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The Pearl . John Steinbeck. Essential Questions. How does parable transcend time and place to employ a universal theme? What makes a theme universal? Why are symbols useful to writers and their audience? How can writing be used to effect change in society?. Key Terms. 1) Theme 2) Motif
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The Pearl John Steinbeck
Essential Questions • How does parable transcend time and place to employ a universal theme? • What makes a theme universal? • Why are symbols useful to writers and their audience? • How can writing be used to effect change in society?
Key Terms • 1) Theme • 2) Motif • 3) Characterization • 4) Conflict • 5) Symbolism • 6) Parable • 7) Allegory • 8) Setting • 9) Metaphor • 10) Simile • 11) Personification • 12) Figurative Language • 13) Imagery • 14) Freytag’s Plot Diagram
Themes & Motifs • While reading The Pearl you will see some common themes and motifs pop up. • To examine these themes and motifs, I want you to compile a list of quotes into categories in your journals that support each of the themes presented as you read. We will then be using these quotes to complete a project (A Visual Analysis) at the end of the unit. • We will also be using Google Docs as a class to compile a master list together before beginning this project.
Money, Possessions, Greed • Look for quotes dealing with the quest for money and the desire for things of the material world, as well as references to the steps which people will take to attain these things. Look for passages that money can buy happiness.
Social Oppression • Look for quotes dealing with the oppression of groups of people or people of a certain social standing. Oppression can look like disrespect or a group that is taken advantage of or even discriminated against.
Man as Part of Nature • Look for quotes that illustrate similarities between humans and other species through comparisons. Notice the frequent images Steinbeck uses and think of how these passages reflect or foreshadow human events.
Kino’s songs • Look for quotes with references to “music” that Kino hears. What 3 types of songs does he hear and what is the significance. Pay attention to when and under what circumstances he “hears” a particular song.
Good vs. Evil • Look for quotes that reflect image and ideas of darkness-light, good-evil, brightness-dimness, day-night, black-white, etc.
Appearance vs. Reality • Look for passages/quotes that refer to things not being what they seem. Consider quotes about visions, haze, mirages, dreams, vagueness, ghostly gleams, illusions, etc.
Discussion starters (before reading) • Think about these and label them with a True or False. • 1) Society’s wrongs can be righted. • 2) An individual has complete control over their success in life. • 3) Money and desire changes an individual. • 4) Money is necessary to be successful in life. • 5) You are either good or evil.
Background Information • John Steinbeck • Born in Salinas California • Grew up poor • Graduated from Stanford University • Became an excellent observer of human nature and later wrote about the people he lived around. • Including Mexican American immigrant workers • Often treated poorly and without respect and had little means of defending themselves. • Many of the characters he wrote about were isolated and oppressed. • They represent the struggle theme of his writing: • Poor and wealthy • Weak and strong • Good and evil • All of these themes are evident in The Pearl.
Origins • In 1940 Steinbeck set out on a sailing expedition to study marine life in the Gulf of California, hoping to find universal patterns in marine species that would help him understand life in general. • During this trip he heard about the legend of a Mexican fisher boy who had found and enormous pearl that had brought him much misery. Steinbeck developed this legend into the novel The Pearl. • You will see details about the plant and animal life in the Gulf and the metaphors, images and themes Steinbeck uses which are connected to these details.
Setting • The events of The Pearl take place around the 1900’s on the mouth of the river on the coast of Mexico in the town of La Paz.
Historical Background and Social Culture • As the time the story takes place, the Indians of Mexico had already been under the domination of people of Spanish descent for 300 years. • The governing class was primarily made up of those Spanish descent and the Roman Catholic Church who, together, kept he Mexican Indians at the bottom of the social hierarchy or social ladder. • In most cases the Indians were not allowed to attend school or own land (keeping people uneducated and dependent keeps them oppressed). • Although Spanish culture and Catholic rituals were forced upon the Indians, they fiercely held onto many of their spiritual beliefs, cultures, and customs of their various tribes (evident in the novel).
Style • The Pearl is short novel or “novella” which is told in the form of an allegory or parable. • Parable: short, simple work with little dialogue, illustrating a lesson or a larger truth often on the subject of good and evil. • In a parable good and evil are clearly defined- everything is black and white, there are no shades of gray. • Examples: • Good characters have names • Bad characters have no names • The characters and actions symbolize universal ideas or concepts and the readers attach their own meaning to these symbols.
Point of View • The Pearl is told by an all knowing omniscient third-person narrator who is observing the characters and their actions from outside the story.
Reading Schedule • Handout with schedule • Be sure to keep your journal catalogue of quotes • Be prepared for in class discussion and be sure to have something to talk about each Thursday regarding the text. • An insightful question, though, comment or quote • Class participation will be recorded • Your reading schedule will be as follows: • March 27: Chapters 1 & 2 (1-20) • April 3: Chapter 3 (21-40) • April 10: Chapter 4 (41-57) • April 17: Chapter 5 & 6 (58-90)
Project Due Date: • Compile all quotes onto Google Documents for each of the categories as a class. • Groups will be given a category. • You may pick your group of • Period 8: 3-4 people • Period 5: 2-3 people • Job of the group is to create a brief video displaying pictures, quotes, video and music that emphasizes the overall theme. • Tools: i-movie, self-run power-point, vimeo, etc. • This will be a visual representation of your theme from the novel to be shared with class. • BE CREATIVE!
Test Due Date: • Test will be cover characters, major event, major themes of the novel. • Quotes maybe used for you to explain the significance of in connection to the novel. You will not be asked to explain who stated them.
