The Bean Trees - Mapping Taylor's Route Final Exam
1) To help you visualize Taylor Greer's physical journey, throughout the story, locate where each of the following is and label it clearly and neatly on a map that you design. Each state that you label should then be colored with a different color. For a map of the United States and each state that Taylor travels, look at this or any other suitable website:
The states and cities you will need to locate for Taylor’s journey are:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Kentucky
Illinois
Wichita, Kansas
St. Louis, Missouri
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Tucson, Arizona
Texas
New Mexico
a. The first major journey ends on page 36 of your novel. As you follow this journey, trace the route on your map. Indicate this trip with a specific colored line which is to be placed in you map’s legend.
b. A second journey for our protagonist begins on page 190. Trace the second trip on your map, this time with another colored line. This is also to be placed in your legend.
c. Several key events occur in different places. On your maps, indicate where each of the following happens by having a separate and distinct symbol for each:
Taylor is born.
Taylor is given Turtle.
Taylor adopts Turtle.
Immigration stops Taylor, Turtle, Estevan, and Esperanza.
Estevan and Esperanza say a final good-bye to Taylor.
2) In reading this novel, you are sure to notice a number of topics introduced along the way, including, but not limited to, the following:
-vegetables
-cereus blooms one night of the year
-sanctuary/safe haven
-pride
-miracles
-abuse
-innocence
-handicaps
-grief/loss
-depression
-adoption
-courage
-catharsis
-abandonment
-Jesus/religion
-other motifs you notice
a. As you read, make notes of your thoughts as you notice the topics introduced and then recur. You'll likely jump around a lot in your note-taking, because some motifs are recurring. At the end of the novel, choose 2 of the ideas and write 2 well-developed paragraphs defining the theme that each of them gives to the reader. In other words, what statement is the author making about adoption, abuse, etc? Or is the recurring motif symbolic? If so, explain the symbolism involved.
Map is worth 100 pts
Paragraphs are 50 pts each and must be typed, double-spaced, size 12 font, Times New Roman