In a previous post, I mentioned that the dominant literary feature of The Bean Trees was imagery. Although the book is loaded with imagery, as I continued to read, I realized that a new element was introduced a little past halfway through the novel. The new literary feature I will be focusing on is motif.
Barbara Kingsolver uses many examples of recurring symbols in The Bean Trees. In many cases, plants are used to represent Turtle’s experiences throughout different stages of her life. Turtle is thrust into Taylor’s life on her journey from Kentucky to an unknown future. Two-year-old Turtle changes from a silent, isolated, and fearful child to one who is cheerful, open, and talkative. Although many different plants are used as symbols in the book, one of the most common ones is wisteria (also referred to by Turtle as "the bean trees"). The symbolic level of the life processes of plants advances the reader’s understanding of Turtle’s character.
~~Amy~~
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Motif is definitely a dominant literary element
ReplyDeleteLaura
Amy- I read The Bean Trees too! I chose imagery but I definitely noticed the recurring symbols when I got deeper into the book. I didn't give it much thought while reading the book, but your ideas about the plants relating to Turtle's life make a lot of sense. Good job!
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