Point of View

The Bees is written in third-person exclusively from the point of view of Flora 717, the main bee character. Many of the bee characters are grouped collectively, which echoes one of the novel's strongest themes; however, for the narrative's purpose, Flora tells her story because she is an exceptional member of her kin, with abilities that count her as gifted.

Language and Meaning

The most noticeable aspect of the author's use of language is how sexual it is. One may not think of bees as sexual creatures, but Laline Paull's spin on the bees are worth a second look. Particularly in describing how a bee obtains pollen and transfers it into the hive, she paints the process as a sexual act between flower and bee.

In addition, the story is written like an ancient story; the bees have their own practices, their own language, and even...