The Black PearlThe Black PearlThe Black PearlThe Black Pearl

by Scott O’Dellby Scott O’Dellby Scott O’Dellby Scott O’Dell

The AuthorThe AuthorThe AuthorThe AuthorScott O’Dell is well-known for having written another historical Scott O’Dell is well-known for having written another historical

fiction, Island of the Blue Dolphins, which has captured the hearts of fiction, Island of the Blue Dolphins, which has captured the hearts of

children speaking 28 languages all together for over 50 years. His children speaking 28 languages all together for over 50 years. His

stories of adventure highlight how normal kids may be heroes in their stories of adventure highlight how normal kids may be heroes in their

own tales.own tales.

His own life was quite adventurous. He served in World war I as a young His own life was quite adventurous. He served in World war I as a young

man, and he enlisted to fight in World War II when he was over 40 years man, and he enlisted to fight in World War II when he was over 40 years

old!old!

Mr. O’Dell won The Newberry Award for Island of the Blue Dolphins and Mr. O’Dell won The Newberry Award for Island of the Blue Dolphins and

the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Sing Down the Moon.the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Sing Down the Moon.

Mr. O’Dell’s ashes were scattered off the coast of La Jolle, Mr. O’Dell’s ashes were scattered off the coast of La Jolle,

California, where bystanders witnessed a pod of dolphins pay tribute as California, where bystanders witnessed a pod of dolphins pay tribute as

stayed stayed they leaped as he fell. They until the ceremony ended.until the ceremony ended.

SettingsSettingsSettingsSettings

La Paz’La Paz’

The manta’s LagoonThe manta’s Lagoon

The Island of the deadThe Island of the dead

the Vermillion Seathe Vermillion Sea

characterscharacterscharacterscharacters

Ramon- Protagonist, Round and DynamicRamon- Protagonist, Round and Dynamic

Manta Diablo- Antagonist/supporting, round and dynamicManta Diablo- Antagonist/supporting, round and dynamic

Servanillo (Gaspar Ruiz)- antagonist, Round and DynamicServanillo (Gaspar Ruiz)- antagonist, Round and Dynamic

Ramon’s Father- supporting, flat and staticRamon’s Father- supporting, flat and static

The Black Pearl- antagonist- flat and dynamicThe Black Pearl- antagonist- flat and dynamic

Ramon’Ramon’Ramon’Ramon’

Ramon is a recently turned sixteen year-old with dreams of going Ramon is a recently turned sixteen year-old with dreams of going

pearling with his father. His father always said that “when he was pearling with his father. His father always said that “when he was

sixteen he could go with him.” He gets the chance a few days after his sixteen he could go with him.” He gets the chance a few days after his

sixteenth birthday. Ramon’ enjoys the trip even though his father does sixteenth birthday. Ramon’ enjoys the trip even though his father does

not allow him to dive and the trip shows little produce. Even though he not allow him to dive and the trip shows little produce. Even though he

understands why father doesn’t want him to dive, Ramon’ decides to understands why father doesn’t want him to dive, Ramon’ decides to

learn anyway, so when a local Indian (they were common then) named learn anyway, so when a local Indian (they were common then) named

Soto Luzon comes to sell him a pearl, as he does every few months or Soto Luzon comes to sell him a pearl, as he does every few months or

so. Ramon’ asks Luzon to teach him how to dive at the lagoon where so. Ramon’ asks Luzon to teach him how to dive at the lagoon where

Soto lives in exchange for a fee each trip.Soto lives in exchange for a fee each trip.

Soto LuzonSoto LuzonSoto LuzonSoto Luzon

Soto Luzon is a old, weathered Indian man with few prospects Soto Luzon is a old, weathered Indian man with few prospects

for earning his daily wage. A retired fisherman, he lives in a for earning his daily wage. A retired fisherman, he lives in a

secret lagoon, where the fiercest sea monster of all, the Manta secret lagoon, where the fiercest sea monster of all, the Manta

Diablo, lives. He not only teaches Ramon’ to be a diver, but he Diablo, lives. He not only teaches Ramon’ to be a diver, but he

also becomes his good friend. Luzon loses faith in Ramon’ when also becomes his good friend. Luzon loses faith in Ramon’ when

Ramon’ dives where he has been instructed not to--the cave of Ramon’ dives where he has been instructed not to--the cave of

the Manta Diablo. There lies the Great Pearl of Heaven.the Manta Diablo. There lies the Great Pearl of Heaven.

The Manta DiabloThe Manta DiabloThe Manta DiabloThe Manta DiabloFrom an early age, children in From an early age, children in Ramon’s community are taught to Ramon’s community are taught to fear the Manta Diablo, as mothers fear the Manta Diablo, as mothers threaten “to speak a word to the threaten “to speak a word to the Manta Diablo” who will come find and Manta Diablo” who will come find and eat them. Ramon’ does not believe eat them. Ramon’ does not believe the tale, for he has grown out of the tale, for he has grown out of childhood, lingers in his tween stage. childhood, lingers in his tween stage. He hopes, partly, to find the tale is He hopes, partly, to find the tale is true, so that he disprove the true, so that he disprove the elaborate descriptions various elaborate descriptions various mothers provide in their tellings.mothers provide in their tellings.

In truth, the Manta Diablo is a In truth, the Manta Diablo is a gigantic manta ray, regal, beautiful, gigantic manta ray, regal, beautiful, and acting according to nature, but and acting according to nature, but malice lies in the nature of its malice lies in the nature of its protection of the pearl and protection of the pearl and resentment for people, who always resentment for people, who always when they find him attempt to slay when they find him attempt to slay him with harpoons.him with harpoons.

The Black PearlThe Black PearlThe Black PearlThe Black Pearl

The Black Pearl is so amazing that it begs The Black Pearl is so amazing that it begs

description and redescription through description and redescription through

kennings, or renamings. Like Jesus in the kennings, or renamings. Like Jesus in the

Bible, the Pearl is known in various ways: Bible, the Pearl is known in various ways:

the Pearl of the Universe, the Great Pearl of the Pearl of the Universe, the Great Pearl of

Heaven, and the Paragon of Pearls.Heaven, and the Paragon of Pearls.

At first, it brings misfortune when it is given At first, it brings misfortune when it is given

to the Madonna, and Ramon’s father dies in to the Madonna, and Ramon’s father dies in

the Chabusco because hise father’s mind is the Chabusco because hise father’s mind is

clouded for having given the pearl to the clouded for having given the pearl to the

Madonna. Later, attempting to return the Madonna. Later, attempting to return the

pearl to the Manta Diablo but failing as the pearl to the Manta Diablo but failing as the

Servanillo take him and the pearl hostage, Servanillo take him and the pearl hostage,

Ramon’ realizes that his hard fight makes Ramon’ realizes that his hard fight makes

him worthy of keeping the pearl to him worthy of keeping the pearl to

dedicate to the Madonna as tributededicate to the Madonna as tribute

The pearl is magnificent at 62 karats with The pearl is magnificent at 62 karats with

smoky color rather than a more typical smoky color rather than a more typical

black. It resembles a swirling storm.black. It resembles a swirling storm.

The ServanilloThe ServanilloThe ServanilloThe Servanillo

A man who falsely claims to have come from Servanille, Spain, A man who falsely claims to have come from Servanille, Spain,

Gaspar Ruis, seeks the black pearl and is willing to do harm to Gaspar Ruis, seeks the black pearl and is willing to do harm to

get it. His cruel deeds include being mean to Ramon’ who sees get it. His cruel deeds include being mean to Ramon’ who sees

through his lies, lying to abscond with the pearl which rightfully through his lies, lying to abscond with the pearl which rightfully

belongs either to the ocean or to the people of La Paz, and belongs either to the ocean or to the people of La Paz, and

hurting the Manta Diablo, a creature of nature.hurting the Manta Diablo, a creature of nature.

Battling the Manta Diablo, the Servanillo fatally harpoons the Battling the Manta Diablo, the Servanillo fatally harpoons the

magnificent creature, and this causes him to be pulled to the magnificent creature, and this causes him to be pulled to the

bottom of the sea where he drowns.bottom of the sea where he drowns.

Ramon wins and returns homeRamon wins and returns home

Ramon battles with the Manta for the pearlRamon battles with the Manta for the pearl

Ramon find’s the pearl of heavenRamon find’s the pearl of heaven

It’s Ramon’s sixteenth It’s Ramon’s sixteenth birthday so he get to go birthday so he get to go pearling with his fatherpearling with his father he gives the he gives the

pearl to the pearl to the Madonna as a Madonna as a

giftgift

Speaker- First person, RamonSpeaker- First person, Ramon

Occasion- Finding black pearl and meeting the Occasion- Finding black pearl and meeting the

Manta DiabloManta Diablo

Audience- Kids ages 10 and up that like myth Audience- Kids ages 10 and up that like myth

fiction.fiction.

Purpose- To Entertain Purpose- To Entertain

Subject- The Black PearlSubject- The Black Pearl

Tone-the tone is Dark and a little bit maliciousTone-the tone is Dark and a little bit malicious

VocabularyVocabularyVocabularyVocabularyChabusco: Spanish for hurricane.-synonyms: hurricaneChabusco: Spanish for hurricane.-synonyms: hurricane

Diablo: Spanish for the Devil-synonyms: Devil, Mephistopheles Antonym: something pureDiablo: Spanish for the Devil-synonyms: Devil, Mephistopheles Antonym: something pure

Harpoon: a tool that shoots to snag and pin the flesh of sea animals. Barbed it is nearly impossible to Harpoon: a tool that shoots to snag and pin the flesh of sea animals. Barbed it is nearly impossible to

escape.-synonyms Arbalest-antonymescape.-synonyms Arbalest-antonym

Madonna: Spanish for My Lady, Catholic term for Mary, mother of Jesus -synonym: madam, MaryMadonna: Spanish for My Lady, Catholic term for Mary, mother of Jesus -synonym: madam, Mary

Manta Ray: Largest of all rays, the manta ray is a cousin to sharks.Manta Ray: Largest of all rays, the manta ray is a cousin to sharks.

Madre mon Dios: Mother of My God! A curse phrase.- synonym “oh my god”Madre mon Dios: Mother of My God! A curse phrase.- synonym “oh my god”

L a Paz: A city whose name translates to “the Peace,” this is a pearling town.L a Paz: A city whose name translates to “the Peace,” this is a pearling town.

Pearling: the act and industry of diving to harvest pearls.Pearling: the act and industry of diving to harvest pearls.

Servanille: a town in Spain.Servanille: a town in Spain.

Barro Clam:Barro Clam:

The EndThe EndThe EndThe End