The Secret Life of Bees Study Guide - Student’s Copy Chapter One chrome – silver seep – to leak paradise – heaven insomniac – a person who has problems sleeping orneriness – bad temper pulsating – throbbing herringbone – a pattern like fish bones conjure – to create disjointed – unconnected impersonating – pretending to be tailspin – a spinning crash dollops – small piles imbecile – an idiot carousing – partying magnitude – large size smirking – smiling smugly gouged – cut out abdomen – the stomach – a type of grain pining – longing lure – to entice snuff – powdered tobacco scalded – burned agitation – worry; excitement motes – spots sashaying – walking with style unperturbed – unworried recoil – to draw back What is happening in the exposition of the story? Who is the narrator of the story? The narrator an allusion about the bees on page 2. What does she allude to and why? Lily says that the bees could have stung her until she died, and it would not have been the worst thing to happen. What do you learn about her from this? What does Lily hope would happen in Paradise? Lily describes her mother’s death on pages 6, 7, and 8. She does not directly say so, but she implies that she caused her mother’s death. How did that happen? Why does Lily “smell every perfume bottle they had”? (Pg. 6) Why does Lily pick scabs and feel that she is “impersonating a girl”? (Pg. 9) When Rosaleen stands up to T. Ray about the chick, Lily says, “his boots whispered uncle all
What does Lily’s question and Rosaleen’s answer the Civil Rights Act reveal about them? Why does Lily look to the crop duster for a sign? What does she hope to see? How does Lily explain her presence in town to the storekeeper? What does Lily steal, and why? Lily realizes “there is nothing but mystery in the world....” (Pg. 63) Why does she think so? Why does Rosaleen say Lily’s life has “gone straight to hell”? (Pg. 64) Does she mean it? Lily looks for wanted posters and news stories about Rosaleen’s jailbreak. What is funny about her thanking God for the “poor news reporting” when she does not find any news about them? (Pg. 66) NOTES: YOU WILL TURN IN CHAPTERS 1 – 3 WHEN YOU TAKE THE TEST OVER CHAPTERS 1 - 3 Chapter Four mute – unable to speak portal – a doorway feeble – weak simultaneously – at the same time
precisely – exactly corrugated – ridged pathetic – sad flounced – walk angrily cultured –polite and civilized kin – relatives sweltering – very hot paranoid – meander – wander Lily believes her “body knows things.” (Pg. 69) What does she think her body knows? Why is Lily’s thought the black Mary, “...she could straighten you out if necessary,” both wonderful and terrifying? (Pg. 70) Why does May begin to sing “Oh! Susanna”? How does Rosaleen’s behavior as they walk across the rainy lawn contrast with her behavior when she talked about the Civil Rights Act in Chapter 3? What does Lily say is the secret of a good lie? Why does Lily say “...my skin had never felt so white to me”? (Pg.78) Why does May have a piece of paper in her wailing wall which says, “Birmingham, Sept 15, four little angels dead?” (Pg. 80) NOTES: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Five consolation – comfort dabs – puts, places swabbed – cleaned bona fide – genuine ambrosia – a of the gods serenade – to sing a song for bristled – angry revelation – a sudden knowledge, usually from a spiritual source righteous indignation – anger in a good cause integration – combining white and black vigilante – self-appointed police orthodox – traditional eclectic – many and different outlandish – strange etiquette – proper manners immunity – could not be hurt sedative – a sleeping pill wailing – crying willies – shivers ricocheted – echoed
inkblot – a type of psychiatric test Why does May begin to sing “Oh! Susanna” again? How does the “honey song” say “everything” about living in the pink house? (Pg. 83) What does August say to her that delights Lily? Why does Rosaleen say May is “a bona fide candidate for the nuthouse”? (Pg. 85) How does Lily describe June? What does June say that is a “revelation” to Lily? What does Lily allude to in her reaction when she says she has “righteous indignation”? (Pg. 87) What does Lily conclude about color when she goes outside? How is her expression of her thought indicative of the author’s sense of humor? Why does Lily feel uncomfortable when they are watching TV? Why does Lily think August told her the story of Beatrix the nun? What is the most important bee yard rule, according to August? Why is Lily to have made August laugh? Explain the significance of Lily’s wondering about May’s sensitivity: “Would it divide the hurt in two, make it lighter to bear, the way feeling someone’s joy seemed to double it?” (Pg. 95) What happened to April? Lily says that she knew the world was not fair long before she turned eleven. What does she mean?
What is the Wailing Wall? Why is Rosaleen jealous? What does Lily put into the Wailing Wall? NOTES: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter Six percolator – a coffee maker jilted – rejected by a lover ingenious – clever deliverance – rescue constant – reliable hibernate – a long sleep Why will June not get married? What is the number one question in Carolina, and why is it asked? Who are the “Daughters of Mary?” August reads the Bible verses attributed to Mary Why are these verses especially appropriate for black people? What is the miracle of “Our Lady of Chains”? How did she get her name? Why does Lily not touch Mary’s heart? According to the book, “you can never underestimate the power of cutthroat competition.” (Pg. 113) What does this mean? Why is August sad at the thought of a rocket landing on the moon?
What is the final bit of information August gives Lily that causes Lily to say she hates her mother? What does August say to excuse Deborah? When she thinks she has disappointed August, Lily says, “Some of my pridefulness drained out.” (Pg. 253) How was it prideful of her to criticize her mother? Why was Deborah back in Sylvan when she was killed? What does August remind Lily before she leaves? How does the quote at the beginning of the chapter relate to Lily’s anguish? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter Thirteen lacquer – shiny coating commode – toilet linoleum – flooring dumbfounded – amazed spatula – cooking utensil with a flat blade uncoiled – unwound contemptible – worthless muck – mess preservative – substance which prevents harm intimacy – close personal contact churned – stirred excessive – far too much rhinestone – artificial mercantile – store configuration – shape tarnished – discolored gorgeous – beautiful What does Lily want from Mary? What does Lily say is the “really terrible thing?” (Pg. 258) How does Lily act out her anger? What does Lily want the statue to do? Lily says that she lock the bitter tone in her voice forever. What does she mean? Rosaleen is not surprised when Lily her that her mother left her. Why did Rosaleen not