Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution

Sherri Winston mentions several real-world Civil Rights activists, events, literature, music, and art. Choose two of these allusions and provide background on it, then explain how it serves to develop a theme or character within the text.

Identify one internal and one external conflict that Lotus faces in the text. Identify both sides of the conflict, whether or not it is resolved, and how this resolution (or lack thereof) impacts Lotus’s character development.

A Bildungsroman is a novel that depicts the coming of age and psychological and moral growth of the main character. In what way(s) does Lotus’s journey in the text fit this convention? Which of her values conflict with society? How does she resolve that conflict?

Analyze and discuss Adolpho’s character development throughout the course of the text. Why is it important that Lotus forgives him at the novel’s end? What theme is conveyed by this act of forgiveness?

What role does figurative language—specifically the use of similes and metaphors—play in the text? Identify at least four pieces of figurative language, then discuss how it develops Lotus’s character, a conflict she faces, and/or a specific theme in the text.

At the beginning of the text, Lotus thinks about Rebel, “I don’t understand why she always has to make everything a ‘Black’ thing” (41). Do you think Lotus at the end of the text would still agree with this thought? Why or why not?

Do you believe that Mrs. Cortez’s actions are primarily racially motivated? Why or why not? What else is she motivated by? Point to specific words and actions by Mrs. Cortez in the text to support your assertion.

Sexuality is explored through two characters in the novel—Dion and Fabiola. What connection is shown in the novel between racial prejudice and anti-gay bias? How does this connection deepen the reader’s understanding of prejudice? How does it impact Lotus’s growth and development?