The Secret Life of Bees Study Guide

What are their roles / relationships with one another? Characters: Lily Owens T-Ray Owens Rosaleen Daise August Boatwright June Boatwright May Boatwright Neil Zachary Taylor

- Lily Owens is T-Ray Owen's daughter - Rosaleen Daise is Lily Owen's nanny - August, June, and May Boatwright are all sisters and give Rosaleen and Lily a place to stay when they escape home - Neil is June's boyfriend/future husband - Zachary Taylor is Lily's boyfriend

T-Ray Owens Character traits? Round or flat? Static or dynamic? Exemplary quote or passage?

- Traits: abusive, blinded, mean, controlling, compulsive - Round - Static - "He stood over me. "Deborah," I heard him mumble. "You're not leaving me again." His eyes looked frantic, scared. I wondered if I'd heard him right."

Rosaleen Daise Character traits? Round or flat? Static or dynamic? Exemplary quote or passage?

- Traits: caring, brave, fighter, loving - Round - Static - "I know you can't understand. Apologizing to those men would have just been a different way of dying. Except I had to live with it."

August Boatwright Character traits? Round or flat? Static or dynamic? Exemplary quote or passage?

- Traits: caring, intelligent, responsible, sympathetic, loving - Round - Static - "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."

Zachary Taylor Character traits? Round or flat? Static or dynamic? Exemplary quote or passage?

- Traits: educated, future-oriented, sporty, handsome, hardworking - Round - Dynamic - "We can't think of changing our skin ... Change the world—that's how we gotta think."

Neil Character traits? Round or flat? Static or dynamic? Exemplary quote or passage?

- Traits: patient, caring, honest, kind - Round - Static

May Boatwright Character traits? Round or flat? Static or dynamic? Exemplary quote or passage?

- Traits: sensitive, prone to depression, warm and jolly when happy - Round - Static - She said it made her feel like dancing a Spanish Flamenco. I personally thought it was the tackiest color I had ever seen, but I figured if it could lift May's heart, it was good enough to live in ...

June Boatwright Character traits? Round or flat? Static or dynamic? Exemplary quote or passage?

- Traits: stubborn, strong-headed - Round - Static - *remember apology*

What is the central conflict of the novel? What smaller conflicts occur in the novel? What kinds of conflict are they (Internal/External)?

Central Conflict: Lily has to learn about her dead mom in order to understand/continue her life -> learn to let go (Internal) Other External Conflicts: - Racism: helping Rosaleen escape jail/fleeing home, Zach's arrest, Lily and Zach not being able to be together - Lily trying to hide from her father - Lily's father abusing her - June doesn't like Lily at first Other Internal Conflicts: - Lily's feeling of not being worthy of love - Lily feeling guilty for her mother's death - May's suicide/depression

The time period is significant as well as their geographical location. How does the setting impact the story / characters?

Date: 1964 Time period significance: victory of the Civil Rights Movement (centered on the South) -> characters and story as generally built on the fact race affected how you were respected as a person Geographical significance: South Carolina has very hot summers -> affects the character's activity and every-day routine

What are the setting details?

It is set in South Carolina in 1964. Lily and Rosaleen escape from Sylvan, SC to Tiburon, SC.

What is the narrative point of view employed? How does this impact the novel as a whole?

Narrator: The whole story is told from Lily's point of view -> first person Impact: This gives us one side of an explanation/story to things and one way of viewing things (such as the death of Lily's mom).

Trace the appearance/ significance of bees throughout the novel. What is the symbolism being developed? How are they a parallel for events &/or characters of the story?

Symbolism 1: Bees and Humans are not that different -> they both need love, care, work together, need a source of strength to guide them through life, take care of each other above all, have a role in society Symbolism 2: Lily's mother -> Lily feels the presence of the bees with her in the pink house and her home Parallel to story/characters: A bee community needs a queen and many workers -> In the pink House, the black Virgin Mary would be the queen and the Daughters of Mary/Lily/Rosaleen would be the workers

Lily Owens Character traits? Round or flat? Static or dynamic? Exemplary quote or passage?

Traits: hurt, brave, mature, wounded, strong, - Round - Dynamic - "You are unlovable, Lily Owens. Unlovable. Who could love you? Who in this world could ever love you?" - "Knowing can be a curse on a person's life"