Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Chapter 15: Where Fish Wear Crowns
In Chapter Fifteen, "Where Fish Wear Crowns" from the novel Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (2007) Kingsolver articulates how essential food is to the lives of people from other cultures and explains how those people have the tendency to stray away from the fast and processed foods that have become the center of American life. Kingsolver opens the article by illustrating how difficult it is to remove herself from her garden, whether physically or emotionally, for some of the most significant events of her life. She then describes the extremely rare occasion of finding a restaurant in Italy that doesn't focus on the food, making good food something that is easy to find and not something that has to be searched for, a drastic difference from the food industry of the United States. Kingsolver uses the rest of the article to detail the foods and dishes that she and her husband experienced while on their vacation, continuing to compliment the Italian respect for food. Kingsolver continues upon her theme that homemade food and cooking in her opinion is better than that of processed food by tying in the traditions of Italian culture. The chapter was once again aimed at parents, adults, and food experts.
Vocabulary
scrupulously- acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper
ludicrous- amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity
succinctly- marked by precise expression without a waste of words
purported- having the appearance of being, intending, or claiming
gastronomic- the science or art of good eating
colander- a perforated utensil for washing or draining food
Tone
Admiration, Pride
Rhetorical Strategies
Personification- "It's a culture that sweeps you in, sits you down in the kitchen, and feeds you so well you really don't want to leave" (243).
Telegraphic(syntax)- "His face fell"(242). "Too square, I guess"(245).
Rhetorical Questions- "Would this trip be everything we'd waited for?" (243)
Colloquialism- "...named Margherita, Capricciosa, or Quattro Stagioni" (244).
Metaphor- "With all this under the belt, the diner comes into the home stretch with the salad..." (246).
Discussion Questions
1. How does Kingsolver initially adapt to the Italian food culture?
2. By using her sarcasm and anecdotes, how does that change the effect of the novel on the reader?
3. How does the importance of homemade food translate among different cultures?
"An Italian meal is like a play with many acts, except if you don't watch it you'll be stuffed to the gills before intermission" (246).
