Search all of SparkNotes
Search
Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
A Christmas Carol
As You Like It
The Catcher in the Rye
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Taming of the Shrew
Menu
No Fear Shakespeare
Literature
Other Subjects
Teacher
Blog
Search
Help
Search all of SparkNotes
Search
Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
A Christmas Carol
As You Like It
The Catcher in the Rye
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Taming of the Shrew
No Fear Shakespeare
Literature
Other Subjects
Teacher
Blog
Help
The Secret Life of Bees
Sue Monk Kidd
Study Guide
Study Guide
Summary
Plot Overview
Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1
Chapters 2 and 3
Chapters 4 and 5
Chapters 6 and 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapters 10 and 11
Chapters 12 and 13
Chapter 14
Characters
Character List
Lily Owens
August Boatwright
Zach Taylor
Main Ideas
Themes
Motifs
Symbols
Key Facts
Quotes
Important Quotes Explained
Quotes By Theme
Racism
Motherliness
Storytelling
Spirituality
Quotes By Section
Chapter 1
Chapters 2 and 3
Chapters 4 and 5
Chapters 6 and 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapters 10 and 11
Chapters 12 and 13
Chapter 14
Quotes By Character
August Boatwright
Lily Melissa Owens
Zacharyary Taylor
Rosaleen Daise
Terrence Ray (T. Ray) Owens
Further Study
Context
Full Book Quiz
Section Quizzes
Context
Plot Overview
Character List
Analysis of Major Characters
Themes, Motifs & Symbols
Chapter 1
Chapters 2 and 3
Chapters 4 and 5
Chapters 6 and 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapters 10 and 11
Chapters 12 and 13
Chapter 14
Study Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Writing Help
How to Write Literary Analysis
Glossary of Literary Terms
How to Cite This SparkNote
Suggested Essay Topics
Teacher's Handbook
Further Study
Themes, Motifs & Symbols Quiz
Further Study
Themes, Motifs & Symbols Quiz
1
of 5
In The Secret Life of Bees, what do beehives serve to symbolize?
Fear
Racism
Community
Memory
2
of 5
What object in the novel is a symbol of mothers and motherhood, and also symbolizes Lily's mother specifically?
Beehives
Photographs
Guns
The Black Mary
3
of 5
What is the common theme of the fourteen epigraphs that precede each chapter?
Love
Racism
Bees
Religion
4
of 5
Which classic work of literature does Lily's journey with Rosaleen echo?
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Bible
Julius Caesar
Jane Eyre
5
of 5
A powerful motif throughout the novel is the search for ___.
Truth
Love
Equality
Mothers
Previous section
Analysis of Major Characters Quick Quiz
Next section
Chapter 1 Quick Quiz
Popular pages:
The Secret Life of Bees
Character List
CHARACTERS
Lily Owens: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES
Review Quiz
FURTHER STUDY
Take a Study Break
Every Shakespeare Play Summed Up in a Quote from
The Office
Every Marvel Movie Summed Up in a Single Sentence
QUIZ: Are You a Hero, a Villain, or an Anti-Hero?
QUIZ: Is This a Mark Twain Quote or a Line from
The Office
?
QUIZ: Which Greek God Are You?
60 YA Movie Adaptations, Ranked
Pick 10 Books and We'll Guess Whether You're an Introvert or an Extrovert