1. The Secret Life of Bees Symbolism of Bees/Honey
By Georgia LaLuzerne,
William Griffith,
Ella Taggart, Mitch Kern,
and Riley Williams
The Secret Life of Bees
Symbolism of Bees/Honey

2. Symbolism of Bees/Honey
Bee Epigraphs
Each chapter begins with an epigraph
Epigraph relates and/or foreshadows to events in the chapter
For example…
Chapter 1: “The queen, for her part, is the unifying force of the community; if she is removed from the hive, the workers very quickly sense her absence. After a few hours, or even less, they show unmistakable signs of queenlessness.” (pg. 1)
Talks about workers missing the queen
Represents Lily missing her mother
The Secret Life of Bees
Symbolism of Bees/Honey

3. Symbolism of Bees/Honey
Send Messages
Guides
Bees in the jar, Lily is trapped
Bees leave the jar, telling Lily to leave
Honey leads her to Boatwright's
Help with decision making process
Clue to mom
The Secret Life of Bees
Symbolism of Bees/Honey

4. Symbolism of Bees/Honey
Boatwright Bees
Bees at the Boatwright's teach life lessons
Life, death, community
Beekeeping teaches Lily responsibility
Boatwright house is like a beehive
All women
Queen bee (August) keeps things in order
The Secret Life of Bees
Symbolism of Bees/Honey

5. Calendar Sisters/Bees
August – The Queen Bee
Takes care of her family (the hive)
Oversees honey-making
June – The Mourner Bee
Plays cello for the dead
Everything in life is so serious
May – The Worker Bee
Short life
Weight of the world (the hive)
The Secret Life of Bees
Symbolism of Bees/Honey

6. Symbolism of Bees/Honey
Queen Bee
Various Queen Bees:
Lily’s mother Deborah
Sylvan/Peach farm
August
Tiburon/Boatwright house
Black Mary
Daughters of Mary
The Secret Life of Bees
Symbolism of Bees/Honey

7. Symbolism of Bees/Honey
Life is always sweeter with a little honey…
Honey represents the good things in life
Represents important things in life
Healing
Hope
The Secret Life of Bees
Symbolism of Bees/Honey