Secret life of bees

what items does Lily own that belonged to her mother?

A wooden block with black mary on the front and Tiburon on the back and gloves. ch1

What important information about Deborah does August give Lily that she did not already know?

Deborah came back to the farm to collect her things and to get Lily ch12

Why did Sue Monk Kidd choose July 4th as Lily's birthday? How did that holiday represent her life at the moment? How does July 4th, and Lily's actions, connect to America's history and the Civil Rights Act?

July 4th represents independence day which is the day she was born and they day she ran away from home. July 4th is when America got independence from the oppression of England. This would make Lily america and T-ray the English government. ch2

Describe June and Lily's relationship. Why is it that way?

June and Lily are divided because June sees Lily as Lily's mother who hired August as her maid. Ch6

why do you think Lily pretends to be Rose Campbell?

LIly doesn't want to be seen as a foreigner or a runaway because she might be sent back to T-ray ch3

Where does Lily decide to go at the end of the novel?

Lily decides to stay with the Boatwrights.

consider how Lily reacts to the manners of Rosaleen and then August. What does that tell us about her character?

Lily is surprised at August's education because the only black person she knew was Rosaleen. This shows that Lily is a little bit racist. Ch4

why is so surprising to Lily that August asks Lily what she loved? what was Lily's response?

Lily is surprised because nobody ever cared what she liked so August asking was a surprise. She likes the color blue and she likes salted peanuts in coke. ch8

How did Lily realize that May knew her mother?

Lily realized that May knew her mother because May was using graham crackers and marshmallows to lead out the roaches just like her mother did. ch9

What is May's advice to her sisters?

Lily told them to live their life to the fullest. ch10

How does Lily react to the information about her mother in the Honey house? Why does Lily react this way if she already knew?

Lily was really upset that her mother left her with T-ray. She was more upset because she made herself believe her mother didn't leave her. ch13

What item of Lily's mother does she now wear? What other item does she feel is a sign her mother really loved her?

Lily wears her mother's crystal whale pin and has a picture of her and her mother. ch12

A symbol is an object that represents an abstract idea. In the parlor room, Lily comments on all the mirrors and says that she tried not to look in them. consider what a mirror literally means and then figuratively what it could do for Lily-if she looked.

Lily would see her Physical form but more importantly her own pain and internal self. ch6

Why does Lily write a letter to T-ray? What does it say and what does she do with it?

Lily wrote that T-ray was a terrible father and made her feel terrible. this was meant to get out her true feelings and when she finished she ripped it up. ch8

July

Lily- although she was not born into the family she has made them her family by spending her time with them.

Twins

May and april are twins to show they are connected, and to foreshadow May's suicide

Why has Zach's attitude changed and do you think he is justified in feeling that way?

May died and Zach feels partially responsible, He isn't justified in feeling this way because their was no way of knowing May would die from him going to jail. ch11

What changed June and Lily's relationship?

May died so June wanted to live her life to the fullest. ch11

What is the catalyst (or cause) for May's death?

May killed herself because Zach was put in jail, but more importantly her sisters didn't tell her. ch10

How does May kill herself? How does that reflect the way she felt in the world and what she wanted out of death.

May realized she was a burden on her sisters so she pulled a large rock on top of herself so she would drown. The rock represents her depression and the river is meant to cleanse her of her pain. she wanted her sisters to live their life to the fullest. ch10

Describe in detail May Boatwright.

May was a childish woman who couldn't distinguish her own pain from other's pain. ch5

parlor room

Mirrors-Physical reflexion, inner self Books-information, stories- Knowledge, growth Statue- love, self love

August

Mom like, loving, most mature

Rosaleen watches President Johnson sign the Civil Rights Act (1964) with great joy and excitement. Lily observes this and calls her "oblivious." Does Lily think the Civil Rights Act will work? why or why not?

No, because she believes such a huge change couldn't happen over one document, and Lily is a little racist herself. ch1

Give 5 details of the home in which Lily and Rosaleen enter. Ch4

Pink Full of mirrors Lots of books Has a statue Makes honey Ch4

why did Rosaleen and Lily get so mad at each other by the river? consider both points of view.

Rosaleen is angry at Lily because Lily is taking control of the entire trip. Lily is angry because Rosaleen has no right to be mad when Lily saved her from jail. ch2

Give 3-5 examples that describe T-ray and Lily's awful relationship.

T-ray buys her nothing T-ray hits her and slaps her T-ray yells at her for doing nothing (reading) T-ray gives her no freedom ch1

How does T-ray find Lily and what does he call her while they are fighting?

T-ray traced the call from the lawyers office, then the receptionist told him Lily's location. When they argued T-ray called her Deborah. ch14

Sue Monk Kidd named the Boatwright sister after months of the year-April, May, June, and August. Why is there no sister named July?

There is no July because Lily fills the month of July (July 4th).

what is the "plan" for Lily and Rosaleen? Do they have one?

Yes, Lily and Rosaleen will go to Tiburon and figure out how Lily's mom was connected to it. ch3

How is zach's attitude different than Lily's toward his future (being an ass-busting lawyer)

Zach believes he Will be a great Lawyer but Lily is supportive but doesn't believe he will make it.

why May died

Zach was put in jail and instead of the sisters telling her they kept it a secret from her leaving her betrayed

Describe in detail Zach Taylor.

a young black kid who works on a honey farm and hopes to someday become a lawyer.

May's death

drowns in the river by pinning herself under a huge rock. Rock- weighing herself down like the suffering of the world River- cleansing of her of the sadness holding her down and to relieve herself

May

emotional, childlike

What happened to Zach and his friends?

one of Zach's friends threw a bottle at a white man so all of them went to jail. ch9

seasons symbol

spring is the start of life meaning it is immature- like May and April Summer is when everything's in full bloom and matured- like June July and April in order the months are in order of maturity

April

suicide with shotgun

Lily

the main character who was born on july 4th (independence day) and ran away from her father (t-ray) who abused her.

June

uptight, suspicious, defensive