The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

Question 1

affluence

Answer 1

n. the state of having a great deal of money; wealth.

“Tonight was awful… There was the dinner in the country club, the affluence of money.”

Question 2

pallid

Answer 2

adj. colorless, lifeless, unexciting, uninteresting.
“And then to bed, in the same potentially fertile air, scented of lavender, lace curtains and the warm feline odor like musk, waiting to assimilate you - - - everywhere the pallid waiting.”

Question 3

lanolin

Answer 3

n. a fatty substance found naturally on sheep’s wool; used as the base for ointments
“A little thing, like children putting flowers in my hair, can fill up the widening cracks in my self-assurance like soothing lanolin.”

Question 4

malady

Answer 4

n. a disease or ailment.

“I have lost all faith in my ability to attract males. And in the female animal that is a rather pathetic malady.”

Question 5

puerile

Answer 5

adj. childishly silly and trivial.

“Then that disgustingly puerile burlesque show which turns my stomach when I think of it.”

Question 6

futilely (futile)

Answer 6

adj. incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.

“Anyhow, he stopped the car and we hashed the mess out pretty futilely.”

Question 7

languid

Answer 7

adj. (of an occasion or period of time) pleasantly lazy and peaceful.
“Will I never reset in sunlight again – slow, languid & golden with peace?”

Question 8

slipshod

Answer 8

adj. (of shoes) worn down at the heel.

“In dry and deathless dance / The leaves on slipshod feet / Advance.”

Question 9

ignonminy

Answer 9

n. public shame or disgrace.
“All my friends who had dates asked me where I was going. I decided to laugh at my grim fate and not conceal my shame: ‘I’m staying here unless a blind date turns up.’ Eventually my ignominy paid off.”