The Pearl Chapter 6 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What did Kino use to guide him while walking at night?

stars

In what town is there a monument to the Virgin Mary?

Loreto

How many people did they pass along the road?

none

Once the wind stopped, why did they walk in wheel ruts?

So that their tracks would get wiped away by a cart traveling to town in the early morning. Signup and view all the answers

Where did they go at first dawn?

Off the road to rest in a covert area. Signup and view all the answers

What logical reason did Kino give Juana for believing they would be followed?

He believed that he wouldn't have been attacked if the pearl had no value, therefore, they would continue looking for them. Signup and view all the answers

What different visions did Kino begin seeing in the pearl?

As he thought of a rifle, he only saw the vision of the man he killed. As he thought of being married in the church, he saw Juana's beaten face, and as he thought of Coyotito reading, Kino saw Coyotito's face swollen and sick from the medicine. Signup and view all the answers

Who did Kino see coming down the road?

Two trackers on foot and one on horseback. Signup and view all the answers

What did Kino think he had to do if the trackers found the swept path?

Kill the one on horseback first because he had a rifle and then kill the others. Signup and view all the answers

What did Juana do to keep Coyotito quiet?

She nursed him. Signup and view all the answers

At what point did the trackers pause?

In the area that Kino had swept, but they continued on. Signup and view all the answers

To where will they retreat and why?

They would go into the mountains because they would be tougher to follow over bare stone, and they could find a place to hide. Signup and view all the answers

What would make things easier for the trackers?

Kino had no time to cover his tracks. Signup and view all the answers

What did Kino do to deceive the trackers?

He moved in a zigzag method, trying to throw them off course. Signup and view all the answers

What did Kino want Juana to do?

He wanted her to hide and either go to Loreto or Santa Rosalia. Signup and view all the answers

Did Juana do as Kino wished?

False Signup and view all the answers

What would provide Kino with a sign of water in the mountains?

A hint of foliage. Signup and view all the answers

How did the pools of water symbolize both life and death?

All animals need water to drink, and when some came to drink, predatory animals also came to hunt smaller animals before drinking. Signup and view all the answers

Where in the mountains did Kino intend to hide?

In a wind eroded cave that was about 30 feet higher than the pool. Signup and view all the answers

How did Kino hope to escape the trackers?

Have them follow a fake path he set by climbing to the next bench 100 feet up, on a side nearer the pool. If they followed that path, they would back down and travel north. Signup and view all the answers

What was Kino's fear about the attempted escape?

That Coyotito would cry and make noise. Signup and view all the answers

Why were all three trackers afoot when they arrived at the water pool?

Because the horse could not climb the steeper slope. Signup and view all the answers

What helped Kino see the trackers at the pool?

One lit a match to light a cigarette, and that provided a quick picture of the area. Signup and view all the answers

When must Kino attack the trackers and which one must he get first?

He must attack before the moon rose, and he has to get the one with the rifle first. Signup and view all the answers

What did Kino do so that he wouldn't be seen climbing down the slope?

He stripped off his white clothes so that his darker body would blend in with the mountainside. He also moved very slowly so that his movement wouldn't be detected. Signup and view all the answers

Like what type of animal did Kino descend?

Lizard. Signup and view all the answers

What had Kino hoped would not happen before he could attack?

That the moon would not rise. Signup and view all the answers

What did the watcher hear, and what did one of the sleepers think he might have heard?

He thought he heard a baby's cry, which was probably Coyotito. The sleeper thought he was just hearing a coyote pup crying in one of the caves. Signup and view all the answers

What did the watcher do to stop the sound?

He fired a shot in that direction. Signup and view all the answers

What did Kino do to the trackers? Detail each.

As the watcher fired the rifle, Kino jumped and cut his throat and stabbed him in the chest. While removing his knife, Kino grabbed the rifle and smashed the skull of the tracker who awakened first. As the other tracker tried to run away and was climbing vines, Kino shot and but didn't kill him; he fell into the water pool and Kino went and shot him between the eyes. Signup and view all the answers

At what part of the day did Kino and Juana return to La Paz?

Afternoon. Signup and view all the answers

What was different about the way Kino and Juana marched into town?

They walked side by side instead of Juana following close behind. Signup and view all the answers

What final visions did Kino see in the pearl?

The man he shot at the pool and Coyotito with the top of his head blown off. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Coyotito?

He was killed when the watcher fired the rifle. The bullet took off part of his head. Signup and view all the answers

What is symbolic of his death?

Innocence must die because of Kino's desires and greed. Signup and view all the answers

What did they do with the pearl?

Kino threw it back into the gulf. Signup and view all the answers

What caused the pearl to disappear under the sea surface?

A crab scampered past it and caused some sea-surface sand to rise and fall over it. Signup and view all the answers

After reading Chapter 1 and this chapter, how did the scenes with the ants foreshadow Kino's near future?

In chapter 6, Kino provided an obstacle which the ants climbed over, like Kino tried to do in the mountains. In chapter 1, one ant stepped out of line and it got eaten, like Kino's innocence because he stepped out of line with the structure for selling pearls. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the symbolism of the transition from the beach to the northbound road to the mountains as it relates to problems and problem solving.

Problems have a place of origin, and for Kino, his problem began near the beach. When people do not face their problems, they tend to grow and become more of a burden. Problems do not just go away; problems follow the person who tries to run away from them as trackers continued to chase Kino. As problems become more burdensome, they cause people to move slower, which the reader sees as Kino tried to climb the mountains. If people do not face their problems, the massive growth of these problems can eventually blow up in one's face, which is indicated with Coyotito's death and the way he was shot. Innocence dies and cannot be retained. Therefore, the lesson or message of this story is to handle problems as they occur, otherwise, more problems will come forth. Kino did not do this and lost his son. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Night Journey and Guidance

Kino relied on stars to navigate during nighttime.
They traveled past Loreto, known for its Virgin Mary monument, without encountering anyone on the road.

Stealth and Strategy

To obscure their tracks, Kino chose to walk in wheel ruts after the wind ceased.
At dawn, they sought refuge off the road to avoid detection.

Tracking and Threats

Kino believed they would be pursued if the pearl held value since he had been attacked.
Visions of the pearl reflected his turmoil: a rifle evoked memories of murder, thoughts of marriage conjured Juana's injuries, and aspirations for Coyotito’s education brought sorrow.

Encounters with Trackers

Kino spotted two foot trackers and one mounted tracker on the road.
He planned to kill the horseman first to neutralize the immediate threat of the rifle.

Family Safety Measures

Juana kept Coyotito quiet by nursing him.
The trackers paused only momentarily in their pursuit but continued onward.

Strategic Retreat

They decided to retreat into the mountains, where rocky terrain would complicate tracking.
Kino used a zigzag motion to mislead the trackers and obscure their path.

Juana’s Defiance

Kino urged Juana to flee to Loreto or Santa Rosalia for safety, but she refused.

Water Symbolism

Kino noted that hints of foliage would indicate potential water sources in the mountains.
Water pools represented both life and death, attracting both prey and predators.

Hiding and Outmaneuvering

Kino aimed to hide in a cave elevated above a water pool.
He wanted the trackers to follow a false trail he created to escape detection.

Fear and Tension

Kino feared Coyotito would make noise during their attempted escape.
Trackers travelled on foot due to the terrain's difficulty for horses.

Nighttime Tension

Kino observed a tracker lighting a cigarette, briefly illuminating the area.
He needed to attack before moonrise, targeting the rifleman first.

Camouflage and Stealth

To avoid detection, Kino stripped to blend with the mountains and moved cautiously.

Final Confrontation

Kino's attack on the trackers was brutal and swift: he killed one by slicing his throat and shooting another in the forehead after a struggle.

Aftermath of Violence

They returned to La Paz in the afternoon, marked by a changed demeanor; they walked side by side instead of in a traditional follower dynamic.
Kino’s last visions of the pearl were dark and haunting, focusing on death and loss.

Loss of Innocence

Coyotito was tragically killed by a stray bullet during the confrontation.
The event symbolizes the death of innocence due to Kino's desires and greed.

Disposing of the Pearl

In a symbolic act of rejection, Kino tossed the pearl into the sea, signifying a final break from his ambitions and losses.

Foreshadowing through Ants

Earlier scenes with ants represent the obstacles Kino faced, reflecting a loss of innocence tied to his quest for wealth.

Symbolic Journey

The transition from beach to mountainous terrain represents the origin and escalation of troubles; running away from problems only intensifies them.
Kino's failure to confront challenges directly culminated in tragedy, emphasizing the narrative’s message about facing problems proactively to prevent greater losses.

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Description

Test your knowledge of Chapter 6 from John Steinbeck's 'The Pearl' with these flashcards. This quiz covers key details and events in the narrative such as Kino's journey and the significance of locations mentioned in the chapter.