The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that explores themes of colonialism, religion, family, and personal identity. Set in the Congo during the tumultuous period of decolonization, the novel follows the experiences of the Price family, a missionary family from the United States, as they confront the challenges of living and working in a foreign country.
Socratic seminars are a popular teaching method that involve students discussing a text through a series of open-ended and thought-provoking questions. Here are some potential Socratic seminar questions for a discussion of The Poisonwood Bible:
How does the novel portray the relationship between the colonizers and the colonized? What themes does the novel explore in this regard?
How does the novel explore the theme of religion and faith? How do the different characters in the novel express their faith, and how does their faith shape their actions and decisions?
How do the experiences of the Price family in the Congo challenge their assumptions and beliefs about themselves and the world? How do their experiences change them over the course of the novel?
How does the novel explore the theme of family dynamics and relationships? How do the different members of the Price family interact with each other, and how do their relationships evolve over the course of the novel?
How does the novel use the perspective of the different narrators to explore its themes and to tell its story? What insights do the different narrators provide, and how do their perspectives contribute to the overall narrative?
How does the setting of the Congo play a role in the novel's themes and story? How does the political and social context of the Congo shape the experiences of the characters and the conflicts they face?
How does the novel use symbolism and imagery to explore its themes and to convey its message? How do the various symbols and images in the novel contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the novel?
These are just a few potential Socratic seminar questions for a discussion of The Poisonwood Bible. Other possible questions could focus on the themes of power and control, cultural differences, and personal responsibility, among others.
Barbara Kingsolver on The Poisonwood Bible
A highly recommended and unforgettable read. So I did it. And what if I placed them in the Congo, right at the moment when it's trying to throw off colonial rule? It is a novel that shows how going from a thriving developed country to a third world country can drastically affect any family. Leah Price, being one of the more intellectual of the children, provides many differences in the African and American cultures through her observations she makes within the novel. This month, About Poisonwood Bible The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. Discuss the structure of this novel in these terms.
The Poisonwood Bible Discussion Questions & Review
The way of pantheism balances out the thought of defeating and conquering. Feel free to answer the discussion questions in the comments, on G+ or Goodreads! Desire leads to action. She used to be a wild and free girl that was full of love, but when she married Nathan she began to become withdrawn and secluded from other people. But as for my using Mobutu as an excuse, he was right. The Poisonwood Bible by Publication Date: Oct. In the context of the Haitian culture, I feel like the proverb is actually a morose one. They will also keep track of the main points and then they can write down their own thoughts.
Unfortunately, it sounds like trauma in his life has somewhat contributed to the way he is now and it is sad to know that he is not the same person Orleanna married. . The quote I feel also represents the Price family as a whole and their failure to communicate, and they never seemed like much of a family at all. Even though we get into each of their heads, I still had a hard time connecting emotionally to the characters in this book. I really loved Brother Fowles…. He had studied witchcraft slightly in college, so once he went back to it and read a book by Charles W. The idea seemed so compelling, but to write a novel like that, I would have to know a million things: political history, CIA secrets, the quotidian details of missionary life because of course, these characters would be Christian missionaries , the teenage culture and language of the late 1950s.
His take on Christianity was based on the foundation of helping the downtrodden which I have felt is the true essence of Christianity. That after they climb a mountain or fix a problem, there is always another one. What kind of dance did you do? If you are joining us for the Poisonwood Bible Readalong, I hope you are enjoying the book. The book is centered on how these events and their consequences affected the family. This way of thinking inspires a respect to nature and therefore God that is created by ones self. What most amazed, inspired and scared you about life in the Congo? Do you like the alternating narrators? Why do you think this is? WARNING: THIS DISCUSSION WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS.
Poisonwood Bible Discussion Questions for Readalong Week 1
This shows the original goal of the Socratic Method as a means to uncover truth through inquiry. I just finished Book 4 last night this is my first chance to join in the discussion — crazy week! I was struck initially by how bleak and depressing the beginning was and eventually I gave it up. Especially in the Congo. Being stopped at a border and lined up for a mandatory anti-cholera injection from the same hypodermic that was used on the 10 people ahead of me. It was released in a time when the paranoia and hysteria was very relevant. The beauty of a Socratic seminar is that everyone has a voice. If you are joining us for the Poisonwood Bible Readalong, I hope you are enjoying the book.
Mountains Beyond Mountains and Poisonwood Bible Socratic...
Clothes, shoes, headbands, sunblock and bug spray…. They want to know that you are listening. I had the same wrestle with myself of laying the book aside at first and now picking it up again and forging ahead and into its world. Thanks for sharing these. I think this is a typical feeling for many mothers. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, desire and power drive characters to create chaos in the community.
Prep for Socratic Seminar on Poisonwood Bible .pdf
All that foot washing, for example. If you had to choose one member of the Price family as the principal protagonist of the book, who would it be? I want to encourage you to overcome your obstacles so you can live your best life. She sees immediately that she left Adah behind in her panic over the ants. I feel like Tracy Kidder wrote in first person because he was trying to explain Paul Farmer on a personal level; how he makes you feel, the shame one feels when he is disappointed in you, etc. We learn early on that tragedy is in the horizon. Even Leah gradually comes to understand that the different ways of the village the garden is a perfect example are different because they are attuned to the local, natural environment, not because they are ignorant.
I discovered I needed a fourth, so one sister split into twins. Open ended question - What are the causes of the mass panic in the solemn town of Salem? With Nathan attempting to use the word, instead of referring to Jesus as dearly beloved, he ended up calling him a poisonous plant. He is a character the reader feels, at the very least, sympathy for and at the very most can relate to from their own relationships. This way, they are contributing, especially if they have a really good thought, but the time is still manageable students can really get into this! I never even thought about it. Outside Support 1: Desire is reality as we see it: a fantasy. They will have to make compromises in order to have any chance at accomplishing their goals. Forgiveness seems to be a central theme in the novel, but each narrator seems to have a different attitude toward forgiveness.
Since there was so much going on in America with mass panic, it made Miller think of other points in history when Americans were put into a great panic over something so inane. Gorgeous, lyrical, yet brutal and intense. The following are a few things to keep in mind when developing these questions. To experience diverse viewpoints? I 100% believe that it is important for mothers to still have something for themselves and to practice self-care so that they can be healthy and better mothers for their children. What is the significance of poisonwood? I had lived briefly in a Congolese village as a child, and so I had a bank of very visceral memories without any adult context. Why does Proctor initially agree to confess that he has trafficked with the devil? I just wanted to stop in now and say cheers—grateful for the encouragement to keep reading this rich and meaningful story.
