The Secret Life of Bees

Kimberly Rittenhouse

Theme Project

English 003

T.B. Gardner, M. Ed.

March 28, 2011

The Secret Life Of Bees

By Sue Monk Kidd

Chapter Three: New beekeepers are told that the way to find the elusive queen is by first

                            Locating her circle of attendants.

            Response A: Why is this passage important to the novel?

                        This passage is important to the novel because Lilly was on a mission to find out

            Information about her mother and was at first feeling like she was getting closer to

            getting answers than she thought. Lilly and Rosaleen had stopped at a store for Lilly to

            get them something to eat and she noticed a jar of honey with black Mary’s picture on

            it. Lilly’s heart stopped because it was the same picture Lilly had from her mother. Lilly

            then asked questions about where did that picture come from on the honey jar? Lilly

            found out the Lady’s name was August Boatwright. August was the beekeeper. Lilly

            was excited that she might have finally found something about her mother and hoped

            this was a final break to get started on gathering information about her mother. Lilly is

            trying to locate the circle her mother went in.

            Response B:  Why is this passage important to you?

                        This passage is important to me because I think it is good to know your family.

            Especially your mother. I would do anything in my power just like Lilly is doing to find

            out anything she can about her mother. I don’t think it is right though how Lilly lies to

            get her information she wants. Lying only leads to more lies to cover up for the lies

            that was already told.

Chapter Five: Let’s imagine for a moment that we are tiny enough to follow a bee into a hive.

                    Usually the first thing we would have to get used to is the darkness.

            Response A: Why is this passage Important to the Novel?

                        This passage is important to the novel because when Lilly and Rosaleen took off

            and ran away they felt like they were in the dark and were scarred. Rosaleen was

            runny away from the law and Lilly was running away from her father, who she called

            T.Ray, and life in general. Lilly wanted to find her mother. Lilly and Rosaleen slept

            outside in the dark before they came upon a house that belonged to August (one of

            the calendar sisters). August left Lilly and Rosaleen stay there till they figured out

            where they were going. Lilly was still in the dark with all of the calendar sisters because

            she lied about a lot of things. She lied about whey they were going to see. Lilly told them

            she was going to see her aunt and she also told them that her mother and father were    dead. It was true about her mother being dead but not her father. Lilly wanted to be at

            August’s because she thought she would get information on her mother and the black

            Madonna.

            Response B: Why is this passage important to you?

                        This passage is important to me because I feel that nobody should ever be in the

            Dark with not knowing who your family is and where they come from.  I don’t feel it is

            right to just run away instead of facing the problem, but it was hard for Lilly when she is

            just a child. I tried that once when I was a teenager and it is not fun being out there in

            the dark not knowing where you are going and not having anywhere to go. I think

            Lilly should have been honest up front with August on why she was there instead

            of lying to her.

Response Eight: Honeybees depend not only on physical contact with the colony, but also

                         require its Social Companionship and Support. Isolate a honeybee from

                  her sisters and she will soon die.

            Response A: Why is this passage important to the novel?

                        This passage is important to the novel because August was showing Lilly how

            it was important to take care of their hives to put into jars and label them to place

            in several different businesses to sell. August has good social companionship and

            support to sell the honey. August also shows how good at a relationship her and her

            sister has. Lilly did start having feelings for Zach but felt he did not have the same

            feelings. Lilly and Zach have a good social companionship and support each other.

            Response A:  Why is this passage Important to you?

                        This passage is important to me because I feel it is good to do good things for

            others including working well with others when work needs done. It is also good to           

            have a good relationship with your family. They are always the ones to get support

            from and companionship with. Without family you have nobody.