Topics for Discussion

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1. Reflect on this quote from The Pearl: "An accident could happen to these oysters, a grain of sand could lie in the folds of muscle and irritate the flesh until in self-protection the flesh coated the foreign body until it fell free in some tidal flurry or until the oyster was destroyed." Enhance this description by consulting a biology text or a book on marine life, and then interpret Steinbeck's pearl as a metaphor for human growth.

2. Assuming the roles of Kino or Juana (with only their knowledge), devise a strategy to improve the dire conditions of the community. Ensure your plan aligns with the characters' traits as depicted.

3. The story frequently references colonialism and race. Kino represents the trope of the noble savage, and the dialogue reflects stereotypical language of the newly colonized, despite the known fact that the Indians speak an indigenous language and the Europeans speak Spanish. Are these elements essential to the narrative? Whether you agree or disagree, explain why you think Steinbeck included these additional layers of tension.

4. Analyze the significance of this line from the story: "The thin dog came to him and threshed itself in greeting like a wind-blown flag, and Kino looked down at it and didn't see it."

5. Research Steinbeck's literary theory. Does he adhere to or deviate from his theory in this story?

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