favorite Book from High School English Class

Our next book is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and yes, it was my absolute favorite book during all four years of high school English. 

There are two things I think you should be aware of going in. First, this paragraph from SparkNotes: 

"The Bell Jar is an autobiographical novel that conforms closely to the events of the author’s life. Sylvia Plath was born to Otto and Aurelia Plath in 1932 and spent her early childhood in the seaport town of Winthrop, Massachusetts. Otto Plath died when Plath was eight years old, and she moved with her mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparents to Wellesley, an inland suburb of Boston. Plath excelled in school and developed a strong interest in writing and drawing. In 1950, she won a scholarship to attend Smith College, where she majored in English. The Bell Jar recounts, in slightly fictionalized form, the events of the summer and autumn after Plath’s junior year." 

And second, this "Brain Snack" from Shmoop.com: 

Sylvia Plath originally published The Bell Jar in London under a pseudonym, Victoria Lucas. She did not want the novel published in America in her mother's lifetime because of its potentially hurtful material. The novel wasn't published in America until 1971. (Source)

Interesting, eh? I always wonder just how honest people are when they write about themselves, their lives, or their families for publication. 

Wouldn't it be hard, after all, to tell the absolute truth about painful moments -- moments that might not cast you or your family in the best light? 

Or to say something unflattering about your siblings or parents, knowing that they might read it? 

The fact that Plath tried to keep the book from her mother because of "potentially hurtful material" seems to suggest she may not have pulled her punches. But even if she tried to be truthful in representing her young self, her colleagues, and her family ... is that even possible? Just how honest can one be when one is recalling and interpreting the events of one's own life? 

All right, I'm getting a little existential here, so let me bring things back with a few more concrete questions:

1. What similarities, if any, do you see between Esther Greenwood and Melinda Sordino? Between The Bell Jar and Speak?
2. What's up with the title? Why is this book called, The Bell Jar? 
3. Why does Esther struggle so? What events or conditions seem to contribute to her difficulty coping with life and her desire -- at times -- to end her life?
4. Does The Bell Jar touch upon any of the universal themes we've discussed (Individual v. Society, Individual v. Self, Individual v. Nature, Individual v. Individual), and if so, how? 
5. Aside from the bell jar, are there any other items that might be symbols in the book? Any repeated images or ideas? 

And finally, a question I stole from About.com:

• How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?

Okay. Lots to think about. 

Please come prepared to discuss at least ONE of these questions in depth, preferably more than one. And as always, bring your own thoughts and ideas along for the ride. 

Happy reading! See you on February 4th.

Do You Suffer from Glossophobia?

Sounds like it has something to do with being scared of glossaries or really shiny surfaces, doesn’t it? Not so. Glossophobia is actually the fear of public speaking—something from which apparently a good 75% of the population suffers.

If you enjoy speaking in public—actually look forward to standing in front of a packed auditorium and reciting one of Hamlet’s soliloquies or sharing your views on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—good for you, but you’re in the minority. Most people dread it, just like the narrator of our next book, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.

A Rose by Any Other Name

Melinda Sordino. She's the protagonist of Speak, and despite Juliet’s views on roses, Melinda's name matters. Sordino is a musical term instructing a performer to “mute” an instrument, therefore:

Sordino = Mute

So . . . what’s a girl with the last name “mute” doing in a book called Speak? Good question. The answer? Lot of things, one of which happens to be attempting to survive her Freshman year at Merryweather High School. 

Motifs and Symbols and Metaphors, Oh My!

But back to Melinda's last name: it's just one of the many clever literary shenanigans L.H. Anderson engages in during Speak. Some others to contemplate are what Anderson has done with:

• trees
• the weather
• The Scarlet Letter
• Melinda's mouth
• rabbits
• closets
• mirrors
• silence
• Maya Angelou
• Melinda's hornet allergy

This book is full of symbolism, including extended metaphors and motifs (we'll discuss the subtle differences between these terms), and it also tackles three universal themes:

• Individual v. Individual
• Individual v. Self
• Individual v. Society

So, yeah. We'll have a lot to discuss when we get together on Monday the 6th. 

Bring along your questions and comments ...

... as well as any thoughts you have on the symbolism you notice in the book or the way those three universal themes manifest themselves. 

Happy reading!