The Invention of Wings Discussion Questions

"To remain silent in the face of evil is itself a form of evil."

(Israel Morris p 194)

Sarah realizes her father is a man who values principal over love.
"We Grimke's do not subvert the institutions and laws by which we live, even if we don't agree with them." (Sarah's Father p 68)
 

“My body might be a slave, but not my mind.  For you, it’s the other way around.”  (Handful p 201)

"Do you think I don't abhor slavery?  Do you think I don't know it was greed that kept me from following my conscience?"  (Sarah's Father p 317)

 

 

The Invention of Wings Discussion Questions

History:

The story of The Invention of Wings is based on the real life story of Sarah and Angelina Grimke, two sisters who were raised in a slave-owning family on a plantation in South Carolina.  Both sisters witnessed the cruelty of slavery and came to despise it at an early age. 

 

1             Were you aware of the role that Sarah and Angelina Grimke played in abolition and women’s rights? Have women’s achievements in history been lost or overlooked? What do you think it takes to be a reformer today?

2.            Did you learn anything about slavery or abolition from reading this novel that you didn't know about it before?  Were you surprised to hear about any of the punishments that were common for slaves, such as the Work House or the one legged punishment?

Objects:

The story includes a number of physical objects that have a special significance for the characters:  Sarah’s fleur de lis button, Charlotte’s story quilt, and the spirit tree.  

3.            Did Sarah's copper bathtub or Handful bathing in it hold any special symbolism?

4.            Charlotte's story quilt is her greatest treasure. Why do you think that is? How does the ability to tell one's own story shape one's identity?

5.            How does the spirit tree function in Handful’s life? What do you think of the rituals and meanings surrounding it?

Relationships

This is also a novel about family relationships and history, particularly as seen through the women in the story.

6.            How is Handful's relationship with her mother similar to Sarah's relationship with her mother? How are they different? In what ways did these other women define who Sarah and Handful became?

 

7.            Kidd portrays an array of male characters in the novel: Sarah’s father; Sarah’s brother Thomas; Theodore Weld; Denmark Vesey; Goodis Grimke, Israel Morris, Burke Williams. Which of these male characters did you find most compelling? What positive and negative roles did they play in Sarah and Handful’s evolvement?

8.            How would you describe Sarah and Angelina’s unusual bond? Do you really believe that Sarah influenced Angelina or might she have shared her same opinions regardless? Do you think either one of them could have accomplished what they did on their own? 

9.            Were you surprised by Charlotte's boldness? What qualities of Charlotte's did you most admire? What words could be used to describe her personality? Do you think some of her choices were stupid? What would you have done in her situation? 

10.          What were the qualities in Handful that you most admired?  How did Handful continue her relentless pursuit of self and freedom in the face of such a brutal system?

11.          Sarah's family's story relies on slavery. Can you relate to her need to break away from the life she had in order to create a new and unknown life in order to live with her personal convictions?  What sort of risk and courage does this call for? 

12.          Were you surprised when Sarah turned down Israel's proposal? Did she make the right decision in doing so? Why or why not? Did Sarah make a sacrifice for her cause or was it not at sacrifice at all? 

13.          Were you surprised by the reactions in the North to the Grimke sisters' speaking tour? Were you aware of how strongly women were limited?

 Ending:

14.          Was Sarah's mother's compromise in the end a good choice or a bad choice? Why do you think she wouldn't completely give in to Sarah's requests?

 

15.          How did you interpret the ending? Was it a happy ending?

 

The Grimke sisters left their family and moved North where they became very active in the abolitionist movement.  Angelina Grimke was the first women to speak in front of a legislative body when she addressed the Massachusetts legislature. As mentioned in the book, she also wrote An Appeal To Christian Women In The South urging Southern white women to embrace the anti-slavery movement and it can be read online Here.