Secet Life of Bees
Katrin Schwender English 9H Period 8
Mrs. Catandella September 25, 2012 Summer Reading Assignment
Quote Analysis for Chapter One:
“The Queen, for her part, is the unifying force of the community; if she is re moved from the hive the workers very quickly sense her absence. After a few hours, or even less, they show unmistakeable signs of queenlessness”(1)
The Secret Life of Bees author, Sue Monk Kidd chose this specific quote for this chapter most
likely because it resembles Lily’s situation. Lily lost her mother when she was little from an accident,
the author uses imagery in this chapter to show the pain Lily has for the loss of her mother. The quote
states.“my first and only memory of my mother was the day she died. I tried for a long time to conjure
up an image of her before that, just a sliver of something, like her tucking me into bed, reading the
adventures of Uncle Wiggly, or hanging my under clothes near the space heater on ice-cold mornings.
Even picking the forsythia bush and stinging my legs would have been welcome.”(5). The reader is
given specific detail so they can imagine the things Lily can see. So the author uses the quote in this
chapter so that the reader can understand the was Lily feels using the bees in the quote
to symbolize Lily’s guide
Quote Analysis for Chapter Two:
“On leaving the old nest, the swarm normally flies only a few meters and settles. Scout bees look for a suitable place to start the new colony. Eventually, one location wins favor and the whole swarm takes to the air”(34)
Sue Monk Kidd chose this quote for chapter two because Lily feels like she doesn’t fit in her
town, so she scouts for a new home were she would feel more welcome. Lily decides to go to Tiburon
when she finds out it might have something to do with her mother. Kidd uses symbolism when she
writes this quote, “I pulled the black marry picture out of my bag and handed it to her. “It belonged
Mrs. Catandella September 25, 2012 Summer Reading Assignment
Quote Analysis for Chapter One:
“The Queen, for her part, is the unifying force of the community; if she is re moved from the hive the workers very quickly sense her absence. After a few hours, or even less, they show unmistakeable signs of queenlessness”(1)
The Secret Life of Bees author, Sue Monk Kidd chose this specific quote for this chapter most
likely because it resembles Lily’s situation. Lily lost her mother when she was little from an accident,
the author uses imagery in this chapter to show the pain Lily has for the loss of her mother. The quote
states.“my first and only memory of my mother was the day she died. I tried for a long time to conjure
up an image of her before that, just a sliver of something, like her tucking me into bed, reading the
adventures of Uncle Wiggly, or hanging my under clothes near the space heater on ice-cold mornings.
Even picking the forsythia bush and stinging my legs would have been welcome.”(5). The reader is
given specific detail so they can imagine the things Lily can see. So the author uses the quote in this
chapter so that the reader can understand the was Lily feels using the bees in the quote
to symbolize Lily’s guide
Quote Analysis for Chapter Two:
“On leaving the old nest, the swarm normally flies only a few meters and settles. Scout bees look for a suitable place to start the new colony. Eventually, one location wins favor and the whole swarm takes to the air”(34)
Sue Monk Kidd chose this quote for chapter two because Lily feels like she doesn’t fit in her
town, so she scouts for a new home were she would feel more welcome. Lily decides to go to Tiburon
when she finds out it might have something to do with her mother. Kidd uses symbolism when she
writes this quote, “I pulled the black marry picture out of my bag and handed it to her. “It belonged