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The Secret Life of Bees Study Guide

by Sue Monk Kidd

The Secret Life of Bees study guide contains a biography of Sue Monk Kidd, literature essays, 100 quiz questions, major themes, characters, a glossary, and a full summary and analysis.

Lily Owens begins her adventure with bees in the summer of 1964. She is fourteen years old, and she lives in Sylvan, South Carolina, with her abusive father, T. Ray, and her housekeeper, Rosaleen. Lily’s mother died when she was four years old. Her only memory of her mother is from the day she died; Lily recalls that she may have picked up a gun and accidentally killed her mother.

The day the Civil Rights Act is passed, Rosaleen decides that she is going to register to vote. To avoid the monotony on the Owens’ peach farm, Lily accompanies Rosaleen. On the way to register, Rosaleen gets harassed by local racist white men. Rosaleen’s response is to pour snuff spit all over their shoes, getting herself beaten severely by her accusers and…

Read the full The Secret Life of Bees Summary

• The Secret Life of Bees Summary
• About The Secret Life of Bees
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 1 and 2
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 3 and 4
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 5 and 6
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 7 and 8
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 9 and 10
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 11 and 12
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 13 and 14
• Honey as a Healer
• Related Links on The Secret Life of Bees
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• The Secret Life of Bees: Major Themes
• The Secret Life of Bees: Essays
• The Secret Life of Bees: Questions
• The Secret Life of Bees: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Sue Monk Kidd: Biography