AP Literature and Composition Ms.

Harrington Major Works Data Sheet Title: The Posionwood Bible Author: Barbara Kingsolver Date of Publication: 1998 Genre: Historical Fiction Biographical Information about the author:
Although Kingsolver was raised in Kentucky, she spent some of her life in the Republic of Congo, which is seen in some of her literary works. Kingsolver has a degree in biology from DePauw University and the University of Arizona. Before publishing novels, Barbara Kingsolver spent her time as a freelance writer. Kingsolver has won awards for her works which includes the Bellwether Prize, Orange Prize for Fiction, and more.

Historical information about the period of publication: (1998 wasn't a very eventful time period)

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The 1960's was a time of radical change for people all over the world. In America, there was the civil rights movement that caused many individuals grief, but there were also freedom riots going on in different countries. For example: The Belgium Congo. The citizens of the republic were fighting for their freedom from Belgium. This led to the assasination of their first Prime Minster, and eventually a cold war between the US and soviet.
Plot Summary:

Characteristics of the genre:

Although the genre is fiction, there are many historical and biblical allusions in the novel. Since the novel is primarily a missionary family, it's blatant that there would be biblical allusions. Being historical fiction, there are many themes that are present that have been apart of history forever; the main one being racism.

The Poisonwood Bible is a story of a missionary family that is unwillinly taken to the Congo by the vehement Nathan Price, father and husband. The story is told in five voices; the four Price daughters and their mother, Orleanna Price. Leah, Adah, Ruth May, and Rachel's stories are all told in the present, while Orleanna's stories are telling about her experiences in the Congo. By separating the novel into five different points-of-view, it allows the reader to understand their venture in a more broadened spectrum, while also allowing us to understand each of the girl's personalities and we see how their opinions change over time. There are many unfavorable events that occur when the family is in the Congo. Nathan Price's "demonstration garden" is meant to provide food for his family and also teach the natives agricultural methods to prevent malnutrition. After begging her husband to return their family to the states once again, and being forbade to leave, Orleanna confines herself in bed and doesn't leave for weeks. It's apparent that the "mental health break" did well for her, for when she awoke from her stupor she was more headstrong and was not afraid to give her husband her two cents. Their experience in the Congo is one of both positive and negative for the family. Negative being, Nathan Price was enemy number one, so to speak, in their eyes as the trip came to a close; also the untimely death of Ruth May. Positive being that they all seemed to grow from the experience, although Rachel was still seemingly self-centered.
An example that demonstrates this style:

Describe the authors style:

As previously mentioned, Barbara Kingsolver and her family spent a year Kingsolver uses parallels from her life in her novels. The Posionwood Bible tells a tale about a making due by eating locally grown and produced foods. All the events encountered during this period was logged and then made into a narrative. missionary family that ventures to the Congo. She's also written a nonfiction piece called

AP Literature and Composition Ms. Harrington

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle that centered around The Posionwood Bible holds instances from Kingsolver's life as well; the novel an experiment to live off locally produced foods. centers around a family that goes to the Congo, and Kingsolver's family also Her works usually capture sociology and existe- once lived in the Congo. ntialism and the conflicts she creates usually involve social equality.

Memorable Quotations: Quotation:

Significance:

"Some of us know how we came by our fortune and some of us do not, but we wear it all the same. There is only one question worth asking now: how do we aim to live with it?" - Orleanna Price

This quote is found in the very first section, "Orleanna Price." The impending question is a prerequisite for her daughters to answer in their stories. This quote is foreshadowing the tales of Nathan and Orelanna's four daughters on their mission to the Congo and what they achieve and the consequences.

"Orleanna Price; Southern Baptist by marriage, mother of children living and dead." - Orleanna Price

"In Congo, it seems the land owns its people." - Leah Price

Characters: Name:
Leah Leah Price

(Twin of Adah) Middle Child

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Role in the Story: Before the trip, she was a follower of her father's beliefs and his God. She went along with his ideals.

Significance: Adjectives: During the trip, she changed and intelligent, intuitive, lost her religious beliefs and dis- a twin with peculiar traits. agreed with her father's views.But she does not lose her idealism.

AP Literature and Composition Ms. Harrington

Ruth May Price Youngest Child

Representation the wisdom children Given Ruth May's age and death Representation of the the sheer ignorhave. Children have a peculiar in- is in correlation to the themes in ance and wisdom of childhood.and Childnocent way of viewing things. She defren are known to have a peculiar and the book: salvation and redempies the views father. innocent way of to her view things. She defies tion, forgiveness, i.e. The embodiment of a stereotypical A display of narcissism. teenage girl. She is the shallow one of the girls and has a two dimensional view of things. The quiet, more reserved of the twins. Has a condition that prevents her from using one side of her body. Is more of an observer than participator. Doesn't show a change before, during, or after her experience in the Congo. Her experience in the Congo changed her from an observer to a participator and everntually becomes a respected scientist.

innocent, observant,

Rachel Price Eldest Child

"Dumb blonde," arrogant, big-headed.

Adah Price (Twin of Leah) Middle Child Orleanna Price

intelligent, creative, and also intuitive. seen as the "outcast" of the family.

An icon of a woman that had be- Caring, obedient, A great representation of the roles en beaten down by her husband's weak-to-bold. of women in the 60's. Mother's usually have wisdom and Orleanna does. insincerity and became motivated to change her role as his wife. A Southern Baptist man who is determined to bring salvation upon the people of the Congo and moves his family to Africa, for his own selfish needs. The village schoolteacher. His is english speaking and does the translating for Nathan Price's sermons. Falls in love with Leah and they get married and advocate for people's rights in Congo. A student of Anatole's. Is meant to be the target of Tata Ndu's scheme, but instead the plan backfires and Ruth May is the unfortunate one. A pilot who is also a CIA operative. Is half of the fake engagement to Rachel Price to save her from marrying Chief Ndu. He saves Rachel from the Congo by flying her to South Africa. The two village chiefs who are outraged by Minister Price's goals in the Congo. They fear the people will lose their traditions to the preacher's sermons. Both scheme to end this.
Significance:

Nathan Price

Nathan Price's determination to overzealous, selfish, prove to God that is his dedicated arrogant, proud. is both selfish and foolish. Instead he neglects his family. He inspires Leah to become an advocate for the people. Together they work on restoring the lives of the people of the Congo. Nelson is the one meant to be killed by the snake. He, however, manages to escape the fate and unfortunately, Ruth May doesn't. Proves to be the semi-equivalent to Rachel. They're both shallow and care much too much about themselves and their personal gain. He has a weird sense of chivalry as well. Both of these men warn the Price family to leave for their presence is not welcome. Unlike Tata Ndu, Tata Kuvundu plants poisonous snakes as traps. intelligent, idealistic.

Anatole

Nelson

intelligent, eager, kind-hearted.

pretentious, obtuse, selfish.

Axelroot

Tata Ndu/ Tata Kuvundu

traditional, loyal, vile, religious.

Setting:

Where the family is going on their Mis- Georgia (Johannesburg, Sanderling Island, Atlanta): sionary trip. The province is controlled by Belgium. The people are oppressed and want independence from the couFrench Congo: ntry. South Africa: Rachel's ending is in South Africa, where her passed husband left her a luxury hotel. Kilanga Province:
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Georgia is where the Price family originated. Sanderling Island is also the setting of where Orlenna Price is recounting her experiences in the Congo.

AP Literature and Composition Ms. Harrington Symbols: Significance of the ending/closing scene

Symbols, (con't) Methuselah: A parrot that is dep- Poisonwood Tree: endent upon the Price sisters even when granted freedom. When the Congo gains independence from Belgium, the parrot is killed by a civet cat. Green Mamba snake: The irony of the green mamba snake happens to be relevant to the story of Adam & Eve. The serpent was the one who ruined Adam & Eve's relationship with God. The green mamba snake was the union of God and Ruth May. The book was even titled "Bel and the Serpent," which is a euphemism for the devil.

Possible themes topics of discussion:

Salvation

Liberation

Transformation