The Bean Trees
Who is Taylor? Who is Turtle?
Taylor Greer is a young adult from Nebraska, leaves her town, goes on a journey, ends up in Arizona - narrator and main character of the book. Turtle is the young girl Taylor ends up taking care of when she is given to her by a stranger in a town she is passing through.
Who is Caesar? Who is Brutus?
Caesar is a former general who has recently become the sole ruler of Rome. Brutus is one of Caesar's good friends and a politician in Rome who is highly regarded by the people and other politicians.
Who is Jane Eyre?
Orphan who grows up with family that hates her. Gets sent off to school and eventually becomes a governess. Main character/narrator of the novel.
Who is Trevor? Who is Patricia?
Trevor is a young boy growing up South Africa under apartheid, eventual comedian, main character and narrator of book. Patricia is his mother, very religious and strict, tried very hard to provide a good life for her kids.
Metaphors and similes have a similar purpose but different forms. What is the purpose and how are they different?
They both are used to compare things in literature. Simile uses 'like' or 'as' but metaphor does not.
Who are Estevan and Esperanza? Where are they from?
Two refugees from Guatemala living above Mattie's store
Why do they conspirators want to kill Caesar?
They believe that he is becoming a tyrant and want to stop him from gaining more power. There is word that he is going to crown himself king, which the conspirators don't want.
Who is Rochester? Who is St. John?
Rochester is Jane's employer, master of Thornfield, the man she eventually falls in love with. St. John is Jane's cousin, a missionary, another potential suitor.
What is apartheid? What are the four racial groups?
System of laws in South Africa that prioritized the supremacy of white South Africans over all nonwhite South Africans. Based on segregation and discriminatory laws like: forbidding interracial marriages, forcing black and colored people to live in specific areas, restricting what nonwhite people could learn, etc. Four racial groups: white, black, colored, Asian/Indian
Give 2 gothic novel elements.
Setting in a castle/large house, atmosphere of mystery and suspense, omens/visions, supernatural events, high and overwrought/dramatic emotion, women in distress, women threatened by powerful male
Give 3 things that happen to Turtle over the course of the book
Has been abused as a child and abandoned, Taylor starts taking care of her, they move to Arizona, becomes part of a family with Taylor and Lou Ann, gets minority attacked again by a stranger in the park, gets adopted by Taylor
How does Caesar die? Who kills him and who are they led by?
He is stabbed many times in the Senate by a group of conspirators led by Cassius originally, and then also by Brutus once he joins the cause. Brutus literally stabs him in the back (Et tu, Brute?).
Give 3 major events that happen in Jane's life.
Red room, going to Lowood, Helen's death, working at Thornfield, ruined wedding, St. John proposal, marrying Rochester, etc.
Give 3 major events in Trevor's life over the course of the book.
Thrown out of the bus, night in jail, mom getting shot, etc.
What is a logical appeal? What is the purpose of rhetorical appeals?
Speaker appeals to the audience's logic and rationality by using clear evidence to support their argument. Rhetorical appeals (logical, emotional, ethical) are techniques to persuade an audience.
Give 3 things that happen to Estevan and Esperanza over the course of the book
They flee Guatemala because their teachers' union puts their lives in danger, their daughter gets abducted, they become friends with Taylor/Mattie/Lou Ann, Esperanza tries to take her own life, they help Taylor legally adopt Turtle
Why is ambition a major theme in the play?
What is a foil? Give 3 examples of foils in the novel.
A literary foil is a character whose purpose is to accentuate or draw attention to the qualities of another character, most often the protagonist, by providing a contrast to them. Ex: Rochester and St. John, Jane and Blanche, Jane and Bertha, Miss Temple and Miss Scatcherd
Give 3 examples of how Trevor's life was impacted by apartheid.
Couldn't be seen with parents outdoors, couldn't play outside, could only live in certain areas, had a hard time making friends and being accepted.
Give 3 characteristics of a tragic hero.
1) High social rank (king, prince, general). 2) Tragic flaw - character defect that ultimately leads to downfall. 3) Suffers complete ruin or death. 4) Faces downfall with courage and dignity.
What is symbolism? What is the difference between concrete/abstract when talking about symbols? Give 1 example of a symbol from the book.
Symbolism is when something stands in/represents something else. Concrete is something physical/tangible, abstract is something intangible like an idea, emotion, etc. Bird outside the doctor's window symbol for Turtle, rhizobia symbol for network of community, etc.
What happens at Caesar's funeral? Who gives speeches? What is the public reaction to Caesar's death - do they think he should have been killed?
Brutus gives his speech first defending the killing of Caesar, saying they did it for the good of Rome. The people agree with him at first. Antony gives a speech next, subtly implying that Caesar was killed for no reason and ultimately turning the people against the conspirators.
Give 2 examples of why passion v. reason is a main theme in the book.
Jane finally confessing her love to Rochester (passion) even though she has been keeping it to herself because she thinks he loves someone else (reason). St. John proposing to Jane because he thinks she would be a good missionary wife (reason) and Jane turning him down because she doesn't love him (passion).
How are community and identity related in the book? Give an example.
Who people perceive you to be influences who accepts you, which influences how you see yourself, etc. Trevor being a chameleon, etc.
What is an ethical appeal? Give an example of where an ethical appeal was used in the play.
Speaker uses credibility/authority on what they are talking about in order to get the audience to trust them.