Literature Circle Lexicographer

Revelation page’s 86-186 (Lexicographer)

Kikongan Lexicon

A-ana: child
Akala: man
Bangala: the poisonwood tree
Beelezi: Belgians
Beto nki tutasala: What are we doing?
Bidila dipapfumu (137): cemetery for witch doctors
Dimba (117): listen
Dundu: Type of antelope
Frangipani: something that grows
Fufu: gluey paste from a stupendous tuber, used to make manioc
Fufu nsala: forest dwelling, red headed rat that runs from sunlight
Gree-gree (154): little bottle, kikongans believe their gods live in made out of sticks and shells
Jacaranda: something that grows
Kakakaka (145): Hurry up or disease that makes you go to the bathroom frequently
Katanga and Kasai (174): Mine locations
Lenzuka: people of the congregation
Mbote: hello and goodbye
Malala: oranges with red blood juice
Manene: path
Mangwansi: a bean
Manioc: derived from the word fufu, a food
Mankondo: bananas
Mawalala: rain far off in the distance
Mbote ve: no good
Mongo: mountain
Mvufu (156): Owl that is feared by Kikongans because it “eats” the souls of the dead people.
Nanasi: pineapple
Nanasi mputu: a papaya
Nganga (154): priest/ minister/ doctor/ poet
Ngonndo: red and black monkey
Nguba: peanut
Ngondi: kinds of weather
Nkazi ndolo: gentle weather
Nkento: woman
Nkoko: river
Nkundi: real friend
Nkyende: eel
Nuni ndolo: thunder
Nzolo (172): most dearly beloved, or thick yellow grub used for fish bait, or a tiny potato
Pagne: wraparound sheath used by women
Pili pili: red peppers used for spicing foods
Tata nzolo (172): father in heaven, they sang it in church
Zulu: sky

1) “No, sir, it was diamonds. I found that out and I can’t tell how. Even father doesn’t know we rode in a airplane with diamonds. Mr. Axelroot said if I told, why then God would make Mama get sick and die. So I can’t” (119). - Ruth May Price

This made me question the reliability of Mr. Axelroot because right now my impression of him is very sketchy. This man seems to be keeping a lot of untold secrets possibly dealing with the Congo’s important resources (diamonds). This passage also helps us become aware that Ruth May Price notices and points out many key details that are important that other characters don’t quite actually see.

2) “Up to me to make amens? I see no amens to make! The Belgians and American business brought civilization to the Congo! American aid will be the Congo’s salvation. You’ll see!” (121). – Nathan Price

In this chapter of the book we notice that Nathan’s enemies are beginning to confront Nathan and complain to him about their problems with his preaching. Nathan’s views are strongly supported by his opinions to stay in the Congo and make a difference there. Nathan’s determination to change the Congo for the better is sturdy and he doesn’t plan to leave now, after all of his success he’s had so far.

3) “And, Anatole, do you not now sit at my table, translating the words of Tata Ndu’s bible of false idolatry and his sermon aimed at me in particular” (130). – Nathan Price

Nathan is aware now of the threat that Anatole poses, but he refuses to back down because he knows that if he stays and perseveres in the Congo then he’ll bring satisfaction to God. He’s also questioning his trust in Anatole because Anatole translates everything that Nathan preaches in church, now Nathan suspects that if Anatole isn’t translating correctly then there will be a great problem for Nathan.

4) “Who were you showing off for here, with your tablecloth and your fancy plate?” He said the words in a sour way, as if they were well-known sins…”And your pitiful cooking, Orleanna? The way to a young Negro’s heart is through the stomach – is that what you were counting on?” (134). – Nathan Price

We get a better idea of Nathan’s personality because he treats his family members very low with no respect at all. Sometimes I forget that Nathan even is a priest because he doesn’t correctly value at all the work and effort that his family does, especially his wife, Orleanna. I’m pretty sure Nathan is just letting out all his anger he held toward Anatole because they were just fighting earlier and after Anatole left Nathan had to let off some steam. Does Nathan fail to realize everything his wife and daughters do to support Nathan’s mission here in the Congo? Personally it angers me that Nathan doesn’t show any appreciation to his family for supporting him.

5) “…my bird is called the paradise flycatcher. In the notebook I keep in my pillowcase, in which I draw pictures of all things I know, I put a smile on the face of the paradise flycatcher and printed underneath, in my backward code for secrecy: NEVAEH NI SEILF FO FOORP WEN .REHCTACYLF ESIDARAP” (137). – Adah Price

I didn’t quite understand what Adah was talking about when she mentioned the Paradise Flycatcher. Why did she have to be so secretive to put the phrase, “Paradise Flycatcher New Proof of Flies in Heaven,” in code? Could this possibly be another metaphor relating to the way she feels about life in the Congo? Maybe what Adah means when she says, “Paradise flycatcher new proof of flies in heaven,” is really her opinion about her fathers religious teachings. That God is metaphorically this flycatcher that saves us by sending us to this heaven for flies.

6) “Lord of the feathers, deliver me this day from the carnivores that could tear me breast from wishbone!” (138, 186). – Adah Price

When Adah says this poem she first announces it when she talks about Methuselah after he’d been thrown out of the Price household. Adah still holds Methuselah as one of the family members because she hopes the best for his safety. She follows him and comes to his aid when she finds that he can’t fend for himself in the wild because he’s still accustomed as a house pet. The second time that Adah says this poem is after she finds only the remainings of Methuselah. This poem acts as a prayer as well hoping for Methuselah’s best wishes in heaven.

7) “I do not think he would recognize these fruits wholly concealed in their own skins. After he learns to do that, it will be another whole step to make him see that fruit is not a thing he must rely on the hands of mankind for, but grows on trees. Treason grows but for kind man” (138). – Adah Price

I thought this passage had an alternative meaning. Initially I assumed that this was talking about Adah’s paradise flycatcher, but when looking at this passage a second time it seems that Adah’s talking about herself. This metaphor is talking about how people judge Adah by first impression and don’t understand who she really is on the inside. She relates herself to a fruit and that she mustn’t rely on people criticizing her, but instead grow further as an individual. What was odd to see was the last sentence, “Treason grows but for kind man.” When it mentions treason it contradicts itself saying a kind man would do something immoral.

8) “We were preacher’s daughters to begin with, and now we were really onions in the petunia patch, amongst all those ninth-grade girls with flirty eyes and foundation makeup and bosoms poking out the fronts of their mohair sweater sets” (149). – Leah Price

From this passage we get the outlook of Leah and her opinions about life in Georgia. She talks about physical appearances where impressions meant everything. The way that the Price daughters were raised they didn’t really matter too much about the value of how you appeal to others. Leah compares herself to the way all the other classmates look and sometimes I’m assuming that Leah doesn’t always want to be known as the preacher’s daughter. She compares herself and her sisters as onions in a petunia patch which means that she sticks out (not necessarily in a good way) to the other girls in school. This is a whole other side to Leah because my initial impression of her is that she’s dedicated just like her father to religion.

9) “It used to astonish us that everyone here has so many children: six or eight or nine. But now, suddenly, it seems no one has enough” (170). – Adah Price

This passage helps give more of a background of the reality of the conditions that the Congo people deal with. We understand that many of the Congo children are fascinated with the Price sisters, but what we don’t know is that these children are suffering from diseases that the Price sisters are immune to due to special medicines they have access to. While on the other hand the Congo children are suffering each day and that’s what they value from the Price sisters, not only their appearance, but all the resources they posses as well.

10) “Only this and nothing more, the tell-tale heart, tale of the carnivore. None of what he was taught in the house of the master. Only feathers, without the ball of Hope inside. Feathers at last at last and no words at all” (186). – Adah Price

The final poem Adah tells us deeply concerns the Price sister’s beloved parrot, Methuselah. This tells us the relationship that Adah especially had with him. She valued everything that Methuselah had to offer as their house pet. She was use to having him always talking and saying things that would anger her father, but she wasn’t accustomed to the silence that has now arrived. I wonder why Kingsolver decided to capitalize the word “Hope?” Adah feared the day would come when a carnivore of the Congo finally took advantage of Methuselah and made him its prey. Methuselah played an important role to the Price’s; he was the one who revealed what went on in their household. He helped teach the Price’s about themselves and each of their family members as well.