is a parable. That means this story has a
meaning beyond the literal events that take place, and it is intended to teach a lesson. Nearly every character, object, animal, sound, or action is an
that represents a more complex idea. Some characters or things in the book can symbolize more than one idea. For instance, the pearl, itself is an object in the book that can represent different things.
This is a first-come, first-served wiki. You cannot use an idea someone already wrote. For instance, you
Fill in the [[The Pearl by John Steinbeck#|information]] in the table below next to your name. Then respond to at least one classmate in the "classmate response" box next to his or her name. Say positive things about what they wrote or add your own ideas.
Name
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Topic
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What it/he/she represents
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moral or life lesson
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classmates' comments
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Mr. Kampia
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the pearl of the world
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The pearl represents Kino's hopes and dreams. When he looks at it, he sees a better life for his family. He imagines moving to the city, his son Coyotito going to a good school, and owning a rifle.
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One lesson we can learn from "the pearl of the world" is not to put all of your hopes into material wealth. That usually only brings disappointment.
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Nice job, Mr. K. I like your life lesson. Although I would add that the pearl also represents the hopes and dreams of anyone who sees it. The doctor sees himself moving back to Paris and eating at fancy [[The Pearl by John Steinbeck#|restaurants]]. The priest sees new additions to his church. - Mr. Big Word.
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Jermel
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Behavior of the ants and the roosters
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The behavior of the ants and the roosters represents that you have [[The Pearl by John Steinbeck#|to work]] hard and fight for survival. The busy ants and the ant frantically getting out of a sand trap shows that work is needed to survive. The roosters fighting shows to survive u will also need to fight.
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The life lesson or moral of the story is that in your life to survive you will have to work hard to get what is needed and you have to fight to provide and protect the people you love and care about.
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Thats very informational Jermel that is a good subject u put on this -AHMAD
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Jasmine
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Elan
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Nayia
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The doctor calling Kino and his family animals
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Before seeing the doctor Coyotito is stung by a scorpion and needs help. At the time the only doctor was in the city. In the city Juana and Kino and Coyotito did not fit in. Everyone in the city had money and wore nice clothes and had nice houses. Of course as majority of the rest of the town the doctor was rich and was greedy for more and more money. Kino knew the doctor would be mean and was ready. Kino went in with his family to request help from the doctor for his son and the doctor said, " you expect me to treat you indians you should see a veterinarian". Kino realizing they were called animals became furious with the doctor, went outside and punched the door to the gate. The doctor represents the trials and obsticles or people as him you must get past in life and move by.
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A lesson in this story is that even if someone is putting you down or doesn't want you to do something because you may be different in someone you don't let that get to you and you move on in life.
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Kira
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The metaphor of the fishes and mice
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In Chapter three, Steinbeck uses the metaphor of the fishes and mice in comparison to how humans treat one another. The fishes and the mice represented how people who are poor and underrepresented are treated cruely in societies where there are wealthy and powerful people. The smaller fishes were "eaten" up by the larger pool of fishes. Also, the mice were "gobbled" up by predators who seek to destroy the weaker man.
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The life lesson is that sometimes the powerful in society take advantage of others who are considered weaker than they are. For centuries, scorpions of each societies ruled over the lower class citizens. In this parable, the pearl represented a way out of poverty, while the actions or heartbeat of the townspeople represented greed, trickery, and abuse of those who were not able to defend themselves.
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Great explanation about how the are compared even though they are so different in many ways with the metaphor. Imani
Look out, Kira's on fire! - Mr. K
(Spice)MILES
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J.D.
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The Scorpion
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The scorpion represents the fear in Juana and her son. It showed what type of damage the scorpion could do to humans. the scorpions are very deadly insects and if you get hurt and you don't get treated you're expected to die in a short amount of time.
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The life lesson or moral of the story is that if you encounter a scorpion you have two options. The first option would be to run away from while having all of your belongings. The second option would be to kill it but, be prepared if more scorpions try to hurt you.
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Nice job explaining what the scorpion represents- Jermel
Thats really deep J.D. I think that was a great way of explaing
-Your Girl Sabria
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Daniel
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The Town
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The town represents society. Some people have fancy layed back lives.Others have to work all day everyday,like the indians. The town (as Steinbeck said)is also like an animal. It has less desirable but important parts like the heart.This represents the indians. It also has more desirable parts which are also important like the fur.This represents the towns colonists.
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The colonists thought that because they are different from the natives that they are superior over them. I think the lesson is don't get too full of yourself.
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Good job , but you can also mention how the town was compared to an animal in the way that it has a nervous system - Shannon
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Imani
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Juana
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Juana represents a brave but loving mother/wife who will do almost anything to protect her family. She wants to show her husband that she is not going to stand back and let things happen she is going to get up and fix the problem in the way.
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I think the lesson that can be learned is that no matter what people may think of you, you should try your hardest and strive to prove them wrong.
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(SPICE)Yeah good job, I think this describes the real definition of a good mom. Miles
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Ahmad
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The knife
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The knife represents kinos weapon for when people try and track him and steal the pearl so he can defend himself . Sometimes Kino uses the knife to protect the evil pearl that is turning him in to the monster. When Kino uses it he becomes a more wanted man than he is.
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I think the lesson for this is to always try and keep a positive life and if you find something that looks good take a good look at it cause it could ruin your whole life by greed.
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I think it you had a good moral/life lesson - Seon
Good work way to get into details.- Bianco
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Sabria
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Kino
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i think kino represents a strong man who wanted more for his family. He lets riches get the best of him and change how he thought of his family and his life period, But he gets trapped by his own unknown of knowledge in different parts of his life and he doesnt know what to do. I also think that in the beggining when Kino found the pearl and he wanted to do alot of things but he failed to realize that the pearl isn't worth losing your family. Messing up your realtionship with your Wife. But he mostly wanted the money, even though he wanted to use it for good works
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I think this is an example of someone trying to better for his family but does it in the wrong manner. But fail to realize he was hurting his family in the long run to get what he desired for his family. I also think that this is an example of life and what other people go through and what has to happen for them to realize things that are hurting the people they love.
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Nice Idea Indeed i Never thought Someone Would use Kino. Kino is indeed a strong man since he killed 4 People in the book cause they Caused Him harm And he has made MANY bad decisions in the Book-cWrextor-aka Jered
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Jered
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The Doctor
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The Doctor represents the hunger and thirst for money when you first get a little taste of power.He will only help those who have money than do it for free. He plans to get what he wants by sometimes stealing.
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The Moral is to not get to much. To much brings alot of attention on you and brings trouble if it spreads to the wrong people.
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True. It shows that all he really cares about is his money and returning to France to drink fine wine. - J.D
Spice... I agree with J.D. though but the doctor is a manipulater and 2 face because he did not want to help Kino and his "Animal Baby" but when he found out Kino had money now he wanna help him. Smh.
-Your girl Sabria
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Joshua
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The Trackers
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The Trackers represent the adversity that you will face in your life to get what you strive for.
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I think Kino lost sight of what he was truly looking for in the pearl and there for gave in to the trackers,not physically, but mentally.When you lose sight of your goals, you lose sight of your future dreams.
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This was Born for you to use Joshua cWrextor-aka Jered
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Bianco
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Cyotito's Death
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The death of Kino's is the result of greed and karma.Kino meant well but wanted money to much and in the moment he forgot about the ones he loves.
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Dont let greed get the best of you, remember the ones you love.
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good job Bianco.
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Seon
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The Canoe
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The canoe represented a source of food, water, and life. Canoes are used by many people for food, water and just for fun.
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Canoes are used for many things not just for rafting rivers they are used in things like: fishing, racing, rafting and more.
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Nice touch with the picture, Seon. - Mr. K
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Shannon
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The Gate
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I think that when Kino hit the gate it represented the barrier between the doctor and the healing of his son's health. It also shows his act upon bad situations in contrast to Juana's reaction of how she calmly deals with bad situations!
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I think we can learn that there will be barriers in our life but we do need to deal with them in a appropriate way. And we will get mad but dont let our bad feelings control our actions.
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You are so right! The gate was a symbolization of Kino's own barriers in his own life. Imani
TRUEEE.... I think so too Shan, but i think that kino just went through alot and the doctor was no help in the beggining. I like your observation though.
-Your Girl Sabria
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Miles
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The Pearl's Value
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The value of the pearl represents how much money it is worth. Yeah its pretty much self-explanatory. Anyway Kino was a victim of a scam he took his money to the capital ,but he never returned with the money. If he wasn't getting scammed he was getting tricked. Out of all the people that you wouldn't expect would try to trick you here comes the priest. I think that Kino would believe because he is very religious. But when you think about it your like wait a minute when I go to church I give up my money voluntarily its not just something thats forced upon me. I give because I love the Lord and he blesses me everyday. Basically the wealthy people formed an alliance to try to rip off Kino saying "its not worth anything its abnormal." But I think Kino is too smart and he's not falling into this trap.
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The life lesson or moral is stop to think about the things you do, the people you surround yourself with,and how they treat you. There are many hints in this book that tell about the type of people Kino was associating himself with. Know your enemies from your friends.
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Tru that, miles.The pearls value was a key part of the story.While at the beginning it was high,It became more important at the climax,and became its true form,a idol,at the end.Good observation ,Miles
Joshua
Good job Miles!!! =) Trueeeee.... but if kino was a rich spanish person and he found the pearl he would know wheather the pearl buyers where lying because he would have had a higher education.
-You girl Sabria
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David
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Anthony
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Mr. Big Word
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I'm not doing this assignment.
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It represents me not learning and thus getting a bad grade in literature class.
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I should complete my assignments. It's really not that hard.
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Good point, Mr. Big Word, but Epic Fail. - Mr. K.
And THIS GUY GRADES OUR VOC TEST!!!!!!-cWrextor-aka Jered
LOL, Jered - Mr. K
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