Life of Pi Study Guide

Purpose of Narrative Structure

Martel uses the novel's form to depict different parts of Pi's development, gradually introducing themes and allowing readers to experience Pi's journey.

Frame Story

The fake Author’s Note sets the stage for the novel, which is divided into three sections focusing on Pi's childhood, ocean journey, and encounter with reporters.

Point of View

Yann Martel employs a first-person perspective through Pi Patel, offering insights with wisdom and hindsight, shaping the narrative.

The Nature of Religious Belief

Storytelling and religious beliefs intertwine in the novel, with Pi's exploration of Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam illustrating faith through tales and fables.

The Importance of Storytelling

The novel emphasizes storytelling, with the author framing Pi's fantastical account of survival at sea as a central narrative.

The Will to Live

"Life of Pi" explores the theme of survival against odds, showcasing both heroic and dark acts individuals may resort to in extreme situations.

Francis Adirubasamy

An elderly figure who shares Pi's story, teaches him to swim, and plays a pivotal role in connecting Pi with the author.

The Author of the Story

The narrator of the Author’s Note, likely representing Yann Martel, intertwines his presence in the narrative, drawing parallels with the real author's life.

Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi)

The protagonist, Pi, narrates his survival at sea, influenced by his interest in zoology and religion, with a unique name derived from a French pool.

Indian Prime Minister-Indira Gandhi

During the "Emergency" period in India, Indira Gandhi's controversial rule influenced Pi's father's decision to move to Canada.

Setting- Pondicherry

A city in India with French cultural influences, Pondicherry's history as the capital of French India shapes the novel's backdrop.

What kind of narrator is Pi?

Unreliable narrator

What is the connection Pi makes between Zoology and religion?

Finds studying animals to be a religious experience, no animals without God

Significance of the name “Pi”

Piscine- pool, gets lost in ocean

Why does Mr. Kumar not believe in God?

He says there’s no reason you should believe in anything you haven’t experienced- connects to Japanese interviewers at the end, contributes to the theme of having faith in the unknown

What does Pi mean by “the obsession with putting ourselves at the center of everything is the bane of not only theologists but also zoologists”

We don’t consider that we ourselves are also animals, animals rule over other animals

Why does Pi go into so much detail about how zoos work in Part 1?

relation to the journey ahead

What does the narrator mean when he says that whomever he visits bobs on the ocean of memory?

deeper connotation behind what he’s saying, don’t dive too deep into memory or you may drown.

How do circus tamers control animals so easy

establish the ring as their territory; connects to Pi’s training

Brahman nirguna vs Brahman saguna

The former is something you can’t really explain, more like a feeling while the latter is expressed through worldly attributes

What made Pi a hindu

Exposure to it as a kid, feels like home

Pi’s first thoughts towards Christianity

Few Gods, great violence, judgemental, severe

Why does Pi like Christianity

Jesus is humanity

Irony in Pi’s reaction to becoming Christian

Thanked the Hindu god for meeting Jesus

What does the ice cream in chapter 23 represent

secularity

Why does Pi keep the fact he is married a secret from the writer

life has taught him to not show off what’s most precious to him

What does the meeting of the 2 Mr. Kumars represent

That science and religion can coexist

Zoomorphism

humans taking on animal qualities

why does zoomorphism occur

social loneliness/the need for companionship

How old is Pi when he and his family board the ship to Canada

16/1977

Why does Pi save Richard Parker in the first place

so he’s not alone- zoomorphism/anthromorphism

anthromorphism

animals taking on human attributes

why does Pi not consider the fact he’ll be sharing the lifeboat with wild animals instead of staying in the ocean

zoomorphism, prefers the threat you know vs the one you don’t

what lit term is this “fear and reason fought over the answer, fear said yes”

personification

why is it good the hyena’s there

sailors wouldn’t have thrown him in otherwise, better hyena then richard parker

pi’s mental state at week one

hopeful, angry, delerious

why did orange juice react in the way she did in relation to the hyena killing the zebra

protecting the injured in a motherly way

significance of richard parkers story

will to survive in false hunting scenario

literary device in “the diving rod dipped sharply and a spring gushed water”

metaphor

why does richard parker stay quiet thru the madness

seasickness- helpful later on

literary devices in sunset imagery

metaphor, personification, similies, imagery

what does looking at the ocean at night teach pi

his suffering is minor in the grand scheme of things

2 things that kept pi alive

keeping himself busy and forgetting abt time

what’s pi’s greatest wish besides rescue

a book to read again and again to spread faith and to gain new perspective

why does pi tell rp he loves him

irony- most dangerous thing on the boat but the only thing keeping him mentally alive- need for companionship.

what does RP represent

pi’s primal side

what’s important about pi imitating RP more and more

turning into an animal, losing his humanity, fundamentals of survival

rock bottom of pi’s suffering

when he goes blind

who is pi speaking to in the boat (chapter 90)

richard parker (himself, he has gone mad) and sailor in boat (cook)

significance of killing the cook

first person pi killed, enforces danger he’s in, loses all of his values with this

what does the carnivorous island stand for

Garden of eden

Japanese trip issues similarities with trouble in communication

they have to listen to believe the story but they don’t want to

zebra human significance

sailor

orangutan human significance

mom

hyena human significance

cook/frenchman

RP human significance

pi’s alternate side

why does pi use animals in his story

used like in religious text, whether you belive in pi or god you need faith to believe

big theme interviewers don’t understand

every element in the story exists, just because you haven’t seen them together in your personal experience doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. (faith in the unknown)

significance of book ending at chapter 100

breaking 4th wall, concrete # among disordered stories

reason for leaving india

“emergency period” gandhi put out and they didn’t want the zoo to be taken away

importance of storytelling

gives you faith in the unknown, differentiation between logic and what’s being said

will to live theme

struggling to survive and beating all odds, shows that creatures will do heroic things to survive but also can be barbaric in what they do

nature of religious belief theme

shows how religion and storytelling are intertwined, religions use storytelling to proselytize and shows their impact

purpose of pi’s 1st person narration

to help the readers endure the same journey he did

religion can bring people together but also can tear apart

evidence: community in religion but also hate he recieves for just wanting to love God

3 toed sloth significance

symbolizes the miracle of life as it shouldn’t be able to live but it can

significance of the name “pi”

pi has so many decimal places it’s impossible to count, just like his troubling reality is impossible to face to him

when does pi leave for canada

1977

what religious item does pi especially love in part 1

his prayer mat

prusten

a sound tigers make when they are friendly

what happens the first time pi catches a fish

he cries

after his rescue, who is pi interviewed by?

the japanese ministry of transport

what is the lifeboat almost hit by

a tanker

what does the sinking of the boat sound like

a metallic burp

pi’s suffering has made him feel….

despondent

how does pi speak to the author

quickly and directly

what does pi keep on his bedside table in canada

bible

where is pi when he is confronted

seaside

what book does pi’s mom continue to give him to distract him from religion

robinson crusoe

significance of showing the 2 kumars the zebra

he’d be stuck with it later on

what ethnicity are the crew

chinese

what bumps against the side of the boat as orange juice comes floating in

a sea turtle

what does pi do when he realizes RP will kill him

cheers up

how long was pi at sea

227 days

pi’s best common catch

turtles, used for shields

how long did the big storm go on for

a day and a half

what did pi salvage from the trash floating

a bottle

how long did the Japanese interviews drive for

41 hours

what story do they prefer

1st one