Monday, May 2, 2016

The Pearl pages 1-56

Post one level two question, and one level three question for your classmates about the text. Then, answer at least one question as well. Use textual evidence and close reading skills in your post.

17 comments:

  1. Level 2: In the Pearl the author uses the pearl to symbolize something. What is his something and how does the pearl foreshadow what might happen to Kino, Juana and Coyotito?

    Level 2: Juana and Kino have very different views/opinions on what to do with the pearl and what it will bring to them. If you were placed in to this situation who's side would you be on, or would you propose a different side completely.
    -Grace

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    1. @Grace level 2: I think i would be on Kino's side because if I could choose to keep something that would bring me great wealth or throw it away I would keep it and take the risk that it would change me.
      -Haley

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    2. @graces #2 : I am totally in agreement with Haley. Unless there is a song of evil that comes out of it ( i dont know why but i found that very funny) i would keep something that would make me money cause I mean hey unless you're a saint pretty much everyone would look for an opportunity to make some cash. Hey I baby sat some little girls and it was the worst 10 hours of my life because they kept. On. Arguing. But hey 100 bucks am I right? I plan on buying a car.

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  2. Level 2: Compare the pearl to something in today's market that would have about the same value. How would it change the story?

    Level 3: Juana and Kino have different opinions about the pearl. One is against for keeping it and one if for keeping it. pick a side and predict what outcome will arise from the side.

    -Haley

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    1. The pearl today would be something like a pair of beats or another expensive electronic device. Beats are plentiful like the pearls but some are more rare than others. And if you were to pawn them or attempt to sell them, people would attempt to make the beats look less valuable then they actually are. It wouldn't change the story much, other than the fact you can actually use the headphones for something, but you can't really use the Pearl for anything.

      -Aissa

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    2. Response to Haleys Level 3: Honestly I think Juana and Kino both have fair points about what to do with the pearl. I agree that it could give their family a wonderful opportunity of being able to send Coyotito to school, affording better clothes, and avoiding starvation like Kino said. But also one of the down sides of living in such a close and bonded community is that nothing is private and now everyone knows about the great pearl, which opens up the possibility of someone coming to try to steal the pearl and in the process Kino and Juana could get hurt, like the robbery/attack on page 36. So I do think that they should sell the pearl ASAP so they can get the target off of their backs and get rid of the evil like Juana suggested, but they defiantly shouldn't destroy it either.

      -Hannah Blankenship

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  3. Level 3: Evaluate who Juana represents in the story. She sees the Pearl as something that was set to destroy someone. How does her warning foreshadow what happens to Kino?

    Level 2: The author constantly uses "The Song of Family" or "The Music of Evil" to help the reader understand how Kino is feeling. Explain why you think the author uses this device. How does it contribute to the mood of the story?

    -Aissa

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    1. @ Aissa level 2: The way I see how the songs are used in the Pearl is like when ever a villain or a hero enters a scene in a movie or TV show and how a song will start playing so you know if what is about happen is good or bad. The same thing happens in the Peal. "And to Kino the secret melody of the maybe pearl broke broke clear and beautiful, rich and warm and lovely, glowing and gloating and triumphant"(Steinbeck 20). You can imagine this song playing in your head and because of this you know that this is an incredible thing that they just found. The author also uses The Music of Evil a lot when he talks about how Juana thinks of the pearl and what misfortune it might bring them.
      -Grace

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  4. Level 2: We learn early on in the book when Coyotito is stung by a scorpion (page 8) that their community is very close knit and word travels fast. Compare and contrast Kino and Juana's community to the 8th grade community at Lucas.

    Level 3: In chapter 4 the doctor visits Kino and Juana almost as soon as he hears that they've found the pearl. In the exam, the doctor uses a white powder to 'cure' Coyotito of his scorpion sting; Kino is suspicious of this white powder. Speculate what the doctor really did, did he actually poison the baby, or do you think he was genuinely trying to cure him?

    -Hannah Blankenship

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    1. To Hannah's Level Two:
      First of all, good question! I think that it's not that different, except how the information travels. Sure, we use verbal means, but we often text, Snapchat, Instagram, etc. the news. The people we prefer gossiping to are possibly in another class which is why. If they're inour class, we're clearly going to verbally gossip.

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    2. Response to Hannah's level three:
      The doctor realized that they had a lot of money, but that the baby had already gotten over the potion, so he used the white powder to make the baby sick again so he could get paid to heal it. The doctor took advantage of the fact that these people trusted a doctor and didn't know much in the medical field.

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  5. Response to Aissa's Level 3: Juana represents the practical partner who is content with what they have. She only wishes for her family's safety. The problem is everything comes at a price so Kino, Juana, and Coyotito are going to have to pay the price for their "good" fortune.

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  6. Level 2: Compare Kino and Juana and why their ideals differentiate.
    Level 3: Predict what will happen to Kino and Juana when they go to the Capitol. Will the pearl be worth as much as they believe? Will the money they receive change them?

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  7. Level 3a: The Pearl is incredibly detailed. Why do you think Steinbeck's writing style is like this? How does he use it to his advantage?
    Level 3b: "...saying this is safety, this is warmth, this is the Whole." (Steinbeck 5) What, in your opinion is the Whole? "And this was part of the family song too. It was all part." What is the metaphor of the songs, do you think? Why is it used?

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  8. Level Two Question: The first paragraph of the book gives a very descriptive image of the setting of the book. What mood does this imagery create for you? Does this imagery remind you of any past memories that you can connect to?

    Level Three Question: If you were in Kino’s position when the pearl buyers gave him a “bad deal” on the pearl, would you have taken the offer even if it wasn’t anywhere near what you thought it would be, or would you take your pearl elsewhere if you knew for sure that it was worth more? How do you think kino’s position as a husband and father has to do with the choice he made?

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  9. Level 2 - Execute how the amount of imagery used throughout these first 4 chapter portrays the authors writing style and the tone of this novel. "The brown algae waved in the gentle currents and then green eel grass swayed and little sea horses clung to its stem." (Steinbeck 14)
    Level 3 - Predict how you would have felt if you were the parent of one and only child. You see your baby get stung by a scorpion and then the doctors refuse to help you. How would you feel to find the pearl? Describe, in detail, your emotion from your initial reaction to your reaction all the way through.

    -ashlyn

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  10. @ben level 2 - I totally agree, the whole novel but particularly the first paragraph gives the whole thing a tone.It tells you they are in a very rural location. Because the narrator talks about seeing the roosters, pigs, and birds. And how he is watching the sun rise. And usually it is hard to find the sun risenin really urban areas. If you go down to the next paragraph it begins to describe how poor they are without diretly telling you. I think that was one of Steinbecks writing styles... to give yoou detail rather than the actuality. And from ther ehe lets you dig deeper and infer.

    -ashlyn

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