The Pearl 

Chapter One 
Name____________________________________________________-

1. Briefly describe the songs Kino hears in Chapter One.  What is the
significance of the songs?
2. What sounds make up the Song of the Family?
3. Describe Kino and Juana’s morning routine. What do they eat? What do
they talk about?

4. Describe how the scorpion attacks Coyoito.

5. According to the servant, why can’t the doctor treat Coyotito?

6. Where is the physical setting of the story?Note: The setting is the time
and location where a story takes place.

7. Where is the village located and how is it laid out?

8. Who are the two main social groups in  Chapter 1?

9. Describe the conflict between Kino, Juana, and the doctor.

10. The story is told from the omniscient point of view. How might the story
be different if it were told in the first person point of  view?

11. Note: First-person point of view occurs when one of the characters in the
story tells the story using pronouns such as I and we. With this point of
view, we can know only what the narrator knows. In the omniscient point
of view a narrator tells the story using third-person pronouns” he she, they.
This narrator tells us everything about many characters: their motives,
weaknesses, hopes, childhoods and sometimes even their futures.

12. At the end of the chapter Kino strikes the gate outside the doctor’s house. 
What emotions do you think he is feeling? 
Kino’s morning Your mo
For each of the following quotations from The Pearl identify the sense or
senses to which the quotation appeals—Sight Touch Hearing SMell or Taste. 
Underline the words that relate to the sensory image. 

Which Quotation
sense?
  “ The roosters had been crowing for some time, and …a covey of little
birds chattered and flurried with their wings.”
  “Behind him Juana’s fire leaped into flame and threw spears of light
through the chinks of the brush-house wall and threw a wavering
square of light out of the door.”
  “His eyes were warm and fierce and bright and his mustache was thin
and coarse.”
  “Kino squatted by the fire pit and rolled a hot corncake and dipped I
with his fist, and Coyotito screamed with pain….”t in sauce and ate
it.”
  “His body glided quickly across the room, noiselessly and smoothly
  “Then, snarling, Kino had it, had it in his fingers, rubbing it to a paste
in his hands. He threw it down and beat it into the earth floor with his
fist, and Coyotito screamed with pain…”
  “The scurrying procession….could hear the splashing water and the
singing of caged birds and the sweep of the long brooms on the
flagstones. And they could smell the frying of good bacon…”
 

Define foreshadowing in your own words.

How might the big and little ants and the ant lion foreshadow something in the
story? 
Sequencing (for chapter 1 events)

 Copy the grid below onto cardstock and cut it up. Divide the
class into groups, and give each group a set of cards.
 Have the students arrange the cards into the correct order.
 When they are finished, have them tape the cards to
flipchart paper and review.

Kino woke up Kino ate breakfast

Juana woke up Juana ate breakfast

Coyotito was stung by a The neighbors came to see

scorpion what was going on

Kino and Juana took The doctor refused to see

Coyotito to the doctor them.

The roosters crowed. Juana built a fire.

They arrived at the doctor’s

A servant opened the gate
home.
The doctor ate breakfast The doctor asked for money.

Kino offered the doctor

The sun came up.
some small pearls.

Solution:
The roosters crowed.
Juana woke up
Kino woke up
Juana built a fire.
The sun came up.
Kino ate breakfast
Juana ate breakfast
Coyotito was stung by a scorpion
The neighbors came to see what was going on
Kino and Juana took Coyotito to the doctor
They arrived at the doctor’s home.
A servant opened the gate
The doctor ate breakfast
The doctor asked for money
Kino offered the doctor some small pearls.
The doctor refused to see them.

Quiz for Chapter One  

Plot summary: 

1. Kino is a poor ______________________________, barely able to support

his wife, ______________________ and his baby Coyotito.   

2. When Kino and his wife go to the doctor in  (place)

_______________________________, he turns them away because they have
insufficient  ____________________.  
3. Kino and Juana leave his house ________________________. 

4. The action of the novel is set in motion when Coyotito is bitten by a

_________________________________ 

Kino’s morning Your morning

Chapter 2

Describe the setting of Chapter 2.

What is the beach like?

What is the atmosphere over the estuary like?

What are the villagers doing?

Describe the “secret little inner song” that Kino hears.

Why is the canoe important to Kino?

Describe the way a pearl is created.

How does Kino find the large pearl?

What two similes does the narrator use to describe the appearance and size of
the pearl?

Early in the chapter the narrator says Juana’s homemade poultice is probably a
better treatment for Coyotito’s illness than what the doctor could come up with.
Yet Juana prays that she and Kino can get enough money to pay the doctor to
treat Coyotito. What point do you think the writer is making about Juana’s
feeling about herself and about  money?

What do these feelings reveal about the ways the Europeans control the
Indians? 

Chapter 2

Re-read the second chapter of The Pearl and answer the following questions.

Vocabulary – define the following terms:

bulwark

poultice

cluster

obscure

hummock

grandeur
incandescence (incandescent)

juxtaposition

 On page 20 (15) Steinbeck refers to the people of Kino’s community with

the following line, "...for the minds of the people are as unsubstantial as
the mirage of the gulf."

1. What is the mirage Steinbeck is referring to? What does it represent?

2. What factors in the story lead to this assessment?
3. What conditions surround these people to make them feel this way?
4. Find examples of foreshadowing in this chapter and explain their
relevance to the rest of the story.

Refer to the first sentence on page 22 (last line of the only full paragraph on
pg 16 ) . What does Steinbeck mean by "...by God or the Gods or both"?
Consider the first full paragraph on page 2(paragraph starting on bottom of 1)
and the final paragraph on page 22 (Second paragraph on pg. 17) "Now
Kino’s people..." when answering.

5. Look at the last paragraph that starts on pg. 22 (Second paragraph on 17 )

and continues on to pg. 23 (,to top of 18). How does the structure of the
writing help develop the reader’s appreciation of the activity taking place at the
time?

6. How does Steinbeck create suspense around the finding of the "Pearl of the
World"? on pages 24, first started paragraph & 25 (second paragraph on 18
to last full paragraph on 19)?

7.Even as Kino basked in the grandeur of the "Pearl of the World", Steinbeck
hinted at negative consequences that would come from it. What carefully
selected words give this moment of triumph a dark undertone?
 Name of person
being unjust

Examples

Name of person
being unjust

Examples

Quiz on Chapter Two 

True / False

Juana prays that they will find a pearl so Coyotito can be treated.

When Kino dives, he injures his hand.

Kino spots a pearl, but he cannot reach the oyster.

When Kino getsback into the boat, he avoids opening the largest oyster.

As they look at their pearl, they notice that the swelling in Coyotito’s arm has
receded. (gone down) 

Chapter Three 

The news that Kino has found the Pearl of the World  spreads quickly in the
village. How do the following characters react to the news?
The priest

The doctor

The beggars

The pearl buyers

How do Kino and Juana feel about their future right after the pearl is found?

What does Kino plan to do with the money after he sells the pearl?

How does Kino feel after the visit of the priest?

Describe the first and second visits of the doctor. From evidence in the chapter,
can you tell for sure whether the doctor, on the first visit, gave Coyotito
something to make him sick?

What happens in the family’s home in the night?

Describe the inner conflict Kino has to resolve in this chapter about the doctor.
Why does he decide to let the doctor treat Coyotito?

Describe the external conflict with the doctor. What does the doctor want from
Kino?

A dynamic characters changes as a result of a story’s events.. How do Juana’s

feelings about the great pearl change in this chapter? What causes the changes?

A symbol is an object that stands for something outside of, or broader than,
itself. How do the concluding paragraphs of the chapter suggest that the pearl is
a symbol? What do you think the pearl may symbolize at this stage of the
story? 

 Chapter 3

Re-read the third chapter of The Pearl and respond to the following challenges.

Vocabulary – define the following terms:

judicious

cackle
collusion

precipitated (precipitate)

speculation

semblance

colonial

idyllic

1. The opening of chapter 3 states, "A town is a thing like a colonial

animal..." As you read the first paragraph, this comparison is further
explained. Find examples in this chapter where this image is used. In each
case, provide the example, a page reference to support your views.

 In each of the next three cases, answer the question and explain what we
learn about the people involved. In each case, does the individual
describe more than himself? If so, what does each represent?2How did
the beggars react to Kino’s good news?

2. How did the Priest respond to Kino’s good news?

3. How did the doctor respond to Kino’s discovery?

4. List, in order, the various items Kino planned to acquire once he ahs sold the
pearl. What is the significance of each?

5. Are there any messages in this chapter that hint to a less than idyllic ending for
Kino and his family? Cite examples and page references.

Chapter 3 Quiz 

Very quickly, news of Kino’s discovery is pulsing around the town and
everyone’s suddenly interested in Kino. The doctor reconsiders treating
Coyotito, the pearl buyers think their greedy thoughts, and the beggars think of
___________________________. Kino sees in the pearl the salvation of his
son. Not only will he recover from the scorpion bite ,but he will be
________________________________ in the church, wear fine clothes, and go
to  school. Then no one will be able to _____________________________ his
people again. Coyotito will learn how to read. Kino is uneasy, and he hides the
pearl. That night someone comes to the house and tries to steal the pearl. Kino
is injured in the ensuing struggle, and Juana begs him to
___________________________________. 

What does the doctor say when he hears that Kino has the pearl?

How do many people of La Paz feel about Kino after they learn about the
pearl?

Why do Kino and Juana let the doctor attend Coyotito?

Why has the doctor come toKino’s house?

At night, what does Kino sense?

How is Kino proved right? 

Chapter 4 

Describe the way the pearl buyers do business.

Juan Tomas tells Kino  of a method used in the past by villagers to get more
money for their pearls. What was this method?

How did the priest explain his lack of success?

What do the buyers say about Kino’s pearl? How does Kino end the
bargaining?

What happens to Kino in the evening? Describe the contrasting reactions of

Kino and  Juana.

As the plot of The Pearl unfolded in the first three chapters we learned about
the basic situation of the characters. We also saw how Kino became involved
in conflicts after great pearl. In Chapter 4 a major complication develops in the
plot. What is the complication? How must it change the course of the story? 

Juan Tomas can be seen as symbolizing traditional ways in the village. Kino
can be seen as representing a desire for change. How does their discussion after
Kino’s experience with the pearl buyers demonstrate this contrast? Which
character do you agree with?

What does the description of the stout(fat) pearl buyer’s trick with the coin
suggest about his motives and personality?  How does the  trick foreshadow
the result of his meeting with Kino? 

 Chapter 4 Questions

Cite page references when providing answers.

1. Who knew "most of all" that Kino was going to sell his pearl?
2. In what ways did the pearl buyers mislead the people?
3. Kino’s neighbours had a variety of suggestions as to what to do with the
pearl. What were they? Why do you think the neighbours made these
types of "choices"?
4. Provide evidence to support the notion that selling the pearl was a
significant event.
5. Juan Tomas brings up a significant concern when discussing a fair price
for the pearl. What is it?
6. How did the elders try to solve the problem Juan Tomas brought up? Did it
work?
7. What tactics to the appraisers use to downplay the significance of the
"Pearl of the World"? Cite specific lines and page references.
8. What clues do the appraisers provide that the pearl was, in fact a
significant gem? Cite specific lines and page references.
9. How did Kino’s neighbours react to his final business decision? Cite
specific lines and page references.
10. What does Juan Tomas tell Kino?
11. What does "He had lost one world but not gained another" (53) mean?
12. What happens that evening? How does effect Juana?

 
 Mistake:

Mistake:

Quiz Chapter 4 

Plot summary
In the morning, Kino and Juana go to the pearl buyers in La Paz.They are
accompanied by everyone in their neighborhood. They buyers offer only a
____________________________sum for the pearl. Knowing that he is being
cheated, Kino storms out of the office, claiming that he will go to the
_____________________to sell his pearl. That night Kino is attacked again,
and Juana once more asks him to __________________________the pearl.
Kino ________________________________________. 

True / False 

The pearl buyers are independent businessman.

Kino receives only one offer for his pearl.

Feeling cheated, Kino decide sto sell his pearl elsewhere.

Some of his people agree with Kino, and some think he is foolish.

After they leave the pearl buyer’s office, the rest of the day is uneventful for
Kino and Juana. 

Chapter Five 

1. What is Juana attempting to do as the chapter opens?

How does Kino stop her?

What happens to Kino as he returns from the beach?

Juana gives Kino first aid, and they make a decision. Why can’t they act on the
decision?

Why do Kino and Juana go to Juan Tomas’s house? How does Juan Tomas
help them?

Explain in your own words why Juana has no anger for Kino, despite the way
he has treated her. Do you agree with her attitude?

Did the violent conflict between Kino and Juana in this chapter surprise you?
Or did passages in earlier chapters suggest that it might occur? Explain your
answer.
At the end of the chapter Kino says, “This pearl has become my soul….If I give
up I shall lose my soul.” Explain what he means. Does the statement represents
a change in Kino’s feelings from earlier chapters?

Does the statement represent a change in Kino;s feelings from earlier chapters?

Provide lines and page references to support your answers.

1. What movement did Kino hear in the night?

2. How did Kino stop Juana?
3. What happened to Kino after he left Juana at the beach?
4. Why did Juana immediately forgive Kino?
5. How does Juana see the time before the pearl?
6. How does Juana show her strength in this chapter?
7. What has happened to Kino’s canoe and house? How does Kino react?
Use specific lines and page reference to support this answer.
8. Now light is a danger to Kino - why? Why is this significant that light is now
a danger to Kino?
9. How does Juan Tomas help Kino and Juana?
10. What is leprosy? Why does Kino compare himself to leprosy?
11. What three things does Juan Tomas urge Kino to do?

Chapter 5 Quiz 

As Kino sleeps, Juana takes the pearl and goes to the water to throw it back.
However, Kino wakes and catches her. He grabs the pearl from her, knocks her
to the ground,and wal

ks back toward the house .As Juana heads back,she notice the gleam of the
pearl behind a rock. She picks it up and only then does she notice Kino and
another body lying in the path. There has been another struggle. Kino is still
alive, but he has killed the other man. Deciding to leave the community
immediately, Juana goes to the house to get Coyotito, and Kino goes to the
canoe. Kino finds that the canoe has been wrecked and then he sees that his
house is going up in flames. Juana and Coyotito just barely escape, and the
family hides in the house of Kino’s brother Juan Tomas. They stay through the
next day and then escap0e to the north under cover of darkness. 

What does Juana decide to do about the pearl?

What happens when Juana tries to do this?

What happens next to Kino?

 
When Juana goes to the house to get Coyotito, what does she find?

Where do Kino and Juana hide that day?

Where does Kino plan to go? 

Detail
Detail
Detail

Reason

Detail
Detail

Detail
Reason Reason
Detail Throw
it back!
Detail
Detail

Reason

Detail
Detail
Detail

Chapter 6

1. Describe the first part of Kino and Juana’s flight. Where do they stop to rest?

As they rest, what vision does Kino see in the pearl?

Describe the trackers. Why are they following Kino and Juana?

What route do Kino and Juana take to try to lose the trackers? Where do they
decide to spend the night?

Where do the trackers camp, and what happens to them?

What happens to Coyotito?

Describe Kino and Juana’s return to La Paz.

Why do you think Juana and Kino throw the pearl back into the sea?

Foreshadowing is when a writer hints at what will happen later in the story.
Identitfy two passages in this chapter in which Coyotito’s fate is foreshadowed.

Why do Juana and Kino return to La Paz.

1.  Why was it a good thing that the wind was blowing?

2. What "ancient thing" stirred in Kino?
3. What did Kino see as proof that the pearl had great value?
4. What did Kino see no when he looked into the pearl and thought of all the
things he wanted? How did the Music of the Pearl" change?
5. Who was following Kino and Juana?
6. Why did Juana feel it would be a mistake for Kino to give himself up?
7. How did Juana’s usually submissive attitude change?
8. Where did the family hide from the trackers that night?
9. Describe the confrontation by the stream.
10. Why did Kino and Juana walk back to La Paz side by side instead of a
straight line?
11. What did Kino finally do with the pearl? Was this a wise decision? Justify
your answer.

Event Kino feels…

Chapter 6 Quiz 

Kino and Juana walk by night and hide by day. While in hiding, Kino sees
trackers and a rifleman who have been went out after them. They leave the road
for the mountains, and the trackers follow them. Finally, Kino and Juana stop
for the night by a small waterfall. The family hides in a shallow cave above the
falls. the trackers camp nearby for the night, and Kino sneaks down the hillside
to attack them. Before he can jump, Coyotito begins to cry. The rifleman raises
his gun and shoots at the sound just as Kino attacks. Kino kills three men, but
Coyotito has been shot dead. The mournful, bitter couple return to La Paz and
throw the pearl back into the ocean. 

True / False

Since there is a strong wind, Kino and Juana leave few tracks.

Two trackers and a rifleman are sent out to find Kino and Juana.

The trackers surprise Kino and Juana in their hiding place.

Coyotito is killed by the rifleman.

After the fight, Kino and Juana continue on to the north.

Pearl http://www.nynetresources.org/Future%20Grant%20Projects/Projects/pearl/
pearl_by_john_steinbeck.htm

http://www.nynetresources.org/Future%20Grant%20Projects/Projects/mccloskypearl/
thepearljm.htm