How long does it take to read The Bell Jar?
Jeanne Inness
The Bell Jar by Jeanne Inness takes about 1 hour 26 minutes to read at 250 words a minute.
About 1 hour 26 minutes
An evening's read
First published 1984. 78 pages, about 21,450 words.
3 days at 30 minutes a day
Estimate based on 275 words per page.
At other speeds
| Slow, 150 words a minute | 2 hours 23 minutes |
| Average, 250 words a minute | 1 hour 26 minutes |
| Fast, 400 words a minute | 54 minutes |
The page count is the median across 2 editions, so your copy may differ. How we calculate.
About the book
The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. CliffsNotes on The Bell Jar takes you into the life of Esther Greenwood: she is a college girl, a good student, a talented writer, and a fashion magazine contest winner; she is the well-bred oldest child in a typical family with two children, a clever games player, a semi-liberated budding intellectual, and a confused late adolescent. Also, Esther is a mental patient. Follow the progression of Esther's life as she struggles to grow up in the early 1950s in an America where women's roles were rigidly assigned. Summaries and commentaries will help you understand the social and emotional pressures facing Esther. You'll also gain insight into the life and background of the author, Syliva Plath. Other features that help you study include Character analyses of major players An analysis of the individual versus society in The Bell Jar An examination of Sylvia Plath's own tragic history Sample essay questions Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure -- you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.
Subjects: Literary Criticism, Nonfiction
