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Literary Terms
Characters
Main Events
Examples of Literary Devices
Vocabulary
100
This type of story is meant to teach a lesson.
What is a parable?
100
Why does the doctor refuse to see Coyotito at the beginning of the story?
Kino and Juana have no money to pay for the treatment. Also, the Doctor looks down on Kino's people because they are natives.
100
What does Kino do when the doctor refuses to see Coyotito?
He punches the gate outside of the doctor's house.
100
The Song of Evil is an example of this.
What is foreshadowing?
100
Kino's home was along the ___________________, where the Gulf met the river.
Estuary.
200
This occurs when the author gives hints or clues as to what will happen later in the story.
What is foreshadowing?
200
How many pearl buyers are there in the town?
There is one pearl buyer, but he has several men who work for him and appear to be separate buyers to drive the cost of the pearls down. This makes it easier for the buyer to take advantage of the natives.
200
What does Kino hear when he thinks he found a great pearl?
The Song of the Pearl that Might Be.
200
The following statement is an example of which literary device? Also, what does it suggest about the people in the village? “The houses belched people; the doorways spewed out children”
What is personification? It describes the way everyone flowed out of the homes to see what was going on at Kino's. It suggests they are very close and interested in each other's business.
200
All of the people in the town _____________________ as to what Kino would buy with the money from the pearl.
speculated
300
This occurs when the author gives human-like qualities to inhuman or inanimate objects.
What is personification?
300
Why does Juana doubt her poultice remedy for Coyotito's sting?
It is an ancient remedy. It is free, and therefore, it has no authority compared to the doctor's treatment. She is worried it is not good enough.
300
What are the four things Kino believes the pearl will provide for him?
1. A Wedding 2. A baptism. 3. An education for Coyotito 4. A Rifle
300
What does Kino's canoe represent? Explain.
Independence, freedom, family, etc.
300
The pearl buyers describe the pearl of the world as a ____________________ to con Kino out of the money he deserves.
monstrosity
400
This occurs when an author uses an object to represent an abstract idea.
What is symbolism?
400
How does Coyotito's name relate to his death?
Coyotito means "little coyote." The trackers shoot and kill Coyotito because they think his cries are the cries of a baby coyote.
400
Why does Kino hit Juana?
She tries to throw the pearl back into the water to get rid of the evil. This angers Kino.
400
The following excerpt is an example of which literary device? What does it mean? “A town is a thing like a colonial animal. A town has a nervous system and a head and shoulders and feet. A town is a thing separate from all other towns, so that there are no two towns alike. And a town has a whole emotion. How news travels through a town is a mystery not easily solved. News seems to move faster than small boys can scramble and dart to tell it…”
Simile. It compares the town to a living, breathing organism. It is alive and active, so the news travels throughout without any effort. It is natural.
400
Kino felt the pearl buyers were offering him ____________________ amounts of money for the pearl, so he refused to sell it to them.
insubstantial
500
Why is the name of Kino's town, "La Paz," an example of irony?
La Paz means peace. With peace being the name of the town, you might expect it would be peaceful. However, the town is the opposite for Kino. His son is stung. He finds a pearl that everyone wants. People try to rob him and kill him, etc.
500
Explain how the pearl changes Kino.
At first, Kino is focused on saving Coyotito. When he finds the pearl, he thinks of all of the good it could bring his family. Then, Kino begins to become paranoid. He fears anyone who approaches. Finally, he becomes greedy. He thinks only about the amount of money he can get for the pearl. As a consequence, he kills a man.
500
Explain the ending of the book.
Kino and Juana attempt to take the pearl to the capitol to earn more money for it. Kino killed a man, so they are being followed by trackers. They try to escape, but when they fail, Kino decides he is going to kill them. When he tries, the one with the rifle shoots Coyotito. Kino and Juana return home with their dead child. Everyone is curious but no one talks to them. Kino offers the pearl to Juana to throw back into the ocean, but she refuses and makes Kino do it instead.
500
At what point does the pearl stop being a symbol of hope and and becomes a symbol of evil?
When Kino hits Juana. From this point on, every time Kino looks into it, he seems one of his dreams being corrupted.
500
I am sure that Kino _______________________ the day he ever found the pearl of the world!
laments