Parable of the Sower Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What did the group see in Sacramento?

A dog eating a child's severed arm and hand (correct)

A cat drinking milk

A bird building a nest

Children playing in the park

What does Bankole want Lauren to do?

Come with him to live on his land in the hills near Cape Mendocino.

What does Jill fail to do while watching their camp?

She fails to keep watch properly.

What happened to Emery's other children?

They were taken from her after her husband died and left debt. Signup and view all the answers

What happens in the battle on September 14?

A group of bald men attacks them, and Lauren fights them off but collapses from hyperempathy. Signup and view all the answers

How many times does Lauren 'die' while fighting?

Three or four. Signup and view all the answers

Who do bosses prefer to buy?

Workers and slaves who have hyperempathy syndrome. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the fire starts to catch up with the group?

They take a rest but then have to walk all night as it pushes them. Signup and view all the answers

What does Bankole say when Grayson Mora wants a gun?

He says no. Signup and view all the answers

What does Emery find?

A corpse with money. Signup and view all the answers

What do they find at Bankole's home?

An abandoned, empty, wild, and isolated land with a burned down house. Signup and view all the answers

What do the police do when Bankole and Harry go to them?

They are suspicious and charge fees, but do nothing to help. Signup and view all the answers

What's good and bad about Bankole's land?

There is a well, but they are fearful of arsonists. Signup and view all the answers

What job does Emery suggest Harry could get?

A slavedriver. Signup and view all the answers

What do they do in the funeral for Bankole's family?

They wrap the bones in Natividad's shawl and Lauren offers to plant a grove of oak trees. Signup and view all the answers

What do they name their new home?

Acorn. Signup and view all the answers

What is the division of the novel?

4 years; 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of Lauren's town?

Robledo Signup and view all the answers

What is Lauren's starting age?

15 Signup and view all the answers

What is Lauren's recurring dream about?

Reflects her experience of trying to please her father by pretending everything is okay. Signup and view all the answers

When does Lauren's baptism occur?

2024 Signup and view all the answers

Lauren believes her brother Keith is responsible and intelligent.

False Signup and view all the answers

What unique characteristic does Lauren have?

Hyperempathy syndrome. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Lauren have hyperempathy?

Her mother abused the drug Paracetco during pregnancy. Signup and view all the answers

What catastrophic event occurs in the Gulf region?

A storm kills over 700 people. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Alicia Leal?

An astronaut who dies on Mars. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Yannis family own?

A television shared by the neighborhood. Signup and view all the answers

Why is water so valuable in Lauren's world?

It is extremely expensive. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Mrs. Sims?

Her body is discovered after she committed suicide. Signup and view all the answers

What are Lauren's verses?

Poetic writings that describe her perception of God as Change. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Christopher Donner?

A presidential candidate against space programs. Signup and view all the answers

What significant event occurs on Lauren's 16th birthday?

She establishes that the destiny of Earthseed is to take root among the stars. Signup and view all the answers

What decision does Lauren make regarding her future?

She decides to leave Robledo when she turns 18. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the Cruz household break-in?

Thieves killed Mrs. Quintanilla. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term Earthseed refer to?

Lauren's name for her belief system Signup and view all the answers

What does Lauren find in Robledo after the violence?

People searching through houses and dead bodies. Signup and view all the answers

What happens on July 31, 2027?

Intruders drive through the gate and shoot the residents. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Hanning Joss?

It is the biggest secure store complex in Robledo. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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.

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Description

Test your knowledge of important terms and details from Octavia Butler's 'Parable of the Sower.' This quiz includes key concepts such as the division of the novel, Lauren's town, and her age at the beginning. Perfect for students wanting to deepen their understanding of the book.