The Pearl Study GuideMrs. Raichek

Anticipation Guide for The Pearl

1. Directions: Read each statement and write “agree” or “disagree” in the space provided.

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

__________________

1. If a person has wealth, he/she should use it to his/her advantage.

2. Money can provide happiness.

3. When you have what you need to survive, you are happy.

4. People in your community will respect and accept you if you have a lot of money.

5. People like to limit other people’s success.

6. There are unwritten rules that dictate how successful, powerful or popular one can become.

7. A person changes when he or she becomes rich.

8. All good things that happen come with a price.

9. People are never satisfied with what they have.

10. Ambition is a positive trait; you can never have too much.

11. If someone is smart, it is okay to use his/her cunning to profit at the expense of others.

12. Good luck can bring happiness.

13. One single choice can have a huge impact on the outcome of your life.

14. Money is power.

15. The law treats all people the same.

16. Greed is an unavoidable human condition.

Pick three statements that you STRONGLY feel are true. Put an * by these statements.

Pick three statements that you STRONGLY disagree with. Put a # by these statements.

Pick ONE statement that you agree with. In the space below, or on the back, explain WHY you agree with this statement, and support your answer with examples from real life and your own experiences.

The Pearl: Quick Writes

1. How would you change if you had LOTS of money? In what ways would your personality be different?

2. Would you ever take a risk to reach a goal? How great would the risk have to be for you to decide it wasn’t worth it? What kind of goal would be so important as to outweigh most risks?

3. Would you ever hurt members of your family in order to be accepted by your friends? How important is acceptance in our society? Look at this question in the context of your own life. Do you think the answer is different for adults who are on their own?

Pre-Reading Activity

You will answer the questions below to familiarize yourself with several topics and the author of The Pearl. Use the suggested web sites after each group of questions to answer them. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Staple your answers to THIS sheet.

I. The novel’s setting is La Paz, Mexico. Use all the tabs on the website:• Where is La Paz located? • Describe the city’s history (1500s – present day)• What is the geography of La Paz?  What are some of its natural resources?• What is the weather of La Paz? • What are the main ways to make a living in La Paz?

http://www.visitmexico.com/en/la-paz http://www.bajatravel.com/guidebook/lapaz/ 

 II. Familiarize yourself with the first villain of the story: 

• Give an overall description of scorpions including their body, where they live, etc. • Why does a scorpion sting? • What are the common effects of a scorpion sting? • What is the name of the scorpion found in Mexico? 

http://www.desertusa.com/oct96/du_scorpion.html  

III. Familiarize yourself with the author: • What subjects did Steinbeck’s writing explore? • When was The Pearl written? • What other books did Steinbeck write?• What honors did Steinbeck earn?

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/johnstei.htm http://www.gradesaver.com/author/john-steinbeck/

IV. Familiarize yourself with Pearls: • What are pearls? http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/pearls/what-are-pearls

• How does a pearl form? http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/pearls/what-are-pearls/how-pearls-form

• What color can pearls be? http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/pearls/what-are-pearls/color-and-overtone

 http://www.schenectady.k12.ny.us/users/title3/Future%20Grant%20Projects/Projects/pearl/pearl_by_john_steinbeck.htm

Essential Questions: Is “More” Ever Enough?

Content Questions:

A parable is a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson. Why did John Steinbeck choose the parable as the way to tell his story?

What are the major themes in the story? What choices does Steinbeck make regarding: point of view, plot

devices, symbolism in the novel? How, and how much, do the other characters influence Kino’s

decisions?

Possible Themes: Look for passages/quotes that deal with the following:

Money, Possessions, Greed: the quest for money and the desire for material wealth; steps people will take to get these things. Can money buy happiness? Is money necessary to be “successful” in life?

Social Oppression: how do the characters (doctor, priest, pearl buyers, trackers) take advantage of Kino and his people, discriminate against them and treat them disrespectfully?

Good vs. Evil: What is the difference between good and evil? Are there any “shades of gray”?

Kino’s Songs: what are the “songs” he hears; what is happening in the story when he hears them?

Key Literary Terms: Theme, parable, symbolism, point-of-view, setting, figurative

language

The Pearl – Background Information

Author: John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was born in Salinas, California the son of poor parents. Although he was educated at Stanford University and became a celebrated writer, he never forgot his origins. Growing up in working class towns, he became an excellent observer of human nature and later wrote about the people he lived around–– workers including Mexican-American and migrant workers. He discovered the harsh reality that these people were often treated poorly and without respect and had little means of defending themselves. As a result, many of the characters he wrote about were down and out, isolated and oppressed. They represent the “struggle” theme of his novels––principally the struggle between the poor and the wealthy, the weak and the strong, good and evil, and between cultures or civilizations. These themes are all evident in The Pearl.

Origins: In 1940, Steinbeck set out on a sailing expedition to study marine life in the Gulf of California, hoping to find universal patterns in marine species that would help him

understand life in general. During this trip, Steinbeck heard about the legend of a Mexican fisher boy who had found an enormous pearl that had brought him much misery. Steinbeck developed this legend into the novel The Pearl. As you read The Pearl, watch for details about the plant and animal life in the Gulf and the many metaphors (comparisons), images and themes Steinbeck useswhich are connected to these details.

Setting: The events of The Pearl take place sometime around the 1900 on an estuary (mouth of the river) somewhere on the coast of Mexico in the town of La Paz. On a map the long peninsula which descends from California is called BAJA CALIFORNIA. It is part of Mexico and is separated from the rest of Mexico by the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez.

Historical Background and Social Culture: At the time the story takes place, the Indians of Mexico had already been under the domination of people of Spanish descent for 300 years. The governing class was primarily made up of those of Spanish descent and the Roman Catholic Church who, together, kept the Mexican Indians at the bottom of the social hierarchy or social ladder. In most cases, the Indians were not allowed to attend school or own land. (Keeping people uneducated and dependent keeps them oppressed). Although Spanish culture and Catholic rituals were forced upon the Indians, they fiercely held onto many of their spiritual beliefs, cultures, and customs of their various tribes. WATCH FOR EVIDENCE OF THIS IN THE NOVEL!

Style: The Pearl is a short novel or novella which is told in the form of an allegory or PARABLE––a short, simple work with little dialogue illustrating a lesson or a larger truth often on the subject of good and evil. In a PARABLE, good and evil areclearly defined––everything is black and white, there are no shades of gray. For instance, the good characters have names, and the bad characters have no names. The characters and action symbolize certain universal ideas or concepts and the readers attach their own meaning to these symbols.

Point of View: The Pearl is told by an all-knowing OMNISCIENT third-person narrator who is observing the characters and their actions from outside the story.

Comment: The reader is told in the preface, “In the town they tell the story of the great pearl––how it was found and how it was lost again…If this story is a parable, perhaps everyone takes his own meaning from it and reads his own life into it.” Thus begins Steinbeck’s novel of good and evil, The Pearl. It is the timeless tale of the Mexican-Indian fisherman Kino, his wife Juana, and their infant son, Coyotito. It tells of how Kino finds the Pearl of the World and dreams of breaking out of the trap of poverty and ignorance that oppresses him and his family. The violence that followsshatters his dreams, but brings him a greater understanding of himself and the realities of the world in which he lives. The Pearl has a strong moral that people should be content with their lives, as demonstrated in the book when unfortunate events happen to Kino and his family after he discovers the pearl. This moral is presented through the character of the privileged town’s people, including: the pearl traders, who take advantage of Kino by offering him an unfair and low price for his pearl; and the doctor, whose racist attitude toward Kino’s people threatens their health and survival. Other Well-Known Novels By Steinbeck:Tortilla Flat (1935) Cannery Row (1945)The Red Pony (1937) East of Eden (1952)Of Mice and Men (1937) The Winter of Our Discontent (1961)The Grapes of Wrath (1939) Travels With Charley (1962)

From: A. Anderson’s Honors English Literature web page; Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield, MO http://www.pkwyk12.mo.us/homepage/aanderson/File/Honors_English_I/The PearlUnitLitGuieF11.pdfNancy Gort, Van Antwerp Middle School, Schenectady NY http://fc.niskyschools.org/~ngort/84)

CHARACTERS -- Describe each character in the space below or on the back.

Apolonia –

Coyotito –

The Doctor –

Juan Tomas –

Juana –

Kino –

The Pearl Buyer –

The Priest –

The Trackers –

Object Descriptions: Explain what each object is and its symbolism in the story.

Scorpion –

Song of Family –

Song of Evil –

Song of the Pearl that Might Be –

The Pearl of the World –

Kino’s Canoe --

Quotes -- As you read, select significant quotes from the chapters. These quotes should connect to the themes of the novel. Think about what the quote means and why the quote is important. Cite your quote using the MLA format of author last name and page number – Example: (Steinbeck 32). Also include your explanation as to why it is important. You should collect 6 significant quotes (1 per chapter) by the end of the book. Write your quotes in the chart provided.

Chapte

rQuote What does the

Quote Mean?Why is this important?

Quote sets the stage for Quote gives the reader

1 Example: “And, as with all retold tales that are in people’s hearts, there are only good and bad things and black and white things and good and evil things and no in-between. If this story is a parable, perhaps everyone takes his own meant from it and reads his own life into it” (Steinbeck 1).

the novel and explains the author’s view of the story as a parable, with a moral – only black and white and good and evil things.

an idea of the story and what might happen. Suggests that there is both good and evil in the story.

1

2

Chap. Quote Meaning? Importance?

3

4

5

6

Vocabulary Word Page #

Part of Speech

Definition

Chapter 11. Covey 1

2. Dank 2

3. Blustered 2

4. Plaintively 5

5. Avarice 9

6. Indigent 9

7. Suppliant 12

Chapter 28. Estuary 13

9. Bulwark 14

10.Poultice 15

11.Hummock 18

12.Incandescence 19

13.Adhered 19

Chapter 314.Judicious 22

15.Almsgiver 22

16.Semblance 23

17.Patron 23

18.Distillate 23

19.Disparagement 25

20.Transfigured 26

21.Prophecy 26

22.Benediction 27

23.Threshed 28

24.Curtly 30

25.Furtive 37

26.Crooning 38

Chapter 427.Tithe 42

28.Graft 43

29.Ramparts 46

30.Stalwart 47

31.Spurned 49

32.Collusion 50

33.Coagulating 50

34.Brooding 53

Chapter 535.Skirled 62

36.Edifice 63

37.Lament 64

38.Leprosy 65

Chapter 639.Covert 70

40.Resinous 70

41.Guttural 72

42.Sentinel 72

43.Goading 75

44.Petulant 80

45.Intercession 84

46.Germane 84

In the space below, write your own sentences using the vocabulary words in each chapter.

Chapter 1:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5

6.

7.

Chapter 2:

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Chapter 3

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

Chapter 4:

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

Chapter 5

35.

36.

37.

38.

Chapter 6

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

The Pearl - Unit Outline and Due DatesHave your Pearl Packet and Novel in Class Daily!

Wed/Thur 4/29/30: ___ Background web quest

Friday 5/1: ___ Agree/Disagree & Quick Write

Homework: ___ Read Chapters 1 & 2___ Vocab., Ch. 1&2 questions & group job (Tues. 5/6)

Tuesday, 5/6: ___ First group meeting (Ch. 1&2)___ HW – Read Ch. 3 (Due Thurs. 5/8)___ HW – Vocab., Ch. 3 questions & group job

(Thurs.5/8)

Thursday, 5/8 ___ Second Group Meeting (Ch. 3)___ HW – Read Ch. 4 (Due Mon. 5/12)___ HW – Vocab., Ch. 4 questions & group job

(Mon. 5/12)

Monday, 5/12: ___ Third Group Meeting (Ch. 4)___ HW – Read Ch. 5 (Due Wed. 5/14)___ HW – Vocab., Ch. 5 questions & group job

(Wed. 5/14)

Wednesday, 5/14: ___ Fourth Group Meeting (Ch. 5)___ HW – Read Ch. 6 (Due Thurs. 5/15)___ HW – Vocab., Ch. 6 questions & group job

(Thurs. 5/15)

Thursday, 5/15: ___ Fifth (and final) Group Meeting (Ch. 6)___ Inferences in The Pearl (Due Monday, 5/19)

Week of May 19 – 23 TBA – Final Assessment (Test on novel & vocabulary)

The Pearl: Chapter One Pay attention to: Steinbeck’s characterization techniques

Purpose and use of songsClass distinctionsNature imagery vs. civilization

Answer the following questions thoroughly using complete sentences. Write neatly. The story is simple, but because it is a parable, there is deeper meaning. You may need to re-read some portions of the chapter to clearly understand the answers to the questions.

1. Notice the importance of songs in Kino’s life. a. Reread the Song of the Family on pp. 2-3. What does the Song of the Family

signify?

b. On page 5 (1st full paragraph) what new song comes to Kino? Why?

c. What final song does Kino hear in this chapter?

2. How does Juana react to the scorpion? How does her reaction show two sides of the Indian culture?

3. Describe the doctor. What do you think is the doctor’s race/ethnicity? What does the doctor’s comment on page 11 reveal about his attitude toward Indians?

4. What imagery does Steinbeck use to contrast Kino’s life, which is a life close to nature, to the doctor’s life, which is a life amidst civilization?

5. Steinbeck leads us to believe the main conflict of the book is Coyotito’s scorpion sting, but that is just a complication. What is the major conflict of the book, as established at the end of chapter 1? How does Kino feel about this conflict?

The Pearl: Chapter Two Pay attention to:Juana’s natural instinctsHow a pearl is formedSuperstitionsDifference between need & greed

1. What importance does the canoe hold for Kino and his people? How is the canoe a bulwark against starvation? What is of similar importance in our society?

2. What does Juana pray for on p. 15? Why? Is she more religious or superstitious? Use two examples of Juana’s actions from Ch. 1 & 2 to provide evidence for your opinion on the second question.

3. What two additional songs does Kino hear in this chapter?

4. What two similes describe the pearl Kino found? (p. 19) Write a third simile of your own.

5. On page 15, Steinbeck tells us that because the mixture of air and water over the gulf creates mirages, the Indians do not trust what they see with their eyes. Explain how Steinbeck’s image relates to the idea of “appearance vs. reality”?

The Pearl: Chapter 3 (21-40) Pay attention to:Power of the pearl Greed vs. EnvyKino, the priest and religionDescription of the estuary (p. 32-33)Differences between Kino and Juana

1. In the opening what is the town compared to? Why does Steinbeck makes this comparison?

2. Describe how the news is communicated about Kino finding the pearl. How is this different from the way the news spread about the poisonous sting of the scorpion?

3. On p.30 how does Kino feel trapped by his own ignorance?

Read the following passage from The Pearl, then respond to the questions:

[After a robber tried to steal the pearl and injure Kino in the process, Juana says] “Kino, this pearl is evil. Let us destroy it before it destroys us. Let us crush it between two stones. Let us – throw it back into the sea where it belongs. Kino, it is evil, it is evil!”

“No,” Kino says. “ I will fight this thing. I will win over it. We will have our chance … No one shall take our good fortune from us.”

4. What are the pros and cons for destroying the pearl? Think carefully about all reasons.

PROS:

CONS

5. What would you do in the same situation, if you were Kino and Juana? Why?

The Pearl: Chapter 4 (41-56) Pay attention to: Cultural rulesSocial class struggle/inequalityGreed

1. Juan Tomas tells Kino a story of a method used in the past by the villagers to get more money for their pearls. What is this method? What does the priest say about this method, and what is his advice? Use your own words to answer this question.

2. How do pearl buyers and the priest work together to maintain the social hierarchy of the town?

3. What does the description of the stout pearl buyer’s trick with the coin suggest about his motives and personality? How does the pearl buyer’s appearance contrast with his attitude and behavior toward Kino? How does Steinbeck show that despite what he says, the pearl buyer IS impressed by the size and beauty of the pearl?

4. Why is Kino’s brother, Juan Tomas, afraid for him? How does he express his fear?

5. What are three societal or cultural rules that you think govern Kino’s society? What are three societal or cultural rules that you think govern our American society?

The Pearl: Chapter 5 (57-67) Pay attention to the following:Kino’s dream and how it challenges the systemCanoe and psychological impact of its lossSymbolic meanings of the pearl

1. According to Steinbeck, what qualities does a man have? What qualities does a woman have? Do you think these generalizations only apply to the Mexican culture in the book or to people everywhere? Explain.

2. What three major events in Chapter 5 break Kino’s ties with the town and make him an outsider? Do you think he could bcome part of the town again in the future? Why or why not?

3. On the bottom of pp. 60-61, Steinbeck writes “in an instant, the old life was gone forever … All the time Juana had been trying to rescue something of the old peace … but now it was gone, and there was no retrieving it … there was nothing to do but save themselves.” Explain this passage.

4. When Kino discovers his canoe, he thinks, “This was an evil beyond thinking. The killing of a man was not so evil as the killing of a boat.” What does he mean?

5. At the end of the chapter Kino says, “This pearl has become my soul … If I give up I shall lose my soul.” Explain he means.

The Pearl: Chapter 6 (66-87) Pay attention to the following: Kino and Juana’s downfallSteinbeck’s ability to create images- techniques- How he brings story to life via imagesReligious belief for Kino and JuanaThe pearl as a mirror of Kino’s hopes and fear

1. Why is Kino more convinced than ever that the pearl is of great value?

2. What does Juana say that convinces Kino not to let the trackers take him? Why does she reject Kino’s plan to separate?

3. What plan does Kino make to get rid of the trackers? What happens to disrupt his plan?

4. In their return to the village, what is unusual in the manner that they are walking? What does this signify?

5. In Chapter 1 when Kino first looked at the pearl he saw a church wedding for Juana and himself. On page 86 what does he see in the pearl now?

6. Is Kino’s throwing the pearl back into the ocean a sign of defeat or triumph? Why?

7. If you assume that Kino threw the pearl back because he felt guilty, then what does the pearl symbolize and what is the lesson that this parable is teaching? If you assume that Kino threw the pearl out of rage and frustration, then what does the pearl symbolize and what is the lesson to be learned?

The Pearl Literature Circle Group Assignments:

Each group member will take a turn over the next two weeks facilitating part of the group’s meeting each time you meet together. The following list describes each of the roles and explains what you will need to be prepared with for each of the meetings.Make sure to check the unit calendar regularly as your job will change for each of the group meetings. Do not let your group down – be prepared!! You will use the handouts associated with each Literature Circle Job to record your work. These handouts will be turned in for grading.

Moderator/Discussion Director – The job of the moderator is to facilitate the discussion of the chapter, using the questions as a starting point. The moderator also makes sure that everyone in the group participates in the discussion. The moderator DOES NOT need to make up questions as you will each have chapter notes that should

be complete by the time the group meets to discuss that chapter. The moderator will review all of the questions and point out difficult questions for the group to consider together. While EVERYONE in the group should have his/her chapter notes complete on a daily basis, it is MOST IMPORTANT that the moderator have his/her questions complete and that they have put some time into the answers so that they can guide the group’s discussion about them.

Summarizer – The job of the summarizer is to come to the group meeting prepared with a brief but thorough summary of the chapter. Include the most important events that occur, key characters that are introduced, setting changes, events and themes that were covered in the section the group is discussing for the day.

Character Captain – This job requires an understanding of the characters in the chapter. The character captain makes observations about the characters and supports those observations with specific examples from the text.

Connector – The job of the concluding connector is to find connections between the novel that you are reading and the outside world You will be looking for at least two connections that you will share during the discussion.

Literary Luminary – The Literary Luminary looks for important passages in the text that will extend the group’s understanding. The luminary is also responsible for selecting the important quote for the group to analyze for each chapter.

The Pearl – Literature Groups

Group Member Name: _______________________________________________

Other Members: ____________________________________________________ 1.

2.

3.

4.

Every group member will be responsible for completing each job once during the unit. Put each member’s name in the far left column so that you each know who is responsible for each job during the chapter meetings.

Job ChartMember’s Name

Chapters 1/2

Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Disc. Dir/Moderator

Character Captain

Summarizer Literary Luminary

Connector

Character Captain

Summarizer Literary Luminary

Connector Disc. Dir/Moderator

Summarizer Literary Luminary

Connector Disc. Dir/Moderator

Character Captain

Literary Luminary

Connector Disc. Dir/Moderator

Character Captain

Summarizer

Connector Summarizer Character Captain

Summarizer Literary Luminary

A group is only as strong as its weakest link – don’t be the weak link for your group!!

The Pearl: Inference

LEANING ABOUT THINKING:

An inference is a reasonable conclusion that can be drawn from the information presented. Making an inference requires reasoning and making assumptions based on the facts presented and what you already know. As you read, you often make inferences about meaning.

THINKING ABOUT THE NOVEL:Kino and Juana make inferences about events in their lives based on their own past experience, their instinct, and their observations about the environment. Stud each of the following inferences and cite evidence that has led the character to make it. Then decide whether the inference is accurate based on your own observations and the information provided by the narrator.

INFERENCE CHARACTER’S EVIDENCE

ACCURATEYES NO

YOUR EVIDENCE

1. Juan Tomas feels that now Kino will be better off than before.2. Kino feels that educating his son will make them free.3. Kino feels that a rifle will break down barriers.4. Juana feels that the pearl will destroy them all.5. Kino feels that once he sells the pearl, the evil will disappear.6. Kino feels that the pearl buyers are chasing him.

The Pearl: Final JournalRespond to the prompts by writing for a full five minutes. Use the back of this paper if necessary:

1. Was the “Pearl of the World” responsible for the events of the story, or was someone/something else responsible? Explain.

2. Is Kino responsible for Coyotito’s death? Why or why not?

Re-read your responses above. Now, defend the opposite point of view.

3.

4.