1. Sue Monk Kidd
The Secret Life of Bees

2. The Author – Sue Monk Kidd
Born August 12, 1948 – Georgia
Grew up listening to dad’s stories
Went to Texas Christian University; graduated with a degree in nursing in 1970
Began writing at age of 30; nonfiction (memoirs)
God’s Joyful Surprise, 1988
When the Heart Waits, 1990
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, 1996

3. The Author – Sue Monk Kidd
First novel: The Secret Life of Bees (2002)
Second novel: The Mermaid Chair (2005)
Third novel: The Invention of Wings (2014)
Winner of numerous awards
Lives in Southwest Florida with her husband, Sandy, and a black Lab, named Lily

4. SETTING Summer, 1964 – outside Sylvan, South Carolina
Historical Context - Timeline
(August 28, 1963) The March on Washington and King’s speech are widely given credit for drumming up support for the important events that followed.

5. SETTING
The Civil Rights Act of Officially outlawed racial segregation in schools, public places and employment.

6. SETTING
National Voting Rights Act of Outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been used to keep blacks from voting at certain booths in the South.

7. Drinking Fountain

8. Schools

9. Movie Theaters

10. Soda Machines

11. Public Transportation

12. Other races too...

13. epigraph
the mottos or the quotations used at the beginning of each chapter.

14. Allusion
a reference to a person, place, poem, book, event, etc., which is not part of the story, that the author expects the reader will recognize. (see handout)
historical, religious, cultural, literary
Example: “But of course my luck with this guy sucks. So he turns his head and sees me. And wolfsmiles, showing oh granny what big teeth you have” (Speak 97).
Allusion: Little Red Riding Hood

15. characters Lily Owens: (protagonist) 14 years old
Rosaleen: nanny, care-taker
T. Ray Owens: Lily’s father
Deborah Owens: Lily’s mother
August Boatwright:
May Boatwright:
June Boatwright:
Zach Taylor:

16. Themes & Motifs Themes Coming of Age The Irrationality of Racism
Self Discovery, Maturity, Growing-up
The Irrationality of Racism
irrational: without reason/logic or fairness
The Power of Female Community
The Importance of Storytelling
We learn from them
Motifs (re-occurring images/references)
Bees
Mothers

17. symbols
Beehives
Photographs
The Black Mary