How to Discuss The Poisonwood Bible
Barbara Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible – A Book Group Guide for Teens
Jul 10, 2009
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (Haprer Collins, 1999, ISBN 0060175400) is a "crossover" novel: one that may have been originally intended for an adult audience but its irresistible characters and compelling story line appeal to teens and young adults as well. Because of its many themes and perspectives, The Poisonwood Bible offers seemingly endless possibilities for book group discussion.
Story Overview
When the Price family arrives in the Congo to begin their missionary ministry, they come prepared. Fourteen-year-old Leah comes prepared to see God's Kingdom in it's pure, unenlightened glory; her twin, Adah, comes prepared to give the Congo the silent treatment, and fifteen-year-old Rachel comes prepared to revolt against "this dread dark shore." All the daughters are prepared except five-year-old Ruth May: she just faints.
Husband, father, and tyrant Nathan Price comes prepared to enlighten the natives by beating the Bible into them at any cost. His wife Orleanna comes prepared to protect herself and her children against the wild congo and the even wilder passion of the Reverend Nathan Price.
A Popular Book Group Pick
The Poisonwood Bible offers many opportunities for book group discussion, partly because the book covers so many themes and partly because each character and their individual story is a "book" in itself; offering almost endless opportunities for discussion.
Themes to Discuss
Though the book is daunting in size, it can easily be tackled in a book group meeting by breaking it down into the themes and discussing one theme at each meeting, or by combining several themes for discussion.
Reading groups may choose to explore one or several of the themes in The Poisonwood Bible. These themes include:
Family Relationships
Religion
Justice
Nature
Betrayal
Cultural Differences
Freedom
Captivity
Discuss how Kingsolver presents opposing themes together, like "Family Relationships" with "Betrayal," or "Freedom" with "Captivity."
What are the causes and consequences that go along with each of these themes?
Discussion Questions
- Why is the story told only by the female point of view? Why do all the characters "speak" except Nathan Price?
- How do the "voices" (and therefore perspectives and stories) of the sisters differ? Do they all tell the same story? Why or why not?
- Why do the sisters repeatedly refer to "balance"? What kinds of balance (or imbalance) keep showing up throughout the story?
- What does the story tell about the religious and social differences between America and Africa? Do you agree with the way Kingsolver reveals these differences?
- Think about Nathan Price's relationship with his family, Tata Ndu's relationship with his people, and the Belgian and American authorities' relationship with the Congo. What similarities are there? What differences? Why?
- What is the significance of the Kikongo word "nommo"? Do you think the Price daughters' Congo names or their Christian names better reflect who they really are?
- What is the significance of the scene in which Nathan Price tries to grow a garden? What does this scene reveal about him, his daughter, and his Congo neighbors?
- What do you think of the ending of the story? Was it satisfying? Why or why not?
For Further Reading
The Poisonwood Bible is set in the Congo in the late 1950's and early 1960's. The story is completely dependent upon its setting, and knowing more about the Congo makes for a richer reading experience and even more opportunity for discussion. For more information about this political hotbed of a setting, check out this page on InfoPlease.
 |
