The Pearl: Essay Guidelines

TASK: Now that we have finished reading “The Pearl,” it is time to write our essays. This essay will consist of 11 paragraphs. To help you complete this assignment, you will answer each of the 11 questions below. Remember that for each question, you have to write 1 paragraph (5+ sentences). Be sure to use details from the book, and go over your paragraphs when you are finished writing.

PARAGRAPH #1: Introduce “The Pearl.” Who is the author? When was it written? What is on the cover of the book?

PARAGRAPH #2: What is “The Pearl” about? What is the plot? (Use details from the book)

PARAGRAPH #3: Who are the main characters in the story? Be descriptive and use details from the story.

PARAGRAPH #4: What is the most important event that takes place in “The Pearl?” (Use details)

PARAGRAPH #5: Who is your favorite character from the story? Why? Describe that character.

PARAGRAPH #6: What would you have done if you were in Kino’s shoes? Would you have sold the pearl to the pearl buyers, or would you have taken it to the capital instead?

PARAGRAPH #7: What is the most important theme in the story? Why?

Family

Good vs. Evil

Greed

PARAGRAPH #8: Should Kino have thrown away the pearl after he was attacked the first time?

PARAGRAPH #9: Is it Kino’s fault that Coyotito was killed? If not, who is to blame?

PARAGRAPH #10: If you had to choose between Money ($) and Family, what would you choose?

PARAGRAPH #11: What do you think will happen to Juana and Kino after the story ends?

The Pearl: Chapter 6

1)   After resting under a covert, how did Kino respond to Juana’s comment that “perhaps the dealers were right and the pearl has no value?”

2)   What foreboding images did Kino see as he stared into the pearl to find his vision?

3)   What interrupted Kino and Juana’s rest in the shade?

4)   In what way was the wind in Kino’s favor as they traveled?

5)   After refreshing themselves with water, what caused Kino’s body to go rigid?

6)   How did Kino conceal their tracks once the wind stopped?

7)   At this point in the novel, the music of the pearl was now interwoven with what kind of music?

8)   How did Kino mask his white clothing from the moonlight?

9)   How did the guarding tracker react to the sound?

10)   Where did Kino and Juana hide from the trackers?

11)   What were two possible sources of the cries from the mountains?

12)   What item did Kino take from the guarding tracker?

13)   What did Kino do after the tracker shot his rifle?

14)   What halted Kino’s attack on the tracker with a rifle?

15)   What did Kino and Juana do after reaching their home?

16)   Which tracker did Kino plan to kill first, and why?

17)   As the trackers slept by the pool, what did Kino decide to do?

Extended Response Questions:

18)   At what moment do you think Kino realized that the pearl was destroying his life?

19)   Steinbeck uses powerful details to describe Kino's attack on the three trackers. Make of list of these images.

20)   Describe what the pearl looked like as Kino and Juana held it for the last time. Consider why the author chose to give it such a description.

21)   Predict how the lives of Kino and Juana will go on. Consider if they will have another child and whether they will find happiness.

The Pearl: Chapter 5

1) What happened to Kino's house?

2) As Kino retreated towards his brush house, what happened?

3) How did Kino stop Juana's defiant actions?

4) What ruse did Juan use to mingle among his neighbors, and thus suppress any questions about Kino's whereabouts?

5) Who discovered both the loose pearl and the murdered man?

6) Where did Kino and his family seek shelter?

7) How did Kino's brother, Juan Tomas, help divert suspicions among the villagers?

8) What crime occurred during Kino's assault?

9) What did Juana try to do, hours after Kino was attacked the first time?

10) In bidding farewell to Kino and Juana, what advice did Juan Tomas give his younger brother?

11) Why did Kino and Juana's attempt to flee the village fail?

The Pearl: Chapter 4

1) In what town did the pearl buyers live?

2) What foreshadowing music did Kino hear in his ears as the pearl buyer made his first offer?

3) Why didn't Kino want to give up his pearl, as his brother advised?

4) What misleading news did Kino receive from the first pearl buyer?

5) What amount of money was first offered for the pearl?

6) Where did Kino hide the pearl after visiting the pearl buyers?

7) How much money did the second and third buyers offer?

8) Why did Kino suddenly rise with his knife under his shirt to step outside his house doorway?

9) What did Juana beg of Kino, after washing his cuts?

10) What did Kino plan to do after he rejected the local buyers' offers?

11) What nervous habit did the first pearl buyer have?

12) Who went with Kino, Juana and Coyotito to sell the pearl?

13) How did Kino react to the pearl buyers' offers?

The Pearl: Chapter 3

1) Why did Kino give in and allow the doctor to see Coyotito?
2) Where did Kino rebury the pearl?
3) What happened to Coyotito within an hour of the doctor's departure?
4) Name the prominent person who came to visit Kino after the priest left.
5) What was ironic about the music Kino heard in his head when the priest entered his brush house?
6) Why did Kino hide the pearl in a different place shortly after the doctor's departure?
7) Upon examining Coyotito's eyeballs, what news did the doctor give Kino and Juana?
8) What happened later in the night, after the doctor's visit?
9) What simile did the author use to begin Chapter three?
10) What medicine did the doctor give Coyotito?
11) What effect did news of Kino's large pearl have on the town's doctor?
12) According to the doctor, how soon would the poison attack the baby?
13) Where did Kino store the large pearl?
14) What were Kino's feelings at the doctor announced he'd come to see the baby?

The Pearl: Chapter 2

1) Why was Kino reluctant to open the very large oyster after returning to the boat?
2) Where did Kino spot a very large oyster?
3) What was Kino's most prized possession and how did he come to own it?
4) Moments after Kino released the pearl from the oyster, what happened to Coyotito?
5) What did Juana apply to Coyotito's shoulder?
6) What personification was used to begin Chapter two?
7) Why were Juana and Kino hoping to find a pearl?
8) What were Kino's dreams once he owned a valuable pearl?
9) What was Coyotito's condition as Juana laid him on the canoe's blanket?
10) How was Kino planning to pay the doctor?
11) What did Kino notice inside the large oyster, before its shell closed down?

The Pearl: Chapter 1

1) What time of day was it as the novel opened?

2) What metaphor was used to describe the rhythm of the Family Song?

3) Where did Kino and Juana live?

4) After Kino told Juana that a doctor would never make a call to their hut, what did Juana reply?

5) Those who watched Kino and Juana pass towards the doctor's house knew the doctor would never see them. Why?

6) How did the Coyotito react towards the scorpion approaching him?

7) What false excuse did the doctor's servant relay to Kino?

8) What was the scorpion's fate, after stinging the baby?

9) What decision did Juana announce to Kino?

10) How did Kino react to the servant's reply?

11) What did Kino often hear in his head?

12) What form of money had Kino brought along for payment?

13) What two items made up Kino's breakfast?

14) Where was Coyotito stung?

15) What entered the hanging box and how did it get there?