Studied by 1 person
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
Note
Flashcard