The Secret Life of Bees Reading Questions

English 3/4 Peterson

Name_____________________
Period_________
Chapter 14
Vocab
demoralized melancholy skittish resolve perpetually
Reading Questions
1) Read the fact about bees at the beginning of the chapter; what do you think this is
foreshadowing?
2) The author uses some imagery of heat and ice on page 277; what does the contrast between
the hot weather and the ice sculpture in Lilys chest represent?
3) What does Zach plan to do next school year that scares Lily?
4) How did T. Ray find Lily?
5) What does Lily find out about the origin of the pin that her mother used to wear? What
revelation does she have when she learns this?
6) Why does T. Ray call Lily Deborah?
7) What convinces T. Ray to allow Lily to stay with the Boatwrights?
8) Who does Lily hang out with at school? What does her group of friends tell you about
Clayton?
9) What does Lily mean when she says she has more mothers than any eight girls on the
street?

The Secret Life of Bees Reading Questions

English 3/4 Peterson
Chapter 12
Vocab

Reading Questions
1) As Lily is looking around Augusts room, a picture depicting the angel Gabriel giving Mary a gift
catches her eye. What is the angel giving to Mary? Do you think this is significant?
2) Is August surprised when Lily shows her the picture of her mother? Why or why not?
3) Why didnt August call Lily on her lies sooner? Do you think she did the right thing?
4) How did August know Lilys mother?
5) As Lily finally tells the truth to August, to what object does she compare her secrets(page 240)?
6) August tells Lily about a phone call she received from Deborah after her mother had died. What did
she say to August? How is this similar to Lilys relationship to Rosaleen?
7) What does August tell Lily about T. Ray that surprises her?
8) Why did Lilys mother leave to stay with August?
9) In chapter 8, August tells Lily that bees have a secret life that no one knows about. Did Deborah have
a secret life? What is the difference between how Lily now sees her mother, and her mothers secret
life?