The Pearl

Vocabulary SlideshowChapters 4-6

1.Word: Countenanced POS: verb

Sentence: “But this was a wasteful method, for often, in the excitement of bidding for a fine pearl, too great a price had been paid to the fisherman. This was extravagant and not to be countenanced”

Definition: to extend approval or tolerance

2. Word: Vigor POS: noun

Sentence: “Kino put on his large straw hat and felt it with his hand to see that it was properly placed, not on the back or side of his head, like a rash, unmarried, irresponsible man, and not flat as an elder would wear it, but tilted a little forward to show aggressiveness and seriousness and vigor”

Definition: strength, energy, or determination

3. Word: solemn POS: adjective

Sentence: “The gathering procession was solemn, for they sensed the importance of this day, and any children who showed a tendency to scuffle, to scream, to cry out, to steal hats and rumple hair, were hissed to silence by their elders.”

Definition: sad and serious

Journal Prompt #1

Respond to ONE of the following:

1. Tell about a time when you have countenanced someone else’s poor behavior.

2. Describe one person or character that has a lot of vigor.

3. Tell about a solemn moment in your life, a movie, show or book.

4. Word: benign POS: adjective

Sentence: “His face was fatherly and benign, and his eyes twinkled with friendship.”

Definition: showing kindness and gentleness

5. Word: legerdemain POS: noun

Sentence: “His door stood open to the morning, and he hummed under his breath while his right hand practiced legerdemain. He rolled a coin back and forth over his knuckles and made it appear and disappear, made it spin and sparkle.”

Definition: sleight of hand; a display of skill

6. Word: coagulating POS: adjective

Sentence: “But Kino had grown tight and hard. He felt the creeping of fate, the circling of wolves, the hover of vultures. He felt the evil coagulating about him, and he was helpless to protect himself.”

Definition: to gather together

Respond to ONE of the following:

1. Describe a benign action you have done or shown toward someone else.

2. If you were good at legerdemain what would your best trick be? Explain it and why it’s best.

3. What would it feel like to have evil coagulating around you?

Journal Prompt #2

7.Word: contemptuously POS: adverb

Sentence: “The first dealer, dry and stringy, seemed now to see the pearl for the first time. He took it up, rolled it quickly between thumb and forefinger, and then cast it contemptuously back into the tray.”

Definition: feeling or showing deep hatred

8. Word: lethargy POS: noun

Sentence: “Long after Juan Tomas had gone Kino sat brooding on his sleeping mat. A lethargy had settled on him, and a little gray hopelessness.”

Definition: a lack of energy or interest in doing things

9. Word: lament POS: verb

Sentence: “She, being the nearest woman relative, raised a formal lament for the dead of the family.”

Definition: to express sorrow, regret, or unhappiness about something

Journal Prompt #3

Respond to ONE of the following:

1. Describe a time when you have acted contemptuously.

2. When have you felt a sense of lethargy or been lethargic?

3. Tell about something you have lamented.

10. Word: monotonously POS: adverb

Sentence: “The wind cried and whisked in the brush, and the family went on monotonously, hour after hour. They passed no one and saw no one. At last, to their right, the waning moon arose, and when it came up the wind died down, and the land was still.”

Definition: tediously uniform or unvarying

11. Word: petulant POS: adjective

Sentence: “And the baby was weary and petulant, and he cried softly until Juana gave him her breast, and then he gurgled and clucked against her.”

Definition: moved to show sudden annoyance

11. Word: germane POS: adjective

Sentence: “For any sound, a rolling pebble or a sigh, a little slip of flesh on rock, would rouse the watchers below. Any sound that was not germane to the night would make them alert. But the night was not silent; the little tree frogs that lived near the stream twittered like birds, and the high metallic ringing of the cicadas filled the mountain cleft.”

Definition: being relevant and appropriate

Journal Prompt #4

Respond to ONE of the following:

1. Tell about something you had to do that was monotonous.

2. Tell about someone you know who is petulant when they don’t get what they want.

3. Describe about a sound that is germane to the holiday season.