The Murmur of Bees

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness or death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Throughout The Murmur of Bees, Segovia’s storytelling approach blends historical events with magical realism. Which aspect did you find most effective in drawing you into the world of early 20th-century Mexico? Did the magical elements enhance or detract from the historical backdrop?

2. How does Simonopio’s connection with bees compare to the children’s special abilities in novels like Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind, Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, or other works you’ve read that feature mystical abilities in children?

3. The novel explores multiple perspectives across different time periods. Which character’s viewpoint did you find most compelling, and did your allegiance shift as the story progressed?

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

1. Simonopio’s bees give him the ability to sense past, present, and future events. Can you recall a time when your intuition or “sixth sense” guided you through a difficult situation? How did this experience shape your understanding of Simonopio’s abilities?

2. The relationship between Simonopio and Francisco Junior transcends blood ties to form a profound brotherly bond. In what ways have you experienced relationships that defy conventional definitions but are nonetheless deeply meaningful?

3. Beatriz transforms from a traditional matriarch into a woman who makes difficult decisions for her family after tragedy strikes. Have you witnessed similar transformations in people when they are faced with unexpected challenges?

4. Francisco Senior plants orange trees as a way to protect his land and legacy. What have you or your family members done to preserve something important for future generations?

5. Throughout the story, characters make assumptions that lead to tragic consequences. Can you share an experience where a misconception significantly impacted your relationship with someone else? How did you address it?

6. The novel portrays how quickly society changes during a crisis, as during the Spanish flu pandemic. What parallels do you see between the community’s response to the pandemic in the book and our modern experiences with public health crises?

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

1. The Mexican Revolution is a backdrop to the narrative, creating uncertainty and fear among landowners like Francisco. What does the novel reveal about how political upheaval affects different social classes differently? How do these dynamics compare to modern social movements?

2. Class distinctions between landowners and workers form a central tension in the novel. In what ways are Anselmo’s grievances justified, despite his actions being morally wrong? Why might readers feel conflicted about his character?

3. The novel portrays the traditional roles of Mexican women during the early 20th century, particularly through Beatriz’s character. How do these historical gender expectations continue to influence Latin American or other cultures today?

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

1. Segovia uses varying chapter lengths and shifts between first-person and third-person narration throughout the novel. What effect does this narrative structure have on building tension and revealing character motivations, particularly leading up to Francisco Senior’s death?

2. The bees in the novel are both literal creatures and symbolic entities. What do they represent beyond their surface role? How did their presence shape the story’s presentation of fertility, knowledge, and protection?

3. Animals play significant symbolic roles in the narrative. What makes the lion versus coyote metaphor particularly effective in representing the conflict between Simonopio and Anselmo? How do these symbols deepen our understanding of their relationship?

4. The novel contains several significant broken promises. Which one carries the most narrative weight and why?

5. In what ways does Segovia’s use of magical realism differ from other Latin American authors you’ve read? What elements of this literary technique are particularly well-executed in The Murmur of Bees?

6. Despite being central to the narrative and communicating with the bees, Simonopio rarely speaks directly to most of the other characters. How does his communication barrier function as both a plot device and a metaphorical element in the story? What might Segovia be suggesting about different forms of understanding and communication?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to write an additional chapter about Simonopio’s life after the Morales family moved to Monterrey, what would it contain? Consider how he might have lived with the bees and interacted with the changing world around him.

2. The novel ends with Francisco Junior following the bees to find Simonopio. Imagine this reunion from Simonopio’s perspective. What would he say to Francisco after all those years? How would he explain his decision to stay behind?

3. The Murmur of Bees contains rich sensory descriptions throughout. If you were to create a playlist of songs that capture the novel’s mood and themes, what would you include and why? Which song would represent Simonopio’s connection with the bees?

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