Lab Girl
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prologue Part 1: Roots and Leaves Part 2: Wood and Knots Part 3: Flowers and Fruit Epilogue
Themes
All Themes Life Cycles Women and Science Family and Friendship Demystification of Science Mental Illness and Treatment Science vs. Literature
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Hope Jahren Bill Clint Jahren’s Father Jahren’s Mother Jahren’s Son Jahren’s Brothers Walter, the Department Chair Teri Ed
Symbols
All Symbols Minnesota Labs
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
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Lab Girl

by

Hope Jahren

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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Prologue
  • Part 1: Roots and Leaves
  • Part 2: Wood and Knots
  • Part 3: Flowers and Fruit
  • Epilogue
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Life Cycles Theme Icon
    Life Cycles
  • Women and Science Theme Icon
    Women and Science
  • Family and Friendship Theme Icon
    Family and Friendship
  • Demystification of Science Theme Icon
    Demystification of Science
  • Mental Illness and Treatment Theme Icon
    Mental Illness and Treatment
  • Science vs. Literature Theme Icon
    Science vs. Literature
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Hope Jahren
  • Bill
  • Clint
  • Jahren’s Father
  • Jahren’s Mother
  • Jahren’s Son
  • Jahren’s Brothers
  • Walter, the Department Chair
  • Teri
  • Ed
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Minnesota Symbol Icon
    Minnesota
  • Labs Symbol Icon
    Labs
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)
Previous
Ed

Lab Girl Symbols

Next
Minnesota

Minnesota

In Lab Girl, the Minnesota of Hope Jahren’s childhood represented silence, emotional distance, and a sense of coldness from outside and within. While she does not question her parents’ love for her, she…

read analysis of Minnesota

Minnesota Symbol Icon

Labs

For Hope Jahren, the laboratory is a space of safety, comfort, and a symbol of home in its most spiritual sense. Her most beloved memories from her childhood—which was otherwise dominated by a sense…

read analysis of Labs

Labs Symbol Icon
Previous
Ed
Previous
Ed
Next
Minnesota
Next
Minnesota

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