Chapter 1
Interesting Words: banished, sickle, solemnly, summoned
Extensions: Think of other legends you have heard of? What happens to legends as they are told over and over again?
People are often afraid of something. What are you afraid of?
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think the story of Manta Diablo was shared with the children of the village?
2. Why do you think that the people were fascinated by the legend of Manta Diablo?
3. Why do you think different people had different descriptions of Manta Diablo?
Chapter 2
Interesting Words: flaw, puny, scornful, wrested
Extensions:
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is Ramon's father so important in the village?
2. What three things are mentioned in order to become a pearl dealer?
3. Describe the relationship between Ramon and his father.
Chapter 3
Interesting Words: encounter., envy, fatal, founder, prey, sneer
Extensions: There are many examples of similes and metaphors in this text. Search through the first three chapters and find at least three examples of each.
Discussion Questions:
1. Should Ramon's father have allowed the Sevillano to insult his son?
2. Why didn't Ramon react to the insult? What do you think he should have done?
3. Why do you think that the manta was feared by sailors and divers?
Chapter 4/5
Interesting Words: barren, baroque, fathom, pact, shrewd, timid
Extensions:
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Ramon paid more for the pearl than it was worth?
2. How did Ramon feel about all the superstitions surrounding the Manta Diablo?
3. What kinds of risks was Ramon exposed to because of Soto Luzon?
Chapter 6
Interesting Words: blunt, fleeting, pinnacle, vast
Extensions: Gather a variety of shells for students to study and identify. Math extension could be to weigh each shell and compare.
Pretend that you have just found a very valuable pearl. Write a paragraph describing your treasure.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is it so hard for Ramon to remove the shells from the cave?
2. Soto Luzon believes that the manta will be very angry at Ramon for removing the large shells. Do you believe his superstitions play a part in this?
3. Do you think Soto Luzon's superstitions have impacted Ramon's decisions?
4. How do you know that the pearl is worth a lot of money?
Chapter 7/8
Interesting Words: astern, engulf, horizon, rend, throng
Extensions: If possible bring in some loose pearls or a pearl necklace to students to look at. Have students weigh the individual pearls and compare their size and weight to the weight of the black pearl.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Soto Luzon told Ramon to throw the pearl back?
2. What happened to the town people when they heard about the pearl?
3. Why is it important to cut the pearl? What are the risks involved?
Chapter 9
Interesting Words: caliper, errand, haggle, parlor, rankle
Extensions: Bring a caliper into the class and provide different spheres for students to measure.
Discussion Questions:
1. How do you know that the arrival of the pearl dealers is important?
2. Why do you think the dealers said that the pearl was not of high quality?
3. Do you think Mr. Salazar should have given the pearl to the church?
Chapter 10/11
Interesting Words: coax, festooned, multitude, niche, raged, scoffer
Extensions:
Discussion Questions:
1. Why did Father Gallardo think that the finding of the pearl was a miracle?
2. What was the reaction to Soto Luzon's warning?
3. Ramon's mother believes that her husband will be safe in the storm. What leads her to this opinion?
Chapter 12/13
Interesting Words: admonition, dawdled, deserted, generous, swift
Extensions:
Discussion Questions:
1. How did Ramon know that the theft of the pearl had been discovered?
2. How do you think Ramon should have felt about his father's death? Did he react the way you anticipated?
3. Do you think the Ramon believes in all the superstitions now?
Chapter 14/18
Interesting Words: adversaries, belfry, feud, malice, molest, taut
Extensions: How did you feel about the conclusion of this book? If you were not pleased with the ending rewrite it so it has a more satisfying ending.
Discussion Questions:
1. Ramon's father and the Sevillano were both involved in final battles. Who did each rely on the help them through?
2. What did Ramon mean when he refers to "this new day was the beginning of manhood"?
3. Why do you think the author had the manta and the Sevillano die at the end?
Interesting Words: banished, sickle, solemnly, summoned
Extensions: Think of other legends you have heard of? What happens to legends as they are told over and over again?
People are often afraid of something. What are you afraid of?
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think the story of Manta Diablo was shared with the children of the village?
2. Why do you think that the people were fascinated by the legend of Manta Diablo?
3. Why do you think different people had different descriptions of Manta Diablo?
Chapter 2
Interesting Words: flaw, puny, scornful, wrested
Extensions:
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is Ramon's father so important in the village?
2. What three things are mentioned in order to become a pearl dealer?
3. Describe the relationship between Ramon and his father.
Chapter 3
Interesting Words: encounter., envy, fatal, founder, prey, sneer
Extensions: There are many examples of similes and metaphors in this text. Search through the first three chapters and find at least three examples of each.
Discussion Questions:
1. Should Ramon's father have allowed the Sevillano to insult his son?
2. Why didn't Ramon react to the insult? What do you think he should have done?
3. Why do you think that the manta was feared by sailors and divers?
Chapter 4/5
Interesting Words: barren, baroque, fathom, pact, shrewd, timid
Extensions:
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Ramon paid more for the pearl than it was worth?
2. How did Ramon feel about all the superstitions surrounding the Manta Diablo?
3. What kinds of risks was Ramon exposed to because of Soto Luzon?
Chapter 6
Interesting Words: blunt, fleeting, pinnacle, vast
Extensions: Gather a variety of shells for students to study and identify. Math extension could be to weigh each shell and compare.
Pretend that you have just found a very valuable pearl. Write a paragraph describing your treasure.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is it so hard for Ramon to remove the shells from the cave?
2. Soto Luzon believes that the manta will be very angry at Ramon for removing the large shells. Do you believe his superstitions play a part in this?
3. Do you think Soto Luzon's superstitions have impacted Ramon's decisions?
4. How do you know that the pearl is worth a lot of money?
Chapter 7/8
Interesting Words: astern, engulf, horizon, rend, throng
Extensions: If possible bring in some loose pearls or a pearl necklace to students to look at. Have students weigh the individual pearls and compare their size and weight to the weight of the black pearl.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Soto Luzon told Ramon to throw the pearl back?
2. What happened to the town people when they heard about the pearl?
3. Why is it important to cut the pearl? What are the risks involved?
Chapter 9
Interesting Words: caliper, errand, haggle, parlor, rankle
Extensions: Bring a caliper into the class and provide different spheres for students to measure.
Discussion Questions:
1. How do you know that the arrival of the pearl dealers is important?
2. Why do you think the dealers said that the pearl was not of high quality?
3. Do you think Mr. Salazar should have given the pearl to the church?
Chapter 10/11
Interesting Words: coax, festooned, multitude, niche, raged, scoffer
Extensions:
Discussion Questions:
1. Why did Father Gallardo think that the finding of the pearl was a miracle?
2. What was the reaction to Soto Luzon's warning?
3. Ramon's mother believes that her husband will be safe in the storm. What leads her to this opinion?
Chapter 12/13
Interesting Words: admonition, dawdled, deserted, generous, swift
Extensions:
Discussion Questions:
1. How did Ramon know that the theft of the pearl had been discovered?
2. How do you think Ramon should have felt about his father's death? Did he react the way you anticipated?
3. Do you think the Ramon believes in all the superstitions now?
Chapter 14/18
Interesting Words: adversaries, belfry, feud, malice, molest, taut
Extensions: How did you feel about the conclusion of this book? If you were not pleased with the ending rewrite it so it has a more satisfying ending.
Discussion Questions:
1. Ramon's father and the Sevillano were both involved in final battles. Who did each rely on the help them through?
2. What did Ramon mean when he refers to "this new day was the beginning of manhood"?
3. Why do you think the author had the manta and the Sevillano die at the end?