Reader’s Response Questions to The Pearl

1. Explain Kino’s Song of the Family.

 Kino's Song of the Family is like this little tune he sings in his head when everything feels safe and good with Juana and the baby.

2. What movement by the hanging box causes Juana and Kino to freeze in their positions?

 When they see that scorpion moving in the hanging box, both Kino and Juana totally freeze up because they're so scared it'll hurt Coyotito.

3. What happens to Coyotito?

Coyotito ends up getting stung by the scorpion and gets super sick, which is like the worst thing ever for his parents.

4. Paraphrase and cite the description of the doctor. How does Kino feel when he arrives at the door of the doctor’s home?

The doctor is described as this rich, lazy guy who doesn't care about poor people (Steinbeck 7), and Kino gets mad when the doctor won't help them.

5. What emotion does Kino express at the close of Chapter 1?

At the end of Chapter 1, Kino is straight-up furious because the doctor was such a jerk about Coyotito.

6. What is Kino’s most prized possession?

Kino's most important thing is his canoe because it's how they eat and survive and stuff.

7. Briefly explain how a pearl is formed in an oyster.

Pearls happen when a piece of sand gets stuck in an oyster and the oyster keeps putting layers around it until it becomes a pearl.

8. What do Kino and Juana find?

Kino and Juana find this huge, perfect pearl that could make them rich, which is crazy lucky.

9. How does Kino think his life will change after finding it?

Kino thinks the pearl will fix everything - like get them a house, clothes, and even school for Coyotito.

10. How does Juana’s opinion of possessing the pearl change after the robbery attempt?

After someone tries to steal it, Juana starts thinking the pearl is bad luck and wants to get rid of it.

11. How are the pearl buyers unfair to Kino?

The pearl buyers totally scam Kino by saying his pearl isn't worth much when it's actually amazing.

12. What is the “day from which all other days would take their arrangement?”

The day they find the pearl becomes this huge deal that changes everything after.

13. What does Juan Tomas tell Kino about the pearl?

Juan Tomás tells Kino that the pearl might cause more trouble than it's worth, which turns out to be true.

14. What does the pearl buyer tell Kino about his pearl?

The pearl buyer lies and says Kino's pearl is weird and not valuable, which is complete BS.

15. How does Kino feel about taking the pearl to the capital?

Kino's nervous about going to the capital but thinks it's their only shot at a fair deal.

16. What does Juana urge Kino to do with the pearl?

Juana keeps telling Kino they should just chuck the pearl into the ocean before things get worse.

17. What is Kino’s only fear as the trackers follow him?

While the trackers are following them, Kino's biggest worry is that Coyotito's crying will get them caught.

18. What happens to Coyotito?

Tragically, Coyotito gets killed when the trackers shoot at his cry thinking it's a coyote.

19. What do Kino and Juana finally do with the pearl? 

In the end, Kino and Juana throw the pearl back in the ocean because it ruined their lives.

20. What is the theme of the novella?

The whole point of the story is that being greedy can wreck everything good in your life.