essay questions on the pearl

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57 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Consider the priest and the doctor as foil characters. How do their characteristics and roles overlap, and how do they differ?

The narrator says that The Pearl is a parable, which is a simple story that teaches a moral or lesson. What morals or lessons might Kino’s people derive from the story? Do those morals and lessons differ from the ones Steinbeck intends readers to take from it?

Consider dialogue within The Pearl . Though Kino and his people speak an unidentified “old language,” the dialogue is recorded in English. What tone and style does Steinbeck adopt for the dialogue, and how does it influence your perception of the characters and events?

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Introduction to The Pearl

Summary of the pearl, major themes in the pearl, major characters in the pearl, writing style of the pearl‎, analysis of literary devices in the pearl, related posts:, post navigation.

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John Steinbeck

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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on John Steinbeck's The Pearl . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Pearl: Introduction

The pearl: plot summary, the pearl: detailed summary & analysis, the pearl: themes, the pearl: quotes, the pearl: characters, the pearl: symbols, the pearl: theme wheel, brief biography of john steinbeck.

Historical Context of The Pearl

Other books related to the pearl.

• Full Title: The Pearl
• When Written: 1944
• Where Written: California
• When Published: 1947
• Literary Period: Modernist novel
• Genre: Novella/ Parable
• Setting: La Paz, Baja California Sur
• Climax: Kino’s beating of Juana and his killing of a man in protection of the pearl
• Point of View: Third person (from the perspective of the villagers who pass down the tale through generations)

Extra Credit for The Pearl

From Kino to Kino. It is assumed that Kino was named after Eusebius Kino, a Jesuit missionary who explored the Gulf region in the 17th century.

From Film to Fiction. Steinbeck wrote The Pearl on an invitation from Emilio Fernandez, a well-known Mexican filmmaker, to write a screenplay depicting Mexican life. In consequence, The Pearl features few characters, simple and intense action, and cinematic viewpoints.

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74 The Pearl Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best the pearl topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting the pearl topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about the pearl, ❓ the pearl essays questions.

• John Steinbeck’s The Pearl As the title of the book suggests, the story is based on the enormous pearl Kino finds, and the events that took place as people tried to hunt Kino for possessing the pearl.
• The Pearl by John Steinbeck Kino plans to travel to another city to sell this pearl, but his brother warns that the pearl is evil and he should just sell it.
• The Support of Symbolism, Plot, and Characterization to the Theme in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• An Analysis of the Setting in the Novel “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• Loyalty Demonstration in “The Odyssey” and “The Pearl”
• Comparing Characterization in Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” and “The Pearl”
• An Analysis of Virtue in “The Pearl” and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck
• The Symbolism of the Pearl in the Novel “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Value of the Pearl in John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
• An Examination of the Configuration in John Steinbeck’s Novel “The Pearl”
• Constant Struggle Between the Morally Opposite Forces of Good and Evil in “The Pearl”
• Kino and Juana’s Racial Heritage, Tradition, and Oppression in Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
• The Importance of the Writing Style in John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
• A Story of Man’s Self-Destruction in Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
• Transformation Due to Money in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Deterioration of Kino’s Character Due to Greed in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Dramatic Changes in the Life of Kino in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• Humanity’s Struggle With Greed Depicted in John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
• The Theme of Obsession in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Tale of the Pearl as Told by Juana, a Character in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• An Analysis of the Theme of Selfishness in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Influence of Power and Authority on the Main Character’s Lifestyle in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• Disclosure of the Theme of Class Struggle in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Role of Ignorance in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• Financial Gaps in Mexico and “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Role of Economic and Social Oppression in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Destructive Influence of Materialism in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• Nature in Crucial Plot-Points in Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
• The Value and Evaluation of Material Entities as a Central Theme in “The Pearl”
• The Influence of the Social and Cultural Context on the Life of the Protagonist in “The Pearl”
• Differences Between Kino’s People and the Doctor in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Portrayal of Verism Through “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Pursuit of Material Wealth and Happiness in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• Modern Interpretation of “The Pearl” From a Personal Point of View
• Disappointment in Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
• Evaluating Very Simplistic View in Great Depth in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck Movie Versus Novel
• The Use of Vivid Description in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Moral Values in Life in “A Raisin in the Sun”, “Almost a Woman”, and “The Pearl”
• The Use of Imagery and Mood in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• The Relationship Between Juan and Coyotito in the Creative Story of “The Pearl”
• Common Problems in the 1940s in “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck
• Relationship Between the Life of John Steinbeck and His Characters in the Novel “The Pearl”
• How Does Steinbeck Present Race in “The Pearl”?
• What Does “The Pearl” Symbolize?
• How Power and Authority Affect the Main Character’s Lifestyle in “The Pearl”?
• How Is Poverty Dehumanizing in “The Pearl”?
• What Is the Moral Lesson of “The Pearl”?
• How Is Ambition Shown in “The Pearl”?
• Why Are the “Dark Ones” and the Trackers Never Identified in “The Pearl”?
• Is “The Pearl” a Parable or Allegory?
• What Is the Personification in “The Pearl”?
• How Does the Pearl Impact Kino and Juana Relationship?
• What Do the Beggars Symbolize in “The Pearl”?
• What Does Coyotito Symbolize in “The Pearl”?
• What Does Kino’s Canoe Symbolize in “The Pearl”?
• How Does Steinbeck Characterize the Doctor in “The Pearl”?
• What Is the Main Theme of “The Pearl”?
• What Is the Function of the Many Songs That Kino Hears During “The Pearl”?
• Who Is the Antagonist of “The Pearl”?
• Are Kino and Juana Defeated or Triumphant at the End of “The Pearl”?
• What Is the Mood of “The Pearl”?
• What Is the Social Criticism in “The Pearl”?
• How Does “The Pearl” Conclusion Complete Steinbeck’s Moral Argument?
• What Role Does Family Play in “The Pearl”?
• Was “The Pearl” Evil or Honest?
• Why Is the Scorpion Important in “The Pearl”?
• What Is the Main Conflict in the Story “The Pearl”?
• How Greed Is Portrayed in “The Pearl”?
• What Is the Conclusion of “The Pearl”?
• How Does Steinbeck Combine Naturalistic and Symbolic Elements in “The Pearl”?
• How Is Irony Used in “The Pearl”?
• What Does the Water Symbolize in “The Pearl”?
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IvyPanda. (2024, March 2). 74 The Pearl Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-pearl-essay-examples/

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IvyPanda . 2024. "74 The Pearl Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-pearl-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "74 The Pearl Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-pearl-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "74 The Pearl Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-pearl-essay-examples/.

by John Steinbeck

The pearl study guide.

John Steinbeck wrote The Pearl during the time in which he was at the height of his fame. He had completed The Grapes of Wrath , for which he won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and was renowned and reviled as a subversive, unpatriotic man who threatened the national interest through the socialist themes of his novels. This view of Steinbeck was inconsistent with his soft-spoken nature, but by 1944, when Steinbeck began to write The Pearl, Steinbeck had come to reconcile this aspect of his fame.

Steinbeck wrote The Pearl based on his personal convictions, and based the story on the biblical parable of a ?pearl of great price.' In this story, a jewel for which the merchant trades everything he owns becomes the metaphor for Heaven. Everything in the merchant's earthly existence, however, becomes worthless when compared to the joys of living with God in Heaven. However, Steinbeck uses the parable as a meditation on the American dream of success. Steinbeck, who himself had risen quickly to prosperity, explores how Kino , the protagonist of The Pearl, deals with his newfound prominence in the community and riches.

Steinbeck found a second inspiration for The Pearl in the tale of a young Mexican boy told in Steinbeck's Sea of Cortez. However, the boy in the original form of the story wished to use the pearl to buy clothing, alcohol and sex. The story contains several similar plot points, including the rapacious dealers and the attacks on the boy to find the pearl, that would recur in the story's final form.

The Pearl derives much of its force from the descriptions of the impoverished lifestyle of the Mexicans of La Paz, the location of the story. The plight of the impoverished is a consistent theme in Steinbeck's work, including The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men . Although these novels dealt with white protagonists, Steinbeck turned to the plight of Mexicans for The Pearl based on the 1942 and 1943 Zoot Suit Race Riots in Los Angeles.

By the time that Steinbeck wrote The Pearl, he had gained an interest in writing screenplays, and thus wrote the novel in a form suitable for easy adaptation to film. The story has a simple plot structure and an economy of characters, but unlike The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden , Steinbeck did not adapt The Pearl. Instead, Steinbeck focused on screenplays written originally for the screen for his subsequent works.

The Pearl Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Pearl is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

-other pearl divers

-rest of the people in village

What does Kino mean by, “This pearl has become my soul. “If I give it up I shall lose my soul…” Do you agree with him?

Kino allows the pearl to consume his life at the expense of everything else he holds dear. Do I agree with him? Money is nothing when compared with the people who love you...... absolutely not.

describe the setting of the novel "The Pearl"

The setting is a Mexican coastal village called La Paz, probably on the Baja Peninsula. The time is not mentioned although many feel it looks like the late 18th ot early 19th century.

Study Guide for The Pearl

The Pearl study guide contains a biography of John Steinbeck, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Pearl
• The Pearl Summary
• The Pearl Video
• Character List
• Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis

Essays for The Pearl

The Pearl literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Pearl.

• The Pearl versus The Secret River
• The Pearl: Symbolism Analysis
• A Dollar Cannot Buy a Smile: Riches vs. Happiness in 'The Pearl'
• Women as a Voice of Reason in John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”
• An Analysis of Imagery and Mood in John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl”

Lesson Plan for The Pearl

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Pearl
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Pearl Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Pearl

• Introduction