 “Child”  “Morning Song”  “The Arrival of the Bee-Box”  “Black Rook in Rainy Weather”  “Mirror”  “Poppies in July”

 Born in Boston in 1932 to Otto (professor of German and Biology and a keen bee- lover) and Aurelia Plath.  Excelled at school.  Father died when she was eight. In the late 1930s he became increasingly ill and was convinced of his self-diagnosis of lung cancer. Later diagnosed with diabetes – now so advanced it threatened (and ended) his life.

 In 1941 Sylvia's "Poem" was printed in the children's section of the Boston Herald.  Attended Smith College in 1950 – became editor of a magazine.  Had both successes and failures in her publications – lead to a ‘high-low’ life in which she often questioned her own talents.

 Spent time in a psychiatric hospital (attempted suicide in 1953)  1955 Fulbright scholarship to Cambridge.  Meets poet Ted Hughes in Feb. 1956, they marry in June  Two children (Frieda and Nicholas) + cheating husband = rocky marriage!

 Plath ended her life.