1. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
CYBERLESSON
A novella based on an old Mexican folktale

2. Introduction What makes this story a parable?
"In the town they tell the story of the great pearl -- how it was found and how it was lost again. They tell of Kino the fisherman, and of his wife Juana, and of the baby, Coyotito. And because the story has been told so often, it has taken root in every man's mind. And, as with all retold tales that are in people's hearts, there are only good and bad things and black and white things and no in-between anywhere. If this story is a parable, perhaps everyone takes his own meaning from it and reads his own life into it.”So writes John Steinbeck in The Pearl. As you read the novella, think about Steinbeck’s introduction. What meaning do you take from this story?
What makes this story a parable?
What is Steinbeck’s message?
What does this story mean to me?

3. Resources and Materials
Laptop computers (from mobile cart)
Pen or pencil
Notebooks
Colored pencils
Drawing paper

4. (Building background knowledge )
BEFORE READING
(Building background knowledge )

5. “Before Reading” Activity
This activity is structured to help you begin to interpret some of the symbols in Steinbeck's retelling of an old Mexican folktale. You have been assigned one of the following symbols:
Pearl
Scorpion
Ocean
Canoe
Village
Storm

6. SYMBOL A person, a place, an object or an action that stands for something beyond itself.
A dove is a bird, but might symbolize peace. A black crow circling overhead is a bird flying, but might symbolize danger to come. Symbols are everywhere in our daily lives; human beings require symbols for self-expression (in clothing, music, speech, politics…). Symbolism is universal. As in all parables, The Pearl offers much symbolism.

7. Be prepared to:
Discuss the possibilities with others who have studied the same symbol.
Illustrate your interpretation of the symbol for display.
Bring these ideas to your reading of The Pearl.

8. Process (1) Locate the picture of your symbol on the following slides.
(2) Click on that image. This will link you to information on your symbol.
(3) Read through some, or all, of the text.
(4) As you read, in your notebook on a t-chart record facts you feel are relevant.
(5) Review the information you recorded and offer some interpretations; in other words, what does this symbol stand for?
(6) See the next slide for a sample T-chart.

9. PEARL
Literal meanings
Symbolic meanings

10. Images of symbols from The Pearl appear on the next few slides
Images of symbols from The Pearl appear on the next few slides. Click on the slide that corresponds to your selected symbol.

11. Scorpion

12. Pearl

13. Ocean

14. Canoe

15. Village

16. Storm

17. Discuss Ideas!
Group with others who share the same symbol as you to compare ideas. Predict how this might fit into the story.
As a small group, develop a list of possible symbolic meanings.

18. Draw Your Symbol
Materials:
White paper
Colored pencils or crayons

19. Fishbowl Discussion
One student from each “symbol group” will take part in a fishbowl discussion.
The discussion participants will bring their group’s ideas to this bigger discussion.
Students in the outside circle will listen attentively.
After about ten minutes, students in the outside circle will have the opportunity to add questions and comments to the discussion through notes passed to the fishbowl.

20. Acknowledgments Information, images and links for this activity are courtesy of the following websites:
Images
www. magickcanoe.com
Reference