Blessing or Burden? How would you respond if you came across a treasure that could change your entire life? At first, you would probably be very excited and thankful. Then as your life starts to change, sometimes out of your control, you may wish you had never discovered the treasure at all. This is what happens to Kino when he finds a valuable pearl while diving, a pearl that tempts him to leave everything he has ever known. Be a Better Reader As you work through the study guide for The Pearl, you ll also practice these skills, which will help you when you read novels in the future, for school assignments or just for fun. 1. Describe the development of the main character. 2. Discuss how the plot develops throughout the novel. 3. Describe themes in the novel and trace their development throughout the text. 4. Cite textual evidence to support discussion of the novel. 5. Describe and analyze the role of setting in the novel. Behind the Scenes John Steinbeck, the author of The Pearl, is recognized as one of the foremost writers of American literature. After leaving Stanford University, Steinbeck began working as a reporter and manual laborer. He also began publishing and receiving attention for his early novels, most notably Tortilla Flats which was published in 1935. Steinbeck continued writing and earning critical acclaim for his novels including Of Mice and Men in 1937 and The Grapes of Wrath, for which he won the 1940 Pulitzer Prize. The Pearl, a shorter novella that originally appeared in Woman s Home Companion with the title The Pearl of the World in 1945, remains one of Steinbeck s most popular and easier to read pieces. Steinbeck s work influenced other American writers including Ernest Hemingway. Steinbeck was awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize for literature. Get This! 1. The Pearl possesses numerous symbols. Be sure to notice and try to figure out the symbolism of the pearl, the scorpion, and Kino s canoe. 2. A parable is a story that relates a life lesson, especially one involving morals. As you read, notice how The Pearl creates a type of parable and the lesson it teaches. 3. What do you think The Pearl says about the American Dream and its constant drive for more and more expensive things? How does Kino s story relate to the American Dream?
The Plot John Steinbeck s The Pearl follows the events that occur to Kino and Juana after Kino finds a pearl of great value while diving in the ocean. As you read, fill in the boxes for each element of the novel s plot.
The Characters John Steinbeck uses several sympathetic and villainous characters to tell his parable of The Pearl. Draw a picture of each character listed. Then describe the importance of each character s role in the box beneath each picture. Kino Juana Coyotito Juan Tomás The Doctor The Priest
The Setting John Steinbeck sets The Pearl in a small town on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico during the Colonial Era. Use the spaces below to describe the setting in the novella. In the first column, type or write direct quotes from the text phrases and sentences that are used to show what it s like throughout the book. In the second column, explain in your own words what the author is trying to convey. An example has been completed for you. Direct Quote Related to Setting Kino awakened in the near dark... It was a morning like other mornings and yet perfect among mornings. (Chapter 1) Your Explanation Kino and his family are very poor and live in a small hut.
Tracking Themes What does it all mean?... What message is John Steinback trying to communicate in The Pearl? The main themes in The Pearl are related to greed and the role of fate in one s life. See if you can identify and analyze those themes. Step 1: What parts of the plot seem related to a possible theme in the novel? (Think about the main conflict and how it get resolved or worked out.) Step 2: Which characters seem related to a possible theme? Which characters change, and what do those changes suggest about greed and the role of fate? Step 3: How does the author use symbols to hint at the novel s themes? What objects, people, or places stand for something bigger in the story? Step 4: What does the novel s title suggest about the novel s theme? Step 5: Write one or two of the novel s main themes in your own words.
Talk About It What do you think about The Pearl? What lesson do you think the novella intends to teach? Do you agree or disagree with Kino s decision to throw the pearl back into the ocean? Why or why not? In the space below each question, write an answer based on your own experiences and your own understanding of the novel. Include some textual evidence or examples that helped you arrive at your answer. 1. Some people read John Steinbeck s The Pearl as a parable, a story intended to teach a lesson. What lesson do you think the novella intends to teach, and how well do you think it does so? Textual Evidence or Examples: 2. At the end of the novella, Kino throws the pearl back into the ocean, ostensibly losing it forever. Do you agree with Kino s decision to do so? Why or why not? Textual Evidence or Examples:
Represent! Show what you know about The Pearl and its relevance to your life. Choose one of these projects to complete and share with your teacher, classmates, and others. Choice 1: The Pearl Today While the themes of greed and the role of fate extend across time, the setting of the The Pearl is specific to one time and place. Think about how Steinbeck s novella could be updated for a modern day audience. What would most represent greed to today s world? Where would an updated story occur? Who would the characters be, and what would they do? Create a modern day version of The Pearl. You may create a written or a video version. Be sure to think about how to translate the novella into the present day. Choice 2: Monologue and Point of View The Pearl uses an omniscient point of view which provides a balanced view of the events and the characters in them. Create and perform a monologue as Kino or Juana, emphasizing that character s point of view of the events in the text. You do not need to use an accent when performing. You may focus on a particular event in the novella or perform snippets from several different events. Be sure to write your monologue in the form of a play.