The Pearl Questions and Answers with Certified Solutions

The Pearl Questions and Answers with Certified Solutions What is a parable and why do you suppose Steinbeck calls our attention to this in his preface? A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Steinbeck wants us to know this because he wants us to each walk away from the story learning something. What do the names of the characters suggest about the setting for this story? The characters names sound Hispanic, so this most likely means that they are from Mexican descent (Mexico). Who appears to be the protagonist in this story? Kino because he is the main character. Who would you guess the antagonist will be? I think the antagonist will be the pearl because it brings bad luck and evil sprits with it the more Kino decides to keep it. On pages 3-4 Kino has arisen and the day has begun. What is this song he hears and what does it suggest about how he is feeling this morning? He hears the song of the family and it makes him feel peaceful and happy in the morning. On page 5, the song Juana sings is part of the family song and all of it, Kino percieves, is part of the Whole? What Whole? Juana sings a song and Kino percieves it as part of a whole which is the warmth and care that Juana shares with them. While Kino's environment is safe and pleasant, how does the picture of the ants and the roosters underscore the struggle for survival in nature? The picture underscores the struggle for the survival in nature by showing them trying to survive with minimal food and water while searching for more, which also tells us that every man must fight for himself. On page 6, what new song comes to Kino? The song of evil because there is a scorpion above Coyotito that was about to sting him/stung him. How does Juana's reaction to the scorpion show two sides of the Indian culture? She says a hail mary and shows the calm and religious side when she says a traditional Indian chant. When the narrator says, "Kino had wondered often at the iron of his patient, fragile wife" What does he mean? Kino wondered how strong his wife was. She was a small women with strong spirits. How are the homes of the poor distinguished from the homes of the rich? The poor's houses are made of straw, while the rich people live in houses made of stone. How was the doctor described? The doctor wasn't the same race as Kino. He was part of a race that had beaten and starved and robbed and despised Kino's race, and frightened it too. He is also fat, greedy, lazy, selfish, racist, and wealthy. What race do you suppose the doctor is of? White What does the doctor's comment on page 13 reveal about his attitude towards Indians? He's belitting to them. He thinks they are not important and doesn't think highly of them. Contrast Kino's life to the Doctor's. Kino is poor but happy. He doesn't have much money. He lives out by the ocean. He does things before sunrise, like sitting by the ocean and waiting for the sun to come up. He is a pearl diver. He fishes to provide food for his family. He hunts small animals. Contrast the Doctor's life to Kino's. The Doctor is very wealthy and can get anything he wants by paying for it. He has a servant that does everything for him. He is also rich, but miserable. How is a canoe a bulwark against starvation? It provides food for him and his family. How is a pearl formed? Sand grains get into the oyster irritating it. The oyster starts creating a protective coating eventually making a pearl. What does Juana pray for and why? Juana prays for luck from the gods so Kino could find a pearl. The Indians think of God or "the gods". What does this reveal about their religious beliefs? They either believe in god or multiple gods. They are polythestic and can choose their religion. On what two discoveries does Chapter 2 end? Kino discovers the great pearl and Coyotito is healing from the scorpion bite magically. Why does Kino howl? Emotion broke over him and he felt very fortunate. 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. How could this fit with the theme of "appearance versus reality"? The Indians do not trust the appearance of something they see with their eyes. Just seeing it doesn't mean that it is actually there, which ties in with the reality part of it. Appearance is different from reality because the appearance of something is not always the reality, or real. For example, the mixture of air and water creates an image that is not real. In the opening what is the town compared to? Why do you suppose he makes this comparison? The town is compared to a colonial animal because its parts correspond with those of an animal. How does the news of the pearl affect A) the priest, B) the shopkeepers, C) the doctor, and D) the beggars? The Priest- made him think of how the money could help the church be repaired. The shopkeepers- it made them look at the clothes that weren't selling very well. The doctor- he thought of being in Paris. The beggars- it made them giggle and they knew Kino would give them money now that he was rich. In what sense (page 23) did Kino become "every man's enemy"? Kino stood in the way of other men's dreams with the pearl How is the news of the pearl compared to the poisonous sting of the scorpion? The news of the pearl was a lot more important to the people than the sting of the scorpion. Also, the pearl was happier news than the scorpion. What does Kino say he will do once the pearl is sold? They would get married, they would have new clothes (Coyottito's sailor suit), Kino would have a harpoon, and a rifle. Also, Coyotito would get an education. In the middle of page 27 Kino hears "the song of evil" faintly. Who do you think brings it to Kino's house. Give a reason for your answer. The song started after Kino philosophized his future. I think it meant that once his neighbors realized what the pearl could bring them, they would become jelous and greedy. As the doctor approaches, why is Kino feeling rage? The doctor refused to treat Coyotito before the pearl and he lied about not being there. On page 30 how does Kino feel trapped by his own ignorance? He's mad at the doctor but he isn't sure that he's lying about the medicine. He doesn't want to take the chance of Coyottito dying so he's stuck. What do you guess the doctor gives Coyotito? I think the doctor gives Coyotito poison to make him throw up so that when he saves the baby he can seem like a hero and get the pearl. What is suggested by the references to the fish and mice on page 32? The little fish are the people of the village and the big fish is the doctor. Also, the mice are the people of the village and the hawk is the doctor. This is because the doctor is more powerful than them because he has money like a hawk is more powerful than a mouse. How does the doctor find out where Kino has hidden the pearl? Kino glances at the spot where he buried it. After the intruder is driven off, what does Juana say of the pearl? She says the pearl is evil and wants to throw it away because it brought the invader. Why can Kino not throw away the pear like Juana suggested? Kino cannot do this because he wants his son to go to school but also he is greedy. Back on pages 28-29, why is Kino afraid of making plans? The gods do not love men's plans, and the gods do not love success unless it comes by accident. He knew that the gods take their revenge on a man if he is successful through his own efforts. Consequently, Kino was afraid of plans. In the first paragraph, how was the wholeness of the town distrupted? Kino has interrupted the normal way of the town by showing and distracting them with his great treasure of the pearl. Why is there no longer any real competition among the pearl buyers? They knew they had to work together so that they wouldn't give too much money away for the pearl. Why is this a big day for the entire village? A discovery this big has never been found in their town and they were waiting to see if the wealth would change Kino. In earlier times how did the pearl divers try to get a better price for their pearls and what happened to their effort? They sent an agent with all their pearls to the capital, but that plan failed because the agents never came back. What is suggested by the priest's sermon on pages 44-45? Sending an agent with the pearls, to the capital, was not of God. What might lead Kino and his brother to believe this? What might lead them to be suspicous of the priest's sermon? He makes the same sermon every year How does Steinbeck show us that despite what he says, the pearl buyer is impressed by the size and beauty of the pearl? He drops the coin that he was rolling back and forth over his knuckles. How does the pearl buyer devalue the pearl? He says its like fools gold, too big What further strategy does the buyer use to try to convince Kino that the pearl has little value? He invites other pearl buyers to come and see the pearl How is the village divided on Kino's actions with the pearl buyer? Some think he should sell it for the price offered, and others think he should get more money On page 52 it says, "(Kino) had lost one world and had not gained another." What world did he lose? Kino had lost the world of family and trust because he could never go back to his old life after his discovery and adventure with the pearl. Why does it take much courage for Kino to make the decision to go the city? He will have no one to support him in the capital Why is Kino's brother afraid for him? Kino's brother is afraid for him because he is bigger and he has more knowledge of the world, so he tries to convince Kino to accept the offer and not go to the city. Kino's brother, Juan Tomas, is older and wiser. What insightful comment does he make about their friends? (page 53) He says Kino has friends in the village and in the capital he will have no one What does Kino say this time when Juana again says they should get rid of the pearl beacause it brings evil? What is implied in his answer? When Juana says they should get rid of the pearl because it brings evil, Kino insists that they can't get rid of it and that he will fight off the evil. It is implied that the bad things that are happening won't stop Kino from keeping the pearl. At this point do you think Kino is right or is he just being stupid and willful? I think he is just being stupid and willful because it seems as if the pearl is making their life worse and he isn't getting the price he wants for it, so why keep it if he is getting hurt? What does Juana try to do with the pearl? Why? What does Kino do? Juana tries to throw the pearl into the sea because it is bringing evil to her family, and as she does this, Kino beats her up and takes the pearl out of her hands. What happens on the beach? What happens to the pearl? Kino gets attacked and kills the man that attacks him with a knife in "self-defense." The pearl gets knocked around and lost, but Juana finds it and returns it safely to Kino's hands. Given a second opportunity after finding the pearl on the sand, why does Juana not get rid of it? She's loyal to Kino, but she also finds Kino killing another man before she can decide and realizes the damage was already done. Why will it not matter that Kino killed the man in self-defense? It didn't matter because the town people didn't treat him equally. They don't care if he was just doing it in self-defense. As they head home, what two discoveries do they make? What does this signify? Kino finds his canoe with a splintered hole in the bottom. He rushes home to find Juana and Coyotito, but Juana tells Kino that their house was torn up and the floor dug, and someone set fire to the house. This signifies that the pearl is bringing bad luck and evil spirits with it the more Kino decides to keep it. What is Juan Tomas' opinion of the pearl at this point? He thinks there's a devil in the pearl. What is Kino's comment on the pearl on page 65? In what sense might this be true? He thinks it is a misfortune because he's gone through so much and has not even gotten a reward from it. Why is Kino more convinced than ever that the pearl is of great value? The families escape went on without a problem. They passed no one and saw no one. Kino thought it was because of the pearl that was bringing them this luck. On page 66, Steinbeck says Kino was being moved by "some animal thing." What does he mean by this? Kino was acting instinctively just like an animal. He was cautious, weary, and dangerous. What awakens him from his sleep? A nightmare and sound of trackers in the distance Who does Kino see in the road? Why does he say they will be back? Kino see's three trackers. He says they will be back because they are good at finding trails and were as sensitive as hounds. Why does Kino consider letting the trackers take him? What does Juana say that convinces him not to? Kino knew they would find clues and find them. Juana tells him that the trackers would kill her because they don't want any witnesses. Why does Juana reject Kino's plan to separate? She wanted them to stay together and not split up. How are the mountain pools places of both life and death for the animals in the arena? It was life because animals from miles around came to drink water at these pools. It was death because they get killed by predators. What plan does Kino make to get rid of the trackers? They made a plan to go to the mountains, hide in a cave, when the trackers came Kino would sneak out, kill the man with the rifle, and then kill the two other trackers. What happens to disrupt his plan? Coyotito cries and then the moon shines In their return to the village, what is unusual in the manner that they are walking? What might this signify? When they returned to the village, Kino and Juana didn't look at anyone, they just looked straight. Also, they didn't greet anyone and they walked side by side. This might signify that they are in grief after Coyotito died. On page 85 how is Kino described? How are both described? Kino is described as his lips being thin, his jaws tight, and he carried fear with him. They are both described as being almost zombie like. Walking side by side, looking straight forward. 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? He saw evil, it was grey, he saw the light of burning, he saw the frantic eyes of the man in the pool, and he saw Coyotito lying in the little cave with the top of his head shot away. What action do Kino and Juana take at the end of this story? Why? Kino and Juana throw the pearl into the water because they felt guilty at what the pearl represented.