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Author’s Info
John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. was born on February 27, 1902 and died on December 20th, 1968.
John Steinbeck went to Stanford University in Palo Alto, he stayed for five years and left without a
degree.
John Steinbeck’s first novel is “Cup of Gold” published in 1929
In 1962 John Steinbeck won a Nobel Prize for “realistic and imaginative writing, combining as it
does sympathetic humor and keen social perception”
3. Plot Summary
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In the Pearl, Kino and Juanna live a happy
life with a healthy baby, until the baby is
stung by a scorpion. Without money, they
cannot get help by the doctor. Kino finds a
great pearl and things turn topsy-turby.
4. Characters
•
•
Kino/protagonist- Kino is the main character, Kino
finds a great pearl to save his son. Kino wants to get the
true value for his great pearl. The great pearl slowly
drains away Kino’s soul as the book goes on.
Juanna/protagonist- Juanna is Kino’s wife, Juanna
tries to get rid of the pearl because she believes it’s
evil. Juanna stays by Kino’s side the whole time.
5. Characters
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Juan Tomas/protagonist- Kino’s little brother.
Juan Tomas warns Kino about being cheated of the
peal and he harbors Kino when their house was burned
down.
Doctor/antagonist- The doctor is determined to
have the pearl of the world. He turns away Kino when
Coyotito was stung by a scorpion. Then he poisons
Coyotito and cures him just to get Kino’s Great Pearl.
6. Characters
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The Buyers/antagonist- they tried to get the
lowest price possible for the pearl. They angered Kino
and made him determined to go to the capitol and sell it.
The Priest- The Priest gives Kino advice, telling him
not to sell the pearl because God gave it to him to
protect.
7. Moral
•
The moral of the Pearl is that don’t let greed
get to you and don’t be blinded by
happiness.
