Wray
E10
Guidelines for The Bean Trees Thematic Analysis Essay
Theme Topics:
-strength of women
-human suffering
-violence: who’s affected, and how can we help?
-Spirituality over organized religion
-Power of unconventional families
-Finding beauty in a troubled world
-Rebirth/Renewal
-Your own idea
Remember, you need to present an argument about one of these topics, or a topic of your choosing. What is
Kingsolver trying to say about one of these topics?
Not a thesis: Beowulf deals with the struggle for immortality.
Thesis: In Beowulf, the anonymous poet shows us that all great heroes eventually fall, but immortality can be
realized through sacrifice and heroic actions.
You are not writing an essay about a motif or symbol from the novel, however, you can use a certain motif or
symbol to support your thesis.
It is not necessary to list your three main ideas in your thesis, although it might be useful. Just be sure you
have three main ideas!
Your essay needs:
An Introduction: A grabber/hook, a connecting/introductory sentence, your thesis
3 Body Paragraphs: At least 2 of your body paragraphs need a quotation to support your main ideas. The other
paragraph can rely on a specific example to support its main idea.
Use your notes from the quotation search and the discussion questions to guide you in your quotation
selection.
The majority of your body paragraphs should contain your original ideas and analysis, NOT a summary of what
happens in the book.
A Conclusion: Restate thesis and a real world connection specific to the book (a personal connection, a
universal truth, a lesson for the world, current event, maybe a return to your grabber, etc). Your real world
connection should answer the questions: So what? Why does your argument matter?
What to bring to class on 2nd block:
1. An outline that contains ONLY your thesis and 2-3 quotations and/or specific example, of course you should
decide on a grabber and real world connection ahead of time, but you may not bring those with you.
2. Your copy of The Bean Trees—You can use your book during the essay test
3. Your own notebook paper
Body Paragraph Format:
Topic sentence
Provide context
Tag/introduce quote or specific example
Explanation and analysis
Transition sentence—your topic sentence could also include a transition
Final Discussion Questions
1. Why is Taylor troubled by Esperanza’s actions and emotions in Mr. Armistead’s office? How does Estevan
respond? Who’s right?
2. Taylor says, “All four of us had buried someone we loved in Oklahoma” (220 or 233). Who buried whom?
What’s the significance? How does it relate to Taylor’s first loss of a loved one?
3. What does Alice mean when she says, “I don’t think blood’s the only way kids come by things honest…It’s
what you tell them, Taylor” (223 or 236). What does she mean? How does this relate to Taylor, Turtle, and
Newt?
4. Why does Taylor finally call 1-800-THE-LORD? What does it reveal about her growth as an adult and
mother?
5. What are rhizobia? How do they relate to the characters in the novel?
6. What does Taylor finally express to Lou Ann that we’ve (the readers) recognized for a long time? What helps
her to realize this?
7. Taylor is talking to her mom and repeats something her mother used to say to her as a child without even
realizing it at first. What does this reveal about her character?