Parable of the Sower

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Lauren’s hyperempathy syndrome forces her to feel others’ pain. Have you ever experienced moments of profound empathy that influenced your actions or beliefs?

2. Throughout the novel, Lauren must decide whom to trust and bring into her community. How do you approach trust in your own relationships? Have there been times when you’ve had to make difficult decisions about trusting others in challenging circumstances?

3. Earthseed’s central tenet is “God is Change” (13). How do you personally relate to this philosophy? Has there been a time in your life when embracing change rather than resisting it proved helpful?

4. In the face of societal collapse, Lauren manages to maintain hope and purpose. What provides you with hope or purpose during difficult times in your own life?

5. Several characters in the novel, like Harry, initially resist facing the harsh reality of their situation, while others, like Keith, take reckless risks. Have you or someone you know had to weigh up denial or reckless action when confronting difficult truths?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Butler portrays a future in which public institutions have broken down and basic services like police protection, healthcare, and education become privatized luxuries for the wealthy. What parallels, if any, do you see between this aspect of the novel and trends in contemporary society?

2. How does Butler address issues of race, gender, and class in Parable of the Sower? How do these social constructs continue or break down in the dystopian world she creates?

3. The novel explores different responses to crisis: the walled community of Robledo, the corporate town of Olivar, Keith’s violent opportunism, and Lauren’s community-building approach. What do these different responses suggest about human nature and societal values in times of collapse?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Each chapter begins with a verse from Lauren’s in-progress manuscript: Earthseed: The Books of the Living. What is the function of these verses? What effect did they have on your understanding of the story and its themes?

2. Butler uses several motifs in the novel, including fire, walls, acorns, and feral dogs. Choose one of these motifs and discuss how it develops throughout the story.

3. Examine the relationship between Lauren and Bankole. What draws them together despite their age difference? How does their relationship reflect or challenge the novel’s themes about survival, community, and hope?

4. The novel incorporates the common literary device of a journey or quest narrative. How does Lauren’s physical journey north parallel her internal journey as a character? What significant moments, such as her first kill or gathering of followers, mark her development?

5. Butler constructs the novel through Lauren’s journal entries. How does this first-person perspective shape your understanding of events and characters? What insights or limitations does it create?

6. Butler followed Parable of the Sower with a sequel, Parable of the Talents. Based on the conclusion of this novel and the community established at Acorn, what challenges and developments do you anticipate might occur in the sequel? What themes do you think Butler will continue to explore?