Secret Life of Bees

How does Lily feel when she and August go to collect honey, and the bees come out and fly around her?

"I felt like the queen's attendants were out here in a frenzy of love, caressing me in a thousand places"

What important message is in May's note to August and June?

"It's my time to die, and it's your time to live. Don't mess it up."

What does August say is the whole problem with people?

"They know what matters, but they don't choose it"

What does Lily say about people having steel plates in their heads?

A boy in her class told the teacher the steel plate in his head made it so test answers couldn't get through. The teacher said, "Give me a break."

who are the daughters of mary?

A group that comes on Sunday to join the sisters in worshipping the Black Madonna.

What is August's reply when Lily asks if she believes putting black cloths over the hives will help May get to heaven?

August says, "Putting black cloths on the hives is for us. I do it to remind us that life gives way into death, and then death turns around and gives way into life."

What happens to May after she goes to the wailing wall for the last time?

August tries to stop her and asks to go with her, May says she just wants to be alone and leaves. After twenty-five minutes, she says they should go after May. Grabbing a flashlight. Lily begins reciting the rosary out loud as they search. August and Lily find May dead in the river, with a huge stone on top of her to weigh her down. They pull her out and lay her on the riverbank. Lily reaches for a tree limb and holds on tight.

Zackary Taylor

He is a teenage, black young man that works on the honey farm assisting August with beekeeping. She is smart and wants to be a lawyer. He and Lily become friends and then fall in love, which is not allowed in the south at this time without legal penalty.

Neil

June's long suffering boyfriend. He attends most of the Boatwright family functions. He is persistent in asking June to marry him, but she continually rejects him.

When Zack stops at a sign next to the Dixie Cafe, how does Lily feel?

Lily felt furious. She wondered how people ate with the stink of cow poop in the air. She wondered how people could settle for that.

Lily writes a letter to T. Ray and then tears it up. Later that night, what does Lily do in the parlor?

Lily touches the heart of Mary and prays to her

T. Ray Owens

Lily's father, but not much of a "Daddy". He is abusive and unloving. A peach farmer. Often takes out his anger on Lily because of her mother leaving him.

What does Lily discover May doing that makes her have a strange, thick feeling inside and made her feel trembly?

May lures roaches out of the house with graham cracker and marshmallow crumbs, just like Lily's mother did

What critical piece of information does May tell Lily?

May tells Lily that Deborah Fontanel stayed out in the honey house and was "the sweetest thing."

May Boatwright

One of the three sisters that lived at the "Honey House". She had a twin that committed suicide. She also have melancholy and was often very sad or happy. She appeared younger than her age. She suffers from lacking borders and feels the pain of others physically and mentally.

June Boatwright

One of the three sisters that lived at the "Honey House". She is the quiet one. Worked as a teacher and then morgue. Plays cello to comfort people. Resents Lily and does not want her at house. Refuses to marry her boyfriend Neil.

Snout

Owens family dog. T. Ray shows more affection and attention to his dog than Lily.

Rosaleen Daise

Owens' black nanny/2nd mother for Lily and housekeeper. Strong, caring woman who stands by Lily in hard times. She does not have her own children or family due to hardships.

What happens to May when she finds out about Zach's being arrested?

She goes into a kind of a trance making it difficult to communicate with her. She becomes horribly quiet, and then says she is going to the wall.

What messages does Lily have for May during the vigil?

She hopes May will be happier in heaven, to tell Mary that "we're doing our best to keep her memory going," and to find her mother and let her know that Lily is away from T. Ray and "would appreciate a sign letting her know you love her."

What is August's advice to June after reading May's note?

She told June to marry Neil .

What brings Lily the most cause for gladness while the Daughters of Mary are holding vigil for May?

Sugar-Girl makes a joke about white people which wasn't very nice. No one there is judging Lily about her color they are just treating her as an individual.

August Boatwright

The owner of Black Madonna Honey company. A Black woman, entrepreneur and beekeeper. Was a housekeeper/teacher and then now matriarch head of her family.

How does Zach get out of jail?

The ticket-person at the movie theater finally comes forward to say which of the boys threw the bottle, and the charges against Zach are dropped.

What happens when Neil and June are picking tomatoes?

They get into a fight and June begins to throw tomatoes at Neil's car

What happens when Zack and Lily ride to town to get a new radiator hose?

They see some of Zach's friends and the white men who were waiting for Jack Palance outside the movie theater. One of the boys throws a bottle at one of the white men. Zach is arrested.

Clayton Forrest

White Tiburon attorney who teachers Zach about law. He helps Rosaleen and Lily to avoid criminal charges and defends Zach later in story when he is jailed.

death

according to Rosaleen, the bees swarming in Lily's bedroom is a sign of what?

she committed suicide

how did April die?

she was shot

how did Lily's mother die?

she calls him from the lawyers office

how does Lily contact her father from Tiburon?

drowning

how does May commit suicide?

Who does Lily call from Mr. Forrest's Office? Why

she calls T.Ray to ask him if he knew what her favorite color was

What news does Zach bring on the lunch feast day?

that Jack Palance is coming to Tiburon, and plans to bring a black woman to sit in the white section of the movies with

Lily Owen

the novel's narrator, also the story's protagonist. Age fourteen, a sad, white girl who has experienced far more than most. Lives in Sylvan, SC with her father T Ray. Possibly killed her mother by accident.

she gets stung by a bee

what causes August to call Lily 'a true beekeeper?'

pink

what color is the Boatwrights' house?

Rosaleen's arrest

what convinces Lily to leave home?

honey

what do the women rub all over the Mary statue?

play the cello for dying people

what does June do in her free time?

her smell

what does Lily remember best about her mother?

he is the principal at the school where June teaches

what does Neil do for a living?

two paper fans

what does Rosaleen steal from the church?

a lawyer

what does Zach want to be when he gets older?

they are involved in a water-sprinkling fight

what event happens that lessens June's resistance to Lily?

graham crackers and marshmellows

what food does May use to get roaches out of the house?

peaches

what fruit does Lily's father sell?

a notebook

what gift does Zach first give Lily?

the Black Madonna

what image is on the honey jars?

Coke and peanuts

what is Lily's favorite snack?

boyfriend/girlfriend

what is the relationship between Neil and June?

"Oh! Susanna"

what song does May sing and hum when she gets upset?

Sylvan, South Carolina

what town is Lily orginially from?

Zach's arrest

what triggers May's going to the wall and committing suicide?

nowhere, she stays with the Boatwrights

where does Lily go at the end of the book?

the honey house

where does Lily stay at the Boatwrights' farm?

Virginia

where does Lily tell the Boatwright sisters they are headed?

the wall (wailing wall)

where does May go when she gets sad?

Ms. Lacy

who tells Lily's father where Lily is?

his friends throws a bottle at a white man

why is Zach arrested?

May liked it

why is the house the color that it is?