Feminist+Aproach-+Bean+Trees+through+CH.+11

http://www.kingsolver.com/about/about.asp

Opening Activity: We will go around in a cirlce and talk about our interpratation of the ideal women, family, etc: We will also discuss how society dictates and therefore governs roles of men and women. Relating it to Taylor and Lou Ann.

Discusion questions: 1. Upon reading the summary articles many similarites can be drawn between Taylor and Kingsolver why do you think that that is. Is Kingsolver Taylor in this novel? 2. We have dicussed vegetables in this novel, why is it important/ signifigant that Turtles first word is "Bean?" 3. What influence does Lou Ann have on Taylor as a women? Does she make Taylor feel more femine or less feminine? Why? 4. Why Does Lou Ann's obsesion with danger make her seem more femine? this Worry wart mentality seemignly gives her maternal instinct, but is this really what being a mother is all about or is she just parinoid? 5. Estavan is the first male character who is of merit in the novel, why does KIngsolver make him this way? a father figure? love interest? or friend?

OKay so ALas I can't figure out how to link my summary response so here it is.

Ayla R. MRs. Ackerman 3rd Hour American Literature Honors 5th May 2008 Summary Response to Barbra Kingsolver- Feminist aproach.

This article is the official website of Barbra Kingsolver, the author of //The Bean Trees.// Barbra Kingsolver grew up in Kentucky and later moved to Tucson where she worte Bean Trees, it was her first novel, she wrote it entirely at night due to chronic insomia from the pregnancy with her first child. Kingsolver seemigly puts much of her own life into her novels, especialy in Bean Trees where pregnancy and marriage are viewed in somewhat of a negatory light. Kingsolver writes with such a passioniate fervor for her young character, Taylor that many view her as Kingsolver in her younger days. "A young women of consequence, passion, and intelect." (PBS). If this is true than we can gather, that Taylor was violently against pregnancy and children. Interesting that during the writing of //Bean Trees// Kingsolver was pregnant with her first child. Pregnancy is viewed as a trap, something that would keep the spirited Talyor from spreading her wings to grow. As a feminist arguement can be made that Kingsolver could be anti-pregnacy. However that motiff is destroyed after the birth of Kingsolver's second child (PBS). The journey that Taylor has taken in the novel could represent Kingsolver's attitude toward motherhood. In //Bean Trees// Taylor leans to be a mother and grows fond of Turtle. Prhaps Taylor does represent Kingsolver, but not as the person that she is now, but the jounrney that she had to make it oder to findwho she was destined to become.

Works Cited: Story-telling Traditions," Keeneland magazine, L. Elisabeth Beattie, Winter 2003, pp 41-44. "Amazing grace, true grit & organic style," Organic Style, May/June 2003, p 83. "Author urges those on antiwar `fringes' to remain hopeful," Tucson Citizen, Irene Hsiao, 11 April 2003, p 4A. "Tucson's Wonder," Tom Beal, //Arizona Daily Star//, 19 April 2002, pg E1 "Kingsolver: Author for our place and time," Arizona Republic, Kate Nolan, 30 March 2002, pg V3. With Kate Nolan, Viewpoints (interview), Arizona Republic, 30 March 2002, pg V1. With Steve Flairty (interview), "Barbara Kingsolver - Kentucky's 'Polite Firebrand' Author," //Kentucky Monthly//, February 2002, pp 12-15. With Will Levin. "People Rise Up," **KBOO Radio (Pacifica)**, Portland, OR, November 2, 2001. With David Gates, "The Voices Of Dissent," //Newsweek//, November 19, 2001, pp 66-67. "Waiting for the Invasion" and "Deadline," reading on "Eclectic Woman," **WTJU radio**, Richmond, VA. Unknown reader. Aired September 27, 2001. With Bill Goodman. "What If All Kentucky Reads The Same Book?" **KET, Kentucky Educational Television**. Live call-in show: "Barbara Kingsolver talks with Kentucky," May 31, 2001. With Nick Lawrence. **WUKY radio**, April 26, 2001. In conjunction with Kentucky Educational Television: "What If All Kentucky Reads The Same Book?" (//The Bean Trees//)

"Luna Moths, Coyotes, Sugar Skulls: The Fiction of Barbara Kingsolver," Amanda Cockrell, The Hollins Critic, Hollins University, VA, Vol XXXVIII No 2, April 2001, pp 1-15

"Celebration of Bookselling." Speech delivered at the ABA convention, Chicago, June 2000. Booksense, June 19, 2000, p 6-7.

With Kimi Eisele, "The Where and Why of Literature: A Conversation With Barbara Kingsolver," You Are Here, Vol. 2 No 2, Fall 1999, pp 10-15 "Q & A: Barbara Kingsolver," //Journal of the National Writers Union//, Vol 16 No 4, Winter 1998-99, p 6-7.