The Secret Life of Bees

Rosaleen

• gets beaten on her way to sign up to vote.

• gets very upset very easily.

• The oldest calendar sister.

• doesn't like Lily at first.

Brother Gerald

• T-Ray's brother

• One of the men who beats Rosaleen

• He is the minister at the church Lily and T. Ray attend in Sylvan. A racist.

• The minister of the Boatwright sisters

Franklin Posey

• June's boyfriend

• a racist who hits Rosaleen with a flashlight

• goes to jail when his friend throws a Coke bottle at a white man

• gets very upset very easily.

Deborah Fontanel

• Lily's mother

• the black Mary statue

• a racist who hits Rosaleen with a flashlight

• The oldest calendar sister.

Avery Gatson

• a racist who hits Rosaleen with a flashlight

• the policeman who brings Rosaleen and Lily to jail

• goes to jail when his friend throws a Coke bottle at a white man

• June's boyfriend

What is the name given to a bee's home?

• A hive

• A den

• A burrow

• A set

How does the setting of Sylvan, South Carolina, in the 1960s influence the events and characters in the first three chapters of "The Secret Life of Bees"?

• It creates a backdrop of racial tension that affects the characters' interactions.

• It provides a peaceful environment that contrasts with the characters' internal conflicts.

• It has no significant impact on the story or characters.

• It serves as a symbol of progress and change.

Analyze the character of Lily Owens in the first three chapters. How do her actions and thoughts reveal her internal conflicts?

• Lily's actions show she is confident and self-assured.

• Lily's thoughts reveal her struggle with guilt and a desire for maternal love.

• Lily's actions indicate she is indifferent to her surroundings.

• Lily's thoughts show she is content with her life as it is.

Discuss the significance of the bees as a symbol in the first three chapters. How do they relate to the themes of the novel?

• The bees symbolize chaos and disorder in Lily's life.

• The bees represent the potential for growth and change.

• The bees are a minor detail with no symbolic meaning.

• The bees symbolize the oppressive nature of society.

Evaluate the role of T. Ray Owens in shaping Lily's character and her perception of the world. What evidence from the text supports your analysis?

• T. Ray is a nurturing father who supports Lily's dreams.

• T. Ray's harshness and lack of affection contribute to Lily's feelings of inadequacy.

• T. Ray is an absent figure with little influence on Lily.

• T. Ray's kindness helps Lily develop a positive outlook on life.