Précis:
In the novel, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (2007), written by Barbara Kingsolver, the author argues that all of the present people and future generations must learn the importance of how food is grow, and how it’s produced agriculturally. Kingsolver argues that it’s important for future generations to know all the instinct knowledge of what to grow when, and other key information that our ancestors once knew. She shows this through the writings of other members in her family. She also gives anecdotes from her past, when she lived in Virginia. She argues that our current generation has lost the value in learning, or knowing these things. She also gives factual information about our current consumption habits. She makes a point that our average meal travels 1,500 miles. In conclusion, Kingsolver is ultimately trying to show to readers a way back into the traditional way of life. She’s trying to show how much we’ve changed agriculturally.
Vocab:
Nostalgic (adj.)- a sentimental or wistful yearning for the happiness felt in a former place, time, or situation.
Denizens (n.)- an inhabitant; resident.
Deciduous (adj.)- shedding the leaves annually, as certain trees and shrubs.
Purview (n.)- the range of operation, authority, control, concern, etc.
Idyllic (adj.)- a poem or prose composition, usually describing pastoral scenes or events or any charmingly simple episode, appealing incident, or the like.
Module (n.)- a separable component, frequently one that is interchangeable with others, for assembly into units of differing size, complexity, or function.
Stucco (n.)- an exterior finish for masonry or frame walls, usually composed of cement, sand, and hydrated lime mixed with water and laid on wet.
Drudge (n.)- a person who does menial, distasteful, dull, or hard work.
Palatable (adj.)- acceptable or agreeable to the palate or taste; savory: palatable food.
Congenitally (adj.)- of or pertaining to a condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment, especially the uterine environment.
Frugal (adj.)- economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful.
Tone: informative, personal, and passionate.
Rhetorical Strategies:
Similes: “maintained marital happiness by migrating like birds: for the school year we lived in Tucson, but ever summer headed back to our rich foraging grounds, the farm.” (pg.2)
Personification: “Tuscany opened my eyes to the world and given me a writing career, legions of friends, and a taste for the sensory extravagance of red hot chiles and five-alarm sunset.” (pg.3)
Dialogue: "'Dang' she said, 'it's going to rain.' 'I hope so,' Steven said." (pg. 7)
Rhetorical Questions: “If that is true, why isn’t it good enough for someone else to know multiplication and the contents of the Bill of rights? Is the story of bread, from tilled ground to our table, less relevant to our lives than the history of the thirteen colonies? ... Isn’t ignorance of our food sources causing problems as diverse as overdependence on petroleum, and an epidemic of diet-related diseases?” (pg.9)
Anecdote: “I used to take my children’s friends out to the garden to warm them up to the idea of eating vegetables, but this strategy sometimes backfired: they’d back away slowly saying ‘Oh man, those things have touched dirt!’”(pg.10)
Discussion Questions:
Do Kingsolver and her family live on the farm, or she lives there just for the summer?
Why does Kingsolver use the works of her family members?
How did the author come up with this realization that it’s important to know this traditional agricultural information?
Memorable Quote:
“Who is us, exactly?” (pg.8)
