PENGUIN GROUP (USA)

© TCFFC. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: Sidney Baldwin.

A TEACHER’S GUIDE
to SUE MONK KIDD ’ S

AC C O M PA N I E S T H E R E LE A S E by Lisa Winkler
OF THE MOTION PICTURE
SYNOPSIS
The Secret Life of Bees, set in the American South in 1964 amid
racial unrest, tells the coming-of-age story of Lily Owens, a
white 14-year-old girl who is searching for the truth about her
deceased mother. She lives on a peach farm with her cruel
father, T. Ray, who tells Lily that she accidentally shot her
mother, Deborah, when she was four.
Lily accompanies the family’s black housekeeper, Rosaleen, to
town to register to vote. Taunted by white men, she spills the
contents of her snuff jar on their feet, is beaten, taken to jail,
and later to the hospital. T. Ray reacts by punishing Lily,
prompting her to runaway. Back with Rosaleen, she heads to
South Carolina to investigate a picture of her mother’s of a
black Madonna with the words “Tiburon, SC” written on the © C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sidney Baldwin
back. In a store she sees jars of honey with the same picture,
leading her to the black Boatwright sisters—August, June, and Though the sisters provide a loving home for Lily, she’s reluctant
May—who raise bees and harvest honey, live in a bright pink to ask about her mother. She befriends Zach, a black boy who
house, and practice their own religion. works with the bees, and witnesses additional examples of racism
in the town. Eventually, she learns the truth about her mother.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sue Monk Kidd listened to her father’s stories growing up in (Harper 1988). Her second book, When the Heart Waits
the tiny town of Sylvester, Georgia. Teachers encouraged her (Harper 1990), recounts her spiritual transformation. The
to write her own stories and keep journals. Two books which Dance of the Dissident Daughter (Harper 1996) explores her
she read at the age of fifteen—Thoreau’s Walden and Kate interest in feminist theology.
Chopin’s The Awakening—had a deep impact on her. She enrolled in a graduate writing course at Emory University,
She graduated from Texas Christian University in 1970 with a and also studied at Sewanee, Bread Loaf, and other writers’
degree in Nursing, working throughout her twenties as a regis- conferences. In 1997 she began writing her first novel, The
tered nurse on surgical and pediatric hospital units, and as a Secret Life of Bees. Her second novel, The Mermaid Chair
college nursing instructor. She met and married Sanford Kidd, (Penguin 2005) explores a woman’s pilgrimage to self-
a graduate student in theology, and had two children. The pull belonging, and the inner life of mid-life marriage.
to writing returned, and she took writing classes. She soon Sue serves on the board of advisors for Poets & Writers, Inc.
began a career as a freelancer, writing personal experience arti- and is Writer-in-Residence at The Sophia Institute in
cles, and found immediate success. Charleston, SC. Today Sue lives beside a salt marsh near
Her first book was a spiritual memoir describing her advent Charleston.
into contemplative Christian spirituality, God’s Joyful Surprise Text adapted from www.suemonkkidd.com

A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
The Secret Life of Bees is set against the backdrop of the Civil expanded to protect women from discrimination as well.
Rights Movement in the tumultuous summer of 1964. Minority Under this act, racial segregation and the infamous “Jim Crow”
groups in America, especially blacks (African-Americans), laws were declared abolished.
believed they were being denied the basic human rights When the Civil Rights Act passed, as illustrated in the story,
provided for other American citizens (namely, whites) by the many whites were angered by it, and continued to treat
U.S. Constitution, through the legacy of slavery and racism African-Americans cruelly. Despite the action and progress
that accompanied the formation of this country. The assassi- addressed in the new laws, racial tensions mounted. Racism
nation of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 fueled fears that persists as a deep root in American society, despite political
the civil rights work he initiated for American minorities would movements and social change.
be lost. Yet in his first address to Congress, Lyndon Baines
Johnson, the new President, urged for the passage of a civil rights Other events make the 60s a compelling time in American
bill that would further the progress made under Kennedy. history. The escalation of and subsequent protests against the
Vietnam War; the continuation of the Cold War, manifested
The original purpose of the congressional bill, which became through the race to conquer space; and the changes in popular
law as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, was to provide protection culture—rock and roll, the sexual revolution and the overall anti-
for black men from discrimination based upon race, and was establishment atmosphere—contributed to this volatile period.

2 A T E AC H E R ’ S G U I D E T O P ENGUIN GROUP (USA)

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY GUIDE
The Secret Life of Bees intertwines historical events with a study Vocabulary Activities
of honey bees. Before each chapter, Monk Kidd includes a fact
There’s a selection of vocabulary words identified for each
about bees’ life cycles or honey production, taken from various
reading section. You may want to either add to this list or
resources she lists at the end of the book. Pre-reading activities
decrease it depending on your students. You can decide whether
could include in-depth research of the history and politics of
to introduce vocabulary before reading the section, during, or
the time, and about bees and bee keeping. Many resources are
after. Vocabulary activities could include looking up defini-
available in libraries and on the internet.
tions, writing original sentences, finding the words on the
The study guide is organized chronologically by chapter and pages and making a guess based on context clues and so on.
includes vocabulary words, references to explain to students, or You can quiz students on each section of words, assign them to
to have them research, and quotations. write their own stories with vocabulary words, or play games
The quotations can be used as writing prompts or to initiate to reinforce word meanings.
discussion. You can assign the discussion questions and writing
prompts as students read the novel, or as a final assessment.
Quotations & References
The themes and symbolism can be discussed during or after As you read each chapter, look for sections that might lend
reading. They provide opportunities for students to make themselves to readers’ theater, acting out, or debates. You can
connections to other works of literature, movies or theater have students do mini-research projects on the various refer-
they’ve seen, historical and current events, or their own lives. ences from the novel that are mentioned in the guide. Students
The general reading response topics can be used for journal can present their findings to the class in the form of oral
writing. The creative projects and the activities extend the reports. The quotations can be assigned as writing topics or
reading experience, promote critical thinking, and bring the used to spur classroom discussion.
novel to life for students.
Themes
The book presents many opportunities for discussing themes with
students as they read the novel and at its conclusion. Themes
are also good sources for essay writing, and making reading
connections.
The major theme, as expressed in the title, comes from August’s
statement: “Most people don’t have any idea about all the
complicated life going on inside a hive. Bees have a secret life
we don’t know anything about” (148). Throughout the novel,
the reader learns how most characters are not what they seem
on the surface. Secrets and secret lives are major themes.
Other themes to explore include:
• Coming of age
• Search for identity
• Relationships with parents
• Resilience of the human spirit
• Man’s inhumanity to man
• Discrimination, prejudice, bigotry, class structure
• Literacy—the role of writers
• How death gives way to life

© C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sidney Baldwin

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Symbolism
The Bee Hive
Throughout the novel, Kidd builds on the hive and bees as a
metaphor of life. Bees represent people working together in a
society, which is represented by the hive. The queen, or mother-
figure, presides over the hive. August shows Lily how the bees
become confused when the queen bee dies; however, if she
replaces her with a new queen bee soon enough, they will be
okay. Like the worker bees, Lily has been confused and
saddened by the death of her mother. Through the interven-
tion of the women in this novel—particularly Rosaleen and
August—Lily is saved.

Our Lady of Chains Statue © C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sidney Baldwin

The statue of Mary is symbolic on two levels. On one level, it is General Reading Response Topics
an obvious representation of The Blessed Mother, an impor-
One way to assist students in finding more meaning in their
tant Catholic icon. In this sense, the women are not praying to
reading is through response journals. You can assign topics or
the actual statue, but to whom it represents. On another level,
allow students to select their own. This could be a ten-minute
this statue (or Mary) represents all women’s need for a
activity at the end of class.
mother—for guidance and strength. Our Lady of Chains is
mother and queen to the women in the novel. Mary is 1. Connections: text to text, text to self, text to the world.
frequently called “The Queen of Heaven” and as their “queen,” Compare and contrast your book to others you’ve read, to situ-
Mary provides a guiding force for the women. As August tells ations or people in your own life, to events in history or the
Lily, Mary is also a source of strength, which can be found news.
within. 2. Characters: Do you like the main characters or not? Why?
Do you have any advice for them? Comment on the narration.
The Whale Pin
Who’s telling the story?
The whale pin that T. Ray gave to Deborah when they were
3. Social question: Look for race, gender, or class inequalities
dating is a symbol of T. Ray’s complexity. August tells Lily that
and injustices. Who has the power in the story and how is it
T. Ray treated Deborah like a princess. Lily is shocked to hear
used? What do you think? Does it make you think or feel differ-
that T. Ray was not always a cruel man. Lily wears the pin
ently about those of another race or gender than your own?
when she confronts T. Ray. During this confrontation, T. Ray
changes. T. Ray momentarily experiences the rage and sadness 4. Setting: Is it realistic? Does it fit the story?
he felt when Deborah left him. He acquiesces to Lily’s demand 5. Dialogue: Is it realistic? Can you “hear” the characters
to stay with August. Lily has always assumed T. Ray is a mean talking? Could you change the dialogue? If you changed the
man by nature; she never considered why he might be that way. dialogue, how would it change the story?
The whale pin illustrates that, at one time, he was kind and
gentle. But T. Ray’s heart was broken and he has been bitter 6. Emotions: How were you emotionally involved in the
ever since. story?
7. Literary devices: How does the author use flashbacks and
foreshadowing? Is it effective?
8. Themes: To what extent is The Secret Life of Bees a morality
tale?
9. Ending: Would you have liked the book to end differently?
How?

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CHAPTER 1
Vocabulary 6. Lily hides her mother’s things in a secret hiding place. Have
students write about their own secret hiding places—what do
Presumptuous, 2
they put there? (14)
Insomniac, 3
Orneriness, 3 7. “I sat on a Coke crate and watched pickups zoom by till I
Cowlick, 9 was nearly poisoned with exhaust fumes and boredom” (15) .
Mercantile, 11 This sentence juxtaposes a concrete and an abstract noun. See
Imbecile, 11 if students can write their imitations of this sentence, creating
Carousing, 12 the juxtaposition of a concrete and abstract noun.
Smirking, 13 8. On page 16, Lily mentions how she wrote “My Philosophy
Oblivious, 21 of Life” for a school assignment. Based on what you know so
Impersonation, 31 far, what would be her philosophy? Think about her philos-
Sashaying, 32 ophy and how it changes in the novel. Students can write about
Unperturbed, 32 their own philosophies of life.
Recoil, 32
9. While Lily’s working at the peach stand she passes the time
by making up poems. How can a place you hate inspire writing?
What are ways to pass the time if you’re bored? How can
imagination help pass time? (16)
10. On page 18, T. Ray asks Lily what she remembers about
her mother’s death. She was four at the time. What are students’
earliest memories? How early do we have the capacity to
remember? Have students support their opinion.
11. Lily’s birthday is July 4. She feels ignored because it falls on
Independence Day. Have students write about their own birth-
days—many may have birthdays on holidays—and if they’ve ever
been disappointed by one, or have felt that they’re not noticed.
12. Lily wants a charm bracelet for her birthday. Students can
speculate about what she would want on her charm bracelet or
design one as an art project. They could design one of their
© C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sidney Baldwin own to represent themselves.

Quotations 13. Page 22 offers some lovely images of the bees. Have
students write a poem using some of the words.
“People who think dying is the worst thing don’t know a thing
about life” (2). 14. What do we learn about T. Ray on page 24 when he tells
Lily: “You act no better than a slut.” How does he punish her?
Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics 15. Discuss the metaphor about Lily’s mother on the bottom
1. Lily plans how it will be when she sees her mother in para- of page 24: “Like she was bits and pieces of insulation molded
dise. She dreams that her mother will fix her hair. Most people, against my skin, helping me absorb all his meanness.”
or at least girls, can relate to a hair story. Have students write 16. On page 26, Lily realizes she has to leave her father. What
about their own hair and any stories they remember (3). does this say about her? Have students write about a time they
2. Many people can remember a person or a place by scent. felt they needed to run away.
Lily remembers her mother’s scent (6). Students can write 17. How does the minister react to seeing Rosaleen in his
about how they associate different smells with different people church? What does this tell us about the time period? What
or places. do students think of his response?
3. Have students write about an argument between their 18. On page 32, the mob quickly becomes a riot. Discuss how
parents (7). a small event can trigger violence.
4. Many students can relate to an argument they might have 19. Page 33, the last paragraph provides a great image for a writing
had with their parents about clothing or felt peer pressure to prompt. How can a small sound fall across the whole world?
have certain things. How does this relate to Lily’s experiences?
(9) References
5. Have students bring in old photographs and write stories to Sophia Loren, 9
accompany them (12). Khrushchev, LBJ, 1964, Civil Rights Act, 20
Martin Luther King, Jr., 21

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CHAPTER 2
Vocabulary Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics
Deliberate, 38 1. What does T. Ray tell Lily about her mother? (39) How do
Brazen, 38 you think she feels?
Beseeching, 40 2. Why does Lily say “I was thinking how much older fourteen
Pious, 44 had made me. In the space of a few hours I’d become forty
Blaspheme, 44 years old” (43). What occurred to make her feel this way?
What makes children grow up too fast?
3. Monk Kidd describes the Sylvan Memorial Hospital with a
list of smells (45). How can smell characterize a place?
4. The Supremes song that Lily hears makes her think: “There’s
nothing like a song about lost love to remind you how every-
thing precious can slip from the hinges where you’ve hung it so
careful” (50). Have students write about a song that resonates
with them, reminds them of something, etc. Play a tape of the
song to introduce them to the time period.
5. “Loss takes up inside of everything sooner or later and eats
right through it” (55). Discuss this quote, its relevance to the
novel so far. Have student connect to their own lives.

Reference
The Supremes’ Where Did Our Love Go?, 50
© C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sidney Baldwin

CHAPTER 3
Vocabulary References
Speculating, 63 Shakespeare, Thoreau, Eleanor Roosevelt, 57
Consternation, 64 Dixie, Confederate Flag, Fort Sumter, hula hoops, Goldwater
Quotation for President signs

“I realized it for the first time in my life: there is nothing but Vietnam, Castro, Malcolm X, Saigon, 65
mystery in the world, how it hides behind the fabric of our The Beatles, 66
poor, browbeat days, shining brightly, and we don’t even know
it” (63). What is Lily referring to? How does this connect to
your own life? What is meant by “mysteries of the world?”

CHAPTER 4
Vocabulary 2. Students can research the process of making honey and do
research on bees (77).
Corrugated, 71
Meander, 80 3. Every teen wishes to be normal; Lily is no exception (79).
Have students write about their own attempts at being normal
Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics and fitting in.
1. Kidd describes August Boatwright with images of food and
candy. Students can try describing someone using food (71).
Reference
Church bombing in Birmingham, 4 girls killed, 80

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CHAPTER 5
Vocabulary 3. On page 92, August teaches Lily about “bee yard etiquette.”
How does she compare the world to bees? This could be
Consolation, 82
written into a poem or a song. Students could extend the meta-
Ambrosia, 84
phor with sayings of their own.
Naïve, 84
Unassuming, 85 4. What caused April to become “deflated about life?” (97)
Bona Fide, 85 What does this mean?
Bristled, 86 5. May Boatwright’s heart can’t bear all the pain and sorrows
Revelation, 87 in the world, so in order to cope, she writes them down and
Righteous, 87 hides them in her “wailing wall” (97). Start a discussion with
Indignation, 87 students about how they deal with painful things, and have
Eclectic, 90 them write down things about the world they wish they could
Immunity, 92 change. Then create your own “wailing wall” in your classroom
Etiquette, 92 (a secure box or billboard) for the students to release their
troubles to.
Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics
1. Honey making, bees, and bee keeping are central to the Quotation
novel. Students can write their own honey songs (83), collect “The world will give you that once in a while, a brief time-out;
recipes, and make posters advertising honey (84). the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where some-
2. On page 87, June says: “But she’s white, August.” Lily over- body dabs mercy on your beat-up life” (82).
hears her. Why is this unusual for Lily to hear? Discuss how
white people can experience discrimination. References
Walter Cronkite, 88

CHAPTER 6
Vocabulary
Ingenious, 104
Deliverance, 107
Solace, 109

Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics

1. Have students design and create hats for the Daughters of
Mary (106). They could use recyclable materials and art
supplies.
2. On page 112, Walter Cronkite reports that a rocket will be
sent to the moon. Students can research the space race, or
write to NASA for information, as ways to extend the
reading.
© C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sidney Baldwin

7 A T E AC H E R ’ S G U I D E T O P ENGUIN GROUP (USA)

CHAPTER 7
Vocabulary
Incessantly, 120
Consignment, 125

Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics

1. Lily’s friendship with Zach is growing. Discuss how probable
a friendship or a romance could be between a white girl and a
black boy during this time period in the American South.
2. On page 130, Lily sees August reading Jane Eyre. Could this
be symbolic? Students might want to know who Jane Eyre is
and about the story.
3. “Lily, I like you better than any girl I’ve ever known, but you
have to understand, there are people who would kill boys like
me for even looking at girls like you,” Zach tells Lily on page
135. What does this comment say about the social climate of
the times? What other stories do students know about where
young lovers face prejudices from society?

References
Fats Domino, Miles Davis, 117. Play samples and/or show
film clips of their music to help students understand the discus-
sion between Lily and Zach.
The Fugitive, 123
© C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sheryl Nields

CHAPTER 8
Vocabulary 2. Lily’s list of what she loves can be written as a list poem.
Students can write their own lists of what they love (139).
High-caliber, 137
What does Lily’s list say about her? Students could write these
Kamikaze, 151
lists for other characters.
Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics 3. Lily saved a Coke bottle from Massachusetts “as a tribute to
1. On page 137, Lily decides if she could have picked a month how far something can go in life” (139). What does she mean?
to be named for, she’d have selected October and gives her Why is she attached to something like an old Coke bottle?
reasons. Asking to students to do this would be a fun writing 4. Students can write their own “tall bee tales,” like the one on
assignment. It could be a persuasive essay: Why I’d like to be page 143.
named ________; or any other type of writing. Students could
5. What does August mean when she says: “the hardest thing
describe how they’d spend their special month.
on earth is choosing what matters” (147).
6. Why does Lily call her father? Is she homesick? Worried
about him? What did she expect to gain from talking to him?
(159-160)
7. On page 162, Lily writes an acrostic poem about her father.
Have students write an acrostic about themselves or someone
they know, or other characters in the book.
8. Though writing her letter to T. Ray brought Lily some relief,
it didn’t bring her any joy. Sometimes writing a letter and not
sending it can bring relief. Students can write letters to people
or themselves and not send them but as a way to express feel-
ings they can’t say.

Reference
© C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sidney Baldwin Jack Palance, 154

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CHAPTER 9
Vocabulary 2. On page 173, Lily asks May if she ever knew a Deborah
Fontanel (Lily’s mother).
Ambitious, 165
Magnitude, 172 How is May’s response a turning point in the story? How does
Oblivious, 173 Lily react to her answer? Why does May suddenly need to go
Cunning, 173 to her wailing wall?
Crevice, 176 3. Lily tells Zach: “I’ll put it in a story.” She shares her thoughts:
“It’s something everybody wants, for someone to see the hurt
Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics done to them and set it down like it matters” (185). What
1. On page 170, Lily thinks: “Every human being on the face prompted her to say this? How are events in society affecting
of the earth has a steel plate in his head, but if you like [Lisa, her personal life?
double check quote, is it “if you look”?] down now and then
and get still as you can, it will slide open like elevator doors, References
letting in all the secret thoughts that have been standing Niagara Falls, people going over in barrels, 165
around so patiently, pushing the button for a ride to the to.
The real troubles in life happen when those hidden doors stay Civil Rights Act, 166
closed for too long.” American Bandstand, Dick Clark, 175
What does Lily mean? What is she referring to in her life? Ed Sullivan, 185
How can students connect this quote to their own lives?

CHAPTER 10
Vocabulary observe rituals regarding death and burial. Why are they
important? What do they do to the bee hives? (206) Why do
Anguish, 199
they do this?
Vigil, 200
Hovering, 202 2. Why do they eat seeds during the vigil? (207) What can
Ritual, 205 seeds be a symbol of?
Induction, 206 3. On page 209 Lily decides “everybody being colorless” would
Catacombs, 206 be better than trying to have whites get along with blacks.”
Taffeta, 211 Discuss: at what age do children become aware of differences?
Of races?
Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics
1. After May commits suicide, August announces that they’ll Reference
be sitting vigil. Discuss how different cultures and religions Aristaeus, Greek myth, 206

CHAPTER 11
Vocabulary 2. Lily’s and August’s favorite dessert is peanuts in a Coke
bottle. Students can write about their favorite desserts and
Dillydallying, 214
have a dessert party. Or have them try peanuts in Coke!
Industrious, 219
Sauntered, 224 3. What is Mary Day? (220) How do the Boatwright sisters
Quiver, 225 celebrate it and what is its significance in the novel?
Taunting, 239 4. What does Zach mean when he tells Lily: “That jail cell is
gonna make me earn grades higher than I ever got” (230).
Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics
1. How is Zach changing? Why is he changing? (216) References
Florida Everglades, 219

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CHAPTER 12
Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics 2. When Lily learns the truth about her mother, she thinks,
“Knowing can be a curse on a person’s life. I’d traded in a pack
1. On page 237, August tells Lily about her mother, who she
of lies for a pack of truth…” (255). How is she coping with this
took care of as a child. She mentions she hid in a tree to avoid
knowledge? What is she feeling now?
having to memorize Robert Frost’s poem, “Stopping by the
Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Lily remembers learning the 3. August tells Lily, “There is nothing perfect, there is only
same poem. Share the poem with students and discuss the life” (256). Discuss and have students respond in writing,
themes that connect to the novel. giving their own examples of life’s imperfections.

CHAPTER 13
Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics 3. August gives Lily some things she had kept that belonged to
Lily’s mother. Among them is a mirror, a hairbrush, and a
1. In this chapter, Lily confronts many of her feelings about
volume of William Blake’s poems. Lily finds a poem that her
her mother leaving her. Students may be able to write about
mother had underlined. How does seeing something that
being left, about broken families, etc. These can be private
belonged to a relative help a person know that relative?
journals.
4. How does seeing the photograph of her mother holding her
2. Describe the ritual of Mary Day (268-269). How does the
make Lily feel? (275) How is this a sign to Lily?
ritual help Lily overcome her anger?

CHAPTER 14
Vocabulary
Demoralized, 286
Melancholy, 287
Skittish, 291
Resolve, 298
Perpetually, 301

Writing Prompts & Discussion Topics

1. What is the significance of Rosaleen getting a voting card?
(281)
2. What is Zach’s news? (283) How probable is it this would
have occurred?
3. What does August mean when she tells Lily she has to “find
a mother inside yourself ” (288). What are the characteristics
August tells Lily she needs? © C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sidney Baldwin

4. Why does T. Ray call Lily “Deborah”? (294) What has

happened to him?
References
Goldwater/Humphrey election, 283
5. What does Lily mean when she says she believes in the
“goodness of imagination”? (300) Nat King Cole, 285

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AFTER READING ACTIVITIES
Extending the reading experience for students, through a 8. Write interview questions for the author and /or for the main
creative project or dramatic production, makes the reading more characters. Pretend you’re a talk show host and have invited
memorable and empowers students to have some ownership of the characters to speak. Stage the show before the class.
their work. Many activities can be done in small groups. 9. Write a sequel (or the next chapter) to the novel.
1. Write a diary of one of the characters. Tell his/her secret 10. Listen to some music of the Civil Rights era. Some singers
thoughts, motivations, history, ideas for the future, and thoughts include: Marian Anderson, Odetta, Peter, Paul and Mary,
about others. For example, write Deborah’s diary explaining Mahalia Jackson and other folk singers. Study the lyrics and
what really happened the day she died. themes that were prevalent. Select music to accompany different
2. Rewrite part of the novel in poem or song form. scenes from the novel, and explain why each song represents
3. Pretend you’re one of the characters. It’s 20 years from the that particular scene. Or, compose an original song(s).
end of the novel. Write a letter to another character in the 11. Choreograph a dance for a particular scene.
book about what you’ve been doing with your life. For example, 12. Create a mural depicting a chapter or scene from the novel.
does Lily ever see her father again? Or create collages of characters’ personalities using words and
4. Write a series of letters between any two characters. images from magazines.
5. Write a letter to the author about what you think about the 13. August lived in Richmond, Virginia, during the 1920s and
book. (Mail or email the letter) 1930s. Research Richmond during these times and then write
6. Based on research, write news articles or create a newspaper a story of August’s life with Deborah, Lily’s mother.
article about a section of the novel. Create a timeline of world 14. Research the mythology of Black Madonnas and show
events. how Monk Kidd weaves legend into this novel.
7. In a group, select a chapter or scene to dramatize. Write a 15. How are the words and teachings of Martin Luther King,
script, design costumes and props, and perform for the class. Jr., reflected in this novel?
This can also be done as Readers Theater. 16. Research an artist of the sixties. Based on the artist’s style,
develop a portfolio of illustrations from this novel.
17. Lily Owens cherishes a box with the few remaining things
that belonged to her mother. Have students bring in some of
their favorite things, or things that represent who they are, and
have them place in a box to either decorate as a keepsake, or
bury as a time capsule. Students should discuss why they chose
their items.
18. Cook Off or Bake Off: Make honey recipes inspired by
The Secret Life of Bees and bring in as a treat for everyone. You
could post the recipes on your school website! In the process,
learn about the different kinds of honey and honey bees.

© C C All Rights Reserved Photo Credit Sidney Baldwin

ACTIVITIES FOR USING THE FILM ADAPTATION

IN THE CLASSROOM:
Field Trip – The Book Comes to Life Adapting a Novel into a Film
The film adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, The Secret Life of Background Information: Gina Prince-Bythewood is the director
Bees, will be in theaters on October 17th, 2008. After your class of the film version of The Secret Life of Bees, which she adapted
has read the novel, take a field trip to see the film and discuss from the novel by author Sue Monk Kidd, into a screenplay.
with students how they felt about the differences or similarities “Adapting the novel The Secret Life of Bees into a screenplay
between what they read and what they saw. was a joy because it was a chance to bring to life characters I
had grown to love. That is the beauty of writing, it is the
chance to create, live and breath in a world different from
your own.”—Gina Prince-Bythewood, screenwriter/director
of The Secret Life of Bees.

11 A T E AC H E R ’ S G U I D E T O P ENGUIN GROUP (USA)

Discussion: The challenges of adapting a novel into a film Discussion: Casting Choices
• Explore vocabulary like “adaptation” and “screenplay” • When you read a book, does it play out like a movie in
• Explore the styles and formatting for a screenplay your head?

• Bring up questions like: • Other than the descriptions in the book, how do you see
each character?
• What themes would be most important to keep?
• Which story line is the most important? • What current actors would you cast in each role?
• What could be cut from the novel or condensed? Activity: Casting Director
Activity: Adapting a Novel • If the film is available on DVD, have students discuss a
• Have the students write out a brief adaptation or “spec certain scene from the book and then watch how it plays
script” of the novel and also write about the challenges out in the film. Discuss if it’s what they pictured or if they
they discovered while deciding what to keep and remove would have done it differently (especially if the scene was
from the story changed for the film)

• Students could even pick some of the best “scripts” from • Pick a couple of “casting directors” and have each student
the exercise and break into groups to film a scene or film a make their casting choices from students in the class to
trailer for their new version “play” each role and explain their choices
• The students who are “cast” could do a dramatic
Playing Casting Director reading from the book or
Background Information: In the film version of The Secret Life • Have the “cast” adapt a scene from the book and film
of Bees the following actors were chosen to play the main roles: it. The “casting directors” can act as film director
Dakota Fanning (Lily Owens), Paul Bettany (T. Ray), Jennifer
Hudson (Rosaleen Daise), Queen Latifah (August Boatwright),
Alicia Keys ( June Boatwright), Sophie Okonedo (May Boat-
wright), Nate Parker (Neil), and Tristan Wilds (Zachary Taylor).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The internet and libraries can provide resources for researching Learn more about the film The Secret Life of Bees
topics in the novel. The American Place Theatre, based in New at www.foxsearchlight.com
York City, presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations
of The Secret Life of Bees and other literature. Professional Read online, download, or print this guide, and browse
teaching artists travel to schools and conduct staff develop- our other teacher’s guides on our website at
ment and student workshops and perform for students. Their us.penguingroup.com/tguides
resource guide provides many ways to dramatize the novel.
For more information visit www.americanplacetheatre.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THIS GUIDE

LISA K. WINKLER holds a Master’s of Education from under the federal Striving Readers grant of No Child Left Behind
New Jersey City University and a BA from Vassar College. legislation. She’s an instructor in the literacy education depart-
Her master’s thesis focused on censorship in public schools. ment at NJCU. She’s interviewed authors and reviewed books
She’s taught middle school Language Arts for more than 10 years for professional journals. Her study guide for Khaled Hossei-
and serves as a master teacher in the Newark, NJ public schools ni’s The Kite Runner was published by Penguin in 2007.

FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES PRESENTS AN OVERBROOK ENTERTAINMENT/DONNERS’ COMPANY PRODUCTION A GINA PRINCE-BY THE WOOD FILM QUEEN LATIFAH DAKOTA FANNING “THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES” JENNIFER HUDSON ALICIA KEYS SOPHIE OKONEDO
MUSIC MUSIC COSTUME CO- EDITED PRODUCTION DIRECTOR OF
AND PAUL BETTANY SUPERVISOR LINDA COHEN BY MARK ISHAM DESIGNER SANDRA HERNANDEZ PRODUCER ED CATHELL, I I BY TERILYN A. SHROPSHIRE, A.C.E. DESIGNER WARREN ALAN YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHY ROGIER STOFFERS, N.S.C.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BASED UPON THE WRITTEN FOR THE SCREEN
PRODUCER JADA PINKETT SMITH BY LAUREN SHULER DONNER JAMES LASSITER WILL SMITH JOE PICHIRALLO NOVEL BY SUE MONK KIDD AND DIRECTED BY GINA PRINCE-BY THE WOOD
READ HE NOVEL ROM PENGUN BOOKS RELEASED BY TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX
Copyr ght © 2008 Twentieth Century Fox
PROPERTY OF FOX. PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY.
SALE, DUPL CATION, OR OTHER TRANSFER
OF TH S MATERIAL S STR CTLY PROHIBITED.

12 A T E AC H E R ’ S G U I D E T O P ENGUIN GROUP (USA)