Parable of the Sower Flashcards

Structure and Setting

• The novel is divided into four years: 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027.
• Lauren resides in Robledo, a gated community lacking significant wealth.

Key Characters and Relationships

• Lauren is 15 years old at the beginning of the story; her unique trait is hyperempathy syndrome, making her acutely aware of others' suffering.
• Keith, Lauren's irresponsible brother, dreams of moving to Los Angeles and faces dire consequences for his rebellious actions.
• Lauren's best friend, Joanne Garfield, ultimately becomes skeptical of Lauren's survivalist instincts and Earthseed beliefs.
• Reverend Olamina is Lauren's father, a pivotal figure until his disappearance in 2026.

Lauren's Journey and Ideals

• Lauren's baptism in 2024 signifies a clash between her beliefs and her father's Baptist faith.
• She develops a belief system called Earthseed, where she perceives God as Change, advocating for people to embrace adaptability.
• Lauren creates verses reflecting her philosophies, which she starts writing at age 12.
• After turning 16, she asserts Earthseed's destiny is to settle among the stars.

Community Challenges and Dynamics

• The community faces significant strife, including high costs of water, devastating fires, and violent crime, leading to the establishment of a neighborhood watch.
• The tragic deaths within the community, including Mrs. Sims' suicide and Keith's murder, amplify the sense of danger and loss.
• Economic despair leads to discussions around company town slavery, particularly through KSF's influence.

Major Events and Turning Points

• A catastrophic storm in the Gulf kills over 700 people, deepening Lauren's faith crisis.
• A series of break-ins culminate in the murder of Mrs. Quintanilla, intensifying community fears and destabilizing the social structure.
• Lauren decides to leave Robledo upon turning 18 to pursue spreading Earthseed.

Survival and Adaptation

• Throughout their journey north, Lauren and the group must constantly adapt, facing dangers from thieves and the harsh realities of their collapsed society.
• Lauren's hyperempathy often hinders her action, complicating life-threatening situations.
• Encounters with other survivors lead to evolving dynamics within Lauren's group and new alliances.

Relationships and Personal Growth

• Lauren's relationships, including her complicated feelings for Curtis and her growing bond with Bankole, reveal her emotional and moral development.
• The loss of friends, including the death of Jill during an attack, shapes Lauren's perception of trust and community.
• Lauren navigates the delicate balance between personal desire and collective survival, leading to pivotal decisions about loyalty and leadership.

Conclusion and Future Aspirations

• The novel culminates in a collective effort to form a sustainable future, with Lauren determined to establish the first Earthseed community alongside Bankole.

• Themes of resilience, adaptation, and the search for meaning in chaos underscore Lauren's journey as she embraces her destiny and leadership role.### Key Terms and Concepts

• Hyperempathy Syndrome: Condition affecting workers and individuals treated as slaves, influencing their perception and interactions.

Group Dynamics and Conflict

• Grayson Mora's Request: Attempts to obtain a gun; leads to a conflict with Bankole, who refuses, causing tension which is eased by Doe offering a pomegranate as a peace gesture.

• Traveling with Fire: As the group travels, a deadly fire pursues them, forcing them to rest briefly before they must journey through the night, compared to a frightening wall.

Discoveries and Hauntings

• Emery's Discovery: Finds a corpse with money, using it to buy food (pears and walnuts) for the group, demonstrating survival instincts and resourcefulness.

• Bankole's Home: When reaching Bankole's former home, they discover a desolate, burned property, suggesting a violent past and finding bones that likely belong to his family.

Encounter with Authority

• Police Interaction: When seeking help, Bankole and Harry face suspicion from police, who impose fees without providing assistance, reflecting systemic issues in authority response.

Land Characterization

• Bankole's Land: Contains a well, representing a vital resource, but is also susceptible to threats from arsonists; potential for crop growth exists but comes with dangers.

Employment and Morality

• Job Suggestion for Harry: Emery suggests Harry could become a slavedriver, a proposal that horrifies him, highlighting moral and ethical dilemmas in their environment.

Commemoration and Grief

• Funeral for Bankole's Family: Bones are wrapped in Natividad's shawl, indicating reverence; Lauren suggests planting oak trees as a memorial, showing respect for the dead.

New Beginnings

• Naming of New Home: The group decides to name their new settlement "Acorn," symbolizing growth and the potential for new life in a challenging environment.