Secret Life of Bees Chapter 14 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Is the Daughters of Mary all women?

False

What happens when Lily goes to touch the heart of Our Lady of Chains?

June stops playing her cello causing Lily to freeze and pass out.

What is Lily's first impression of Zach?

That he's handsome and that they will become good friends.

What surprises Zach about Lily?

That Lily's white. Signup and view all the answers

What is Zach's response when Lily tells him, 'You've got to hear of those things before you can imagine them'?

'You gotta imagine what's never been.' Signup and view all the answers

What feelings does Lily discover when she and Zach go into the country to harvest honey?

That she's attracted to him. Signup and view all the answers

When Zach stops at a stop sign next to the Dixie Cafe, what happens next?

Lily begins to cry and Zach comforts her. Signup and view all the answers

Which famous writer is from Tiburon?

Willifred Merchant. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when Neil and June are picking tomatoes?

They get into a fight and June begins to throw tomatoes at Neil's car. Signup and view all the answers

What does August say is the whole problem with people?

'They know what matters, but they don't choose it.' Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship of the queen bee to all of the other bees in the hive?

The queen is the mother to all bees in the hive. Signup and view all the answers

How does Lily feel when she and August go to collect honey and the bees come out and fly around her?

'I felt like the queen's attendants were out here in a frenzy of love, caressing me in a thousand places.' Signup and view all the answers

What news does Zach bring on the lunch feast day?

That Jack Palance is coming to Tiburon and plans to bring a black woman to sit in the white section of the movies with him. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Jack Palance?

A movie star. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Lily call from Mr. Forrest's office and why?

She calls T.Ray to ask him if he knew what her favorite color was. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Clayton Forrest?

A lawyer who buys honey from August. Signup and view all the answers

What does Lily do in the parlor after writing a letter to T.Ray and tearing it up?

Lily touches the heart of Mary and prays to her. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of Lily and June's fight over the water sprinkler?

They end up laughing and June hugs Lily. Signup and view all the answers

Who believes people have steel plates in their head?

Lily. Signup and view all the answers

What does Lily discover May doing that made her feel strange and trembly?

May lures roaches out of the house with graham cracker and marshmallow crumbs, just like Lily's mother did. Signup and view all the answers

What critical piece of information does May tell Lily?

May tells Lily that Deborah Fontanel stayed out in the honey house and was 'the sweetest thing.' Signup and view all the answers

What happens when Zach and Lily ride to town to get a new radiator hose?

They see some of Zach's friends and the white men who were waiting for Jack Palance outside the movie theater. One of the boys throws a bottle at one of the white men and gives him a bloody nose. Zach stands with the boys, and they are all arrested. Signup and view all the answers

How does Lily get home after Zach's arrested?

She walks because she doesn't have the keys or money to call. Signup and view all the answers

How did May find out about Zach being arrested?

When she answered a phone call from Zach's mother. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to May when she finds out about Zach's being arrested?

She goes into a kind of a trance, and then she comes back but isn't at all her usual self. She insists on going to the wall by herself. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to May after she goes to the wailing wall for the last time?

She goes to the river, pulls a rock onto herself, and drowns herself in the river. Signup and view all the answers

Who questions Lily and Rosaleen after May's death?

Eddie Hazelwurst. Signup and view all the answers

What messages does Lily have for May during the vigil?

She hopes May will be happier in heaven, to tell Mary that 'we're doing our best to keep her memory going,' and to find her mother and let her know that Lily is away from T.Ray and 'would appreciate a sign letting her know you love her.' Signup and view all the answers

How does Zach get out of jail?

The ticket-taker at the movie theater finally comes forward to say which of the boys threw the bottle, and the charges against Zach are dropped. Signup and view all the answers

What is August's reply when Lily asks if she believes putting black cloths over the hives will help May get to heaven?

'Putting black cloths on the hives is for us. I do it to remind us that life gives way into death, and then death turns around and gives way into life.' Signup and view all the answers

What brings Lily the most cause for gladness while the Daughters of Mary are holding vigil for May?

Sugar-Girl makes a joke about white people, and no one there even thinks about Lily's being white. It is like she 'was truly one of them.' Signup and view all the answers

What important message is in May's note to August and June?

'It's my time to die, and it's your time to live. Don't mess it up.' Signup and view all the answers

What is August's advice to June after reading May's note?

She advises June to marry Neil. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mary Day?

On the Feast of the Assumption, the Daughters of Mary have a two-day event in which they celebrate the feast day for Mary, remember Our Lady of Chains, and give thanks for the honey crop. Signup and view all the answers

When is Mary Day?

August 15. Signup and view all the answers

What big event happens on the first morning of Mary Day?

June announces that she will finally marry Neil. Signup and view all the answers

Who makes the hats in The Daughters of Mary?

Lunelle. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Lily leave the honey house while everyone seems to be meditating with Our Lady in Chains?

She can't stand to see Mary wrapped in chains, and she doesn't want to meditate or remember the past. Signup and view all the answers

What promise does Zach make to Lily?

'One day, after I've gone away and become somebody, I'm gonna find you, and we'll be together then.' Signup and view all the answers

On what Mary Day does Lily finally talk to August?

The second day (August 16). Signup and view all the answers

When Lily looks into the book called Mary Through The Ages in August's room, what most shocks her?

In every picture where the angel Gabriel comes to tell her she is going to have 'the baby of babies,' he has a big white lily for her. Signup and view all the answers

What reason does August give Lily for not telling her sooner about her mother?

'Because you weren't ready to know about her. I didn't want to risk you running away again.' Signup and view all the answers

Why did June treat Lily so badly when she first came to the Boatwrights' house?

June resented Lily's mother because August had gone to work at Lily's mother's house. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Tica Tee?

Lily's mother's imaginary friend. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Deborah Fontanel come to Sylvan?

Her mother died, leaving her alone. A friend of hers had recently moved to Sylvan and recommended it to her. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Deborah marry T.Ray?

She was pregnant with Lily. Signup and view all the answers

What does August tell Lily about her mother that makes Lily say, 'I hate her'?

August tells Lily that Deborah had come to Tiburon by herself, leaving Lily with T.Ray. Signup and view all the answers

What has August had to live without knowing all these years?

Never knowing exactly how Deborah died. Signup and view all the answers

What are August's parting words to Lily as she stands in the doorway after putting her to bed on the night of their big conversation?

'There is nothing perfect. There is only life.' Signup and view all the answers

What does Lily do after August leaves her in the honey house after their talk?

She becomes angry, gets up and smashes the of the honey jars. Then, she sits down in front of the black Madonna, drained, and falls asleep. Signup and view all the answers

What is Rosaleen's response when Lily asks her why she never told her what she knew about her mother?

'Oh, Lily. Why would I go and hurt you with something like that?' Signup and view all the answers

Why do the Daughters of Mary rub honey all over Our Lady?

They believed it was a preservative and that it would preserve her for another year. Signup and view all the answers

What does the hat box August brings to Lily in the honey house contain?

<ol> <li>A pocket mirror, 2) A brush with a hair still in it, 3) A gold whale-shaped pin, 4) A book of English poetry August had given her, 5) A picture of Deborah and Lily.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the photograph in the hat box so important?

It shows Lily that her mother loved her, serving as the sign she had been hoping for. Signup and view all the answers

How does having her mother's things and knowing the whole story affect Lily?

Lily pulls away into herself, wanting to be alone. She spends a period of time thinking, trying not to think, and grieving. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Rosaleen go in her new red dress with big white flowers?

To register to vote. Signup and view all the answers

After talking with Zach on the telephone, what does Lily think?

'Both of us, it seemed like, were doomed to misery.' Signup and view all the answers

Lily sees August and June hugging on the floor. What does August say to June that she intends also for Lily?

'Regrets don't help anything, you know that.' Signup and view all the answers

What does August take Lily out to see first thing in the morning?

To see a queenless colony of bees. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the bees when the queen dies?

They stop working and eventually die out. Signup and view all the answers

What does August tell Lily that she always wants Lily to remember?

'Our Lady is not some magical being out there somewhere, like a fairy godmother. She's not the statue in the parlor. She's something inside you.' Signup and view all the answers

How does T.Ray find Lily?

His phone bill had a collect call from Mr. Clayton Forrest's office. He goes to the office and the secretary tells him where to find Lily. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mr. Forrest's secretary's name?

Miss Lacy. Signup and view all the answers

What happens in the afternoon after August had taken Lily to see the queenless colony?

T.Ray comes to the Boatwrights' house to take Lily home. Signup and view all the answers

How does Lily act when T.Ray comes inside the Boatwrights' house?

Calm and well-mannered. Signup and view all the answers

Who gave Deborah the gold whale-shaped pin and when?

T.Ray gave her the pin for her 22nd birthday. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to T.Ray when he finds out that Deborah had been at the Boatwrights' home when she left him?

T.Ray confuses Lily with Deborah. He hits her and tells her she would never leave him again. He threatens her with a knife. Signup and view all the answers

Why did T.Ray confuse Lily with Deborah?

<ol> <li>She looks like her, 2) She was wearing the pin.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What brings T.Ray back to his senses?

Lily yells, 'Daddy!' Signup and view all the answers

What declaration does Lily make to T.Ray?

She tells him she will not go back with him. Signup and view all the answers

Who comes to help Lily in her struggle against T.Ray?

August and Rosaleen are the first to arrive, but Lily waves them off. Then, the other available Daughters of Mary arrive. Signup and view all the answers

What does August do to help diffuse the situation between T.Ray and Lily?

She says that T.Ray would be doing them all a favor by letting Lily stay, and she promises to take good care of Lily and keep her straight. She gives him a way out of the situation. Signup and view all the answers

Lily runs after T.Ray as he leaves, yelling for him to stop. What does she ask him, and what is his response?

Lily asks him for the truth about her mother's death, if she really did accidentally kill her mother. T.Ray softens and confesses that she really did do it without meaning to. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Becca?

Becca is Clayton Forrest's daughter who goes to school with Lily. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Becca and Lily at school?

They are teased for associating themselves with Zach and are hit with paper balls. Signup and view all the answers

What is the closing image of the novel?

The eight strong women in Lily's life are standing behind, forming the motherly figure she needed. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Daughters of Mary

Not exclusively women; Sugar-girl's husband Otis attends services.
Involves community and offers a support system for women.

Lily's Experiences

Touching the heart of Our Lady of Chains causes Lily to freeze; she faints.
Lily has an immediate attraction to Zach, perceiving him as handsome and a potential friend.
Zach is taken by surprise to discover Lily's race, which adds complexity to their budding friendship.

Critical Dialogues

Lily expresses the need to know before imagining experiences; Zach counters with a belief in the power of imagination.
Lily's emotional state fluctuates during interactions with Zach, revealing her growing feelings for him.
During a moment of vulnerability, Lily cries in front of Zach, illustrating her emotional struggles.

Community Dynamics

A famous novelist, Willifred Merchant, hails from Tiburon, adding cultural significance to the setting.
Tensions arise when Neil and June argue over mundane tasks, highlighting interpersonal conflicts within their relationship.

Life Lessons from August

August notes the irony in people knowing what matters but often failing to choose it, showcasing her wisdom.
She serves as a motherly figure for Lily, guiding her understanding of love, loss, and life’s complexities.

Bee Metaphors

The queen bee is the matriarch, vital for the hive's survival, symbolizing motherhood.
August teaches Lily that Our Lady symbolizes the inner strength within oneself rather than a distant figure.

Lily's Family History

Lily's complicated feelings towards her mother, Deborah, reveal deep-seated issues of abandonment and resentment.
August reveals secrets about Deborah that shatter Lily's understanding of her mother, igniting anger and sorrow.

May's Influence and Tragedy

May’s death acts as a catalyst for Lily and the community, exemplifying the impact of loss on collective grief.
May believed in helping others find peace, leaving behind poignant messages that resonate throughout the narrative.

Thematic Elements

The notion of Mary Day, held on August 15, signifies resilience, community support, and gratitude for life.
Lily's confrontation with T.Ray exemplifies her growth and resolve to separate from an abusive past, asserting her independence.

Relationships and Support Systems

August and Rosaleen provide crucial support during Lily's moments of crisis, emphasizing the importance of female solidarity.
The novel closes with strong imagery of eight women representing the maternal figure Lily longed for, symbolizing unity and strength.

Confrontations and Resolutions

T.Ray's violent outburst triggers a dramatic climax, forcing Lily to confront her trauma and ultimately assert her autonomy.
The narrative explores the complexity of race, friendship, and self-identity within the character dynamics, culminating in profound personal growth for Lily.

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Test your knowledge of Chapter 14 from 'The Secret Life of Bees' with these flashcards. Each card presents key insights and questions about characters and events, perfect for reinforcing your understanding of the chapter's themes and dynamics.