1. Sylvia Plath 1932- 1963 American poet

2. Sylvia Plath: Poems to cover • “Child” • “Morning Song” • “The Arrival of the Bee-Box” • “Black Rook in Rainy Weather” • “Mirror” • “Poppies in July”

3. Short Biography • 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 1956... • Two children (Frieda and Nicholas) + cheating husband = rocky marriage!

6. “Even amidst fierce flames the golden lotus can be planted” • 1963 - Plath ended her life.