Saturday, August 29, 2015

Cannery Row and The Pearl, by John Steinbeck

This is the final month of my Library Book Group's "Steinbeck Summer."    The final two discussion guides follow as well as some wrap-up questions.
 
Cannery Row
 
Characters
Doc – Western Biological Laboratory
Frankie – homeless boy
 
Lee Chong – grocer
Horace Abbeville – gave Chong the empty storehouse to settle debt, then committed suicide
 
Palace Flophouse and Grill (Abbeville building)
Mack, Hazel, Eddie, Hughie, Jones, Gay
Darling – dog
 
Dora Flood – madam – Bear Flag Restaurant
Alfred – Alfy – watchman
 
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Malloy – living in abandoned boiler in vacant lot
 
Henri - painter
 
For discussion:
1. Why didn't people believe Doc when he was telling the truth about his walk but did when he lied (chapter 17)?
2. Did you guess the question everyone had about the pole skater (chapter 20)?
3. Why did the failed party have such a long-reaching effect on the town (chapter 25)?
4. There were many seemingly unrelated stories in the novel.  Why did Steinbeck include them?
  • Chapter 26 - Joey and Willard
  • Chapter 31 - the gopher story
5. What lessons did this story tell about human nature?
 
The Pearl
 
Characters
Kino – fisherman
Juana – wife
Coyotito – son
 
Juan Tomas – Kino’s brother
Apolonia – wife
Four sons
 
Doctor
 
Priest
 
For discussion:
1. In chapter 3, when Kino started to dream that he could actually own a rifle, Steinbeck wrote, "For it is said that humans are never satisfied, that you give them one thing and they want something more."  Do you agree?  Why or why not?
2. How could the outcome of this story been different?
 
Steinbeck Summer
  • Of Mice and Men
  • Travels with Charley
  • Cannery Row
  • The Pearl
1. Which of the four stories did you like best?  The least?  Were you surprised by your choice?
2. What do you think makes Steinbeck such a revered writer?


*****
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