A lot of the adventure and the fiction books are there, but some of them are simply unique and are most interesting of all. So is the one we are talking about. The book we are talking about is surely one of the most amazing and interesting fiction books ever.
We assure you that you are going to love this book. The book we are talking about i. Life of Pi is not only a very good fiction novel but it is a very good fantasy book as well. And it also holds a very strong position in the list of the adventure books as well. The boy we are talking about is basically from a place known as Pondicherry. And he is also a protagonist as well. The story tells us about his journey of the exploration of issues of the spirituality and issues of the practicality as well.
He was very keen on such type of things from his early age. From thousands of entries, Croatian artist Tomislav Torjanac was chosen as the illustrator for this new edition of Life of Pi.
Now readers can enjoy this extraordinary tale with his glorious colour illustrations. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more.
For any literature project, trust Novels for Students for all of your research needs. Did you know US President Barack Obama wrote a personal note to Martel that stated "My daughter and I just finished reading Life of Pi together, both of us agreed we prefer the story with animals.
It is a lovely book - an elegant proof of God, and the power of storytelling. Thank you. Or, did you know Life of Pi was released in Canada on September 11, , the day of the attack? What are the amazingly true facts behind Life of Pi by Yann Martel? Do you want to know the golden nuggets of facts readers love? If you've enjoyed the book, then this will be a must read delight for you! However, Pi makes a horrible discovery that causes them to leave the island: Believing he has found a fruit-bearing tree, Pi peels back the layers of a piece of fruit to find that it contains a human tooth.
The island is a carnivorous being, consuming everything that lives on it. Pi and Richard Parker return to the lifeboat and the ocean. An undetermined amount of time passes, and Pi and Richard Parker arrive in Mexico.
Richard Parker runs into the wild and is never seen again. Pi is brought into custody, given food, and questioned for some time by two officials from the Maritime Department in the Japanese Ministry of Transport.
Pi tells of how he then stabbed the French cook in the throat and watched him die. This second account seems to satisfy the skepticism of the questioners, but they admit to Pi that his account of surviving with the tiger aboard the lifeboat is a better story. He narrates how he traveled to India in order to work on his new fiction novel based in Portugal, but instead figured that it lacked in merit. This single quote can be said to be the main reason for the telling of this story.
It makes them keen on figuring out what this story truly is which will make them believe in God and whether it is actually as effective as portrayed through the characters serious tone. Furthermore, there are a few aspects of good storytelling and what makes a good book in this section as well.
For example, the author states that there should be a spark that brings to life a real story. Furthermore, the fictitious author whom the readers meet with in this section shares a kind of similarity with the actual author of the book, Yann Martel. This is evident when the fictitious author explains his unsuccessful journey as a writer and compares his book with a scrawny little kid whom no one wants to include in their team. Part 1 Chapter 1: The first chapter of the novel is a kind of a conversation that occurs between the readers and the main character of the novel.
It is like a short conversation one has over coffee in which the main character talks about his fascination with animals, a researcher as a zoologist, his interest in sloths as well as his peculiar interest in religion. Chapter one also narrates the main characters psychological state. Likewise, in the very beginning of the chapter the readers can comprehend that the author has gone through a lot in life already and has experienced severe fatality.
It shows how even the slightest of pain feels immeasurable because he has already gone through so much in life that he no longer possesses the strength to suffer anymore. Similarly, throughout the novel the readers will come to notice how the author, in fact, has felt the beauty of life as well as the darkness of death during his isolation in the Pacific Ocean.
This, then, introduces a theme of life and death which will further develop as the novel progresses. Towards the end, the main character introduces Richard Parker through his sad tone and expresses his sadness at losing him as well as his disappointment when Richard left him without even saying goodbye.
This shows that the author is very open about his emotions and feelings. He has no problems explaining how he feels nor is he ashamed of his feelings. This trait establishes the main character as an introvert and as a person who is familiar of his feelings and can easily pin them down in order to explain them to others.
Moreover, the simile used in this statement testifies to afore mentioned perspective of how the author is accustomed to pain and suffering. It also foreshadows the upcoming story of the author is filled with pain, suffering, misery, and life and death experiences. Furthermore, even after all of this pain and suffering, the fact that the author comes out on top establishes his character as a strong hearted person who is resilient and has courage. As a result, it makes the readers all the more interested in reading his story and experiencing his experiences through his words.
It also introduces a theme of love and friendship. In order to spike more curiosity and interest, the author leaves out a lot of relevant information for the readers to chew upon. However, the author does not outright name the character nor does he indicate the characters purpose or value in the upcoming story. This causes more suspense and interest in the readers and they feel more engrossed. Part 1 Chapter 3: In this chapter the readers are informed about the main character and how he got his name — which was after a swimming pool in Paris.
Moreover, the readers learn about the main characters family and that his father owned a zoo. The readers also notice the main characters affection and interest in swimming, whereas his parents were least bothered about it. The theme of water and swimming is of great interest here as it introduces foreshadowing; hinting the isolation of the main character in the Pacific Ocean and how he survived the accident because he knew how to swim, whereas his parents died because they did not know how to swim.
Part 1 Chapter 4: In chapter 4 the author introduces various new aspects and themes into his novel. One example of this is the juxtaposition between humans and animals.
While the author describes the Pondicherry zoo and his experiences growing up there, the readers can ascertain the tone of fascination through which the author narrates his experiences and awe. Furthermore, the author introduces a theme of nature in this chapter as well through recounting his life in the zoo.
He uses extravagant imagery to describe his days in the zoo with the animals, explaining how well he understood their nature and life by living with them.
In one sense, the author is stranded amidst nature and experiences first hand its glory and magnificence. Therefore, the readers can assume and speculate that one of the important themes in this novel is nature itself, as the author spends almost half of his life surrounded by it and learns a great deal from it.
The author spends a great deal of time discussing the concept of a home which explains to the readers what the author feels a home should comprise of. This statement helps the readers speculate that perhaps the author alludes towards the fact that even though he was stripped away from his home he managed to discover a new home on a boat with Richard Parker — as the boat and the tiger fulfilled his needs during his strand in the Ocean.
This theme and perspective of home is further discussed in excruciating detail further in the novel. He compares the zoo with paradise which is described as a garden with rivers and fruits.
To the author, that garden is the zoo in which he grew up. From his description of the zoo the readers can similarly conclude that the author was very happy with his life amongst the animals.
Thereby, explaining the symbolism which the author uses in order to compare the zoo with paradise. However, when the author finally changes school he decides that it is time for a new beginning, and so this time on he has a plan which works completely well. Part 1 Chapter 6: This chapter introduces a new unnamed character who is described as being a fantastic cook by the author. His skills are extolled, however, he is kept as a secret from the readers. The author intentionally does not mention who this character is in order to re-invigorate curiosity and an element of surprise in the novel.
Satish Kumar who not only teaches Pi but provides him with a new perspective on religion and God. This statement sets the tone and stage for the events of this chapter. It expresses how humans are more dangerous than common animals and how humans destroy and harm their surroundings.
It also expresses his views about how we humans are one of the biggest reasons for animal deaths. Moreover, this again refers back to a philosophical debate about how we humans rage war and destruction on planet Earth and how we harm our surroundings and nature. Furthermore, in order to illustrate to Ravi and Pi how truly dangerous the animals in their zoo are, their father decides to show them a cheetah eating a goat.
It terrifies them to their bones and they ignore their father for a week. However, the lesson sinks deep into their heads and they are capable of comprehending what their father means to impart.
Part 1 Chapter 9: Pi continues to introduce the reader to the world of zookeeping and his observation of animal behavior. The reader is given further insight into the delicate balance between humans and animals in the zoo and that to have a successful zoo, the balance must be respected.
Part 1 Chapter Pi further characterizes animal behavior for the reader and discusses why animals may try to escape confinement. He makes a point that animals do not try to change their surroundings unless there is something drastically wrong.
Part 1 Chapter Pi tells the story of a female black leopard that escaped from the Zurich Zoo during the winter. Apparently, she and the male she was sharing her habitat with were not getting along. She escaped one night, much to the alarm of the residents of the city. Search parties and dogs tried to find her, but to no avail. She remained on the loose for 10 weeks and was discovered by a farm worker under a barn.
He shot her and killed her. She had existed quietly, living off roe-deer, trying to fit in to her new surroundings. This chapter examines the balance that the animals seek in their surroundings. Safety is also a theme. Animals are seeking simply to exist in a safe, favorable and comfortable environment and live peacefully with those around them.
If they do not feel safe, they flee until they are able to find a safe place. This again brings in the element of animal rights and how animals only react or assort to violence if their safety is threatened.
Part 1 Chapter The nameless man continues to tell his story even though it agitates him. The author is afraid he may want to stop, but Richard Parker is still heavy on his mind. When the author visits his home, he always prepares an amazing vegetarian feast that is much too spicy for the author. He loves the food, but it leaves him in tears with his stomach in knots. The reader now knows that the italicized chapters are a flashback to the main character of the book, Pi, imparting his story to the author.
The Author's Note at the beginning of the book uses this same italicized print and tells the story of how the author stumbled upon a man--who turned out to be Mamaji--with a story to tell about a man he knows: Pi. This book is a result of the author's interviews with Pi. The italicized chapters tell the story of discovering this story and putting it together. Part 1 Chapter A lion in a zoo will attack not because it is hungry--zoo animals are well fed--or because it is mean but simply because its territory has been invaded.
Once the trainer can establish that he is the super-alpha male, his wishes will be granted, whether they be jumping through hoops or rolling over.
A trainer must make sure that he or she maintains dominance and that their alpha status is clearly understood. If the animals begin to feel any social insecurity, aggressive, deadly behavior is likely. Part of an animal's sense of safety is tied to its social rank. In the example of a circus trainer with lions, it's a matter of brains over brawn.
The circus trainer must psychologically maintain his alpha male status and do so calmly, which puts the animals at ease and persuades them to do whatever the trainer wishes. Animals, like humans, need to know where they belong. They are social creatures but prefer to have a well-defined social order. Humans are no different. Our intelligence enables us to be dominant creatures, but if we question our rank or give up our power, we are likely to be attacked by another wishing to be the alpha male.
This chapter includes foreshadowing of what Pi will be facing later in the story. Part 1 Chapter The author describes the man's home as a temple, full of religious symbols and artifacts. It is likely from the vestiges of the man's home that he is deeply interested in religious expression. Pi as an adult is being further characterized. We can see that he has had a great number of religious influences on his life since the early story in the book about his discussion with his teacher, the atheist.
He appears to have brought with him these influences throughout his life. The reader may now wonder what experiences have brought these religious interests to his life. Each one of the symbols in his home represents a belief or an experience in his life. Part 1 Chapter Pi believes that we are born without religion and don't have any until we are introduced to it. Pi was introduced at a very early age by his mother's sister. His Aunti Rohini saw to it that she accompanied her sister and newborn nephew in the Hindu rite of passage.
From that day on Pi's interest in religion grew. Pi introduces a woman, Auntieji, as he calls her, a Quebecois and his foster mother in Toronto. When she first heard of Hare Krishnas, she thought it meant "hairless Christians. The reader learns, very importantly, that Pi is a Hindu, despite all the religious relics from different faiths present in his home. Knowing his religious persuasion is very important to the story. His beliefs become the glasses through which he sees the world and the events that happen to him.
In this section, he reveals the depth of his religious beliefs; they permeate his life, his mind and his soul. His Auntieji is used in this scene to illustrate his belief that the major world religions are interrelated and intertwined, explaining his observations about religions and how he feels towards them. This belief is what allows him to house the various religious symbols in his home because according to him they are all almost the same and harmonious with each other. Pi, even as a young man is deeply spiritual and responds deeply and freely to his spiritual experiences.
Even though this chapter tells a seemingly simple story, it says much about Pi as a young man. He embraced different viewpoints even though he was a bit scared at first. To him, Christianity connects with humanity in a different way than Hinduism. The reader is learning more about the spiritual development of Pi, which will undoubtedly shape the story in the pages to come. Also, the depiction of the three hills foreshadows Pi's own religious discoveries three different religions.
The readers also notice how broad minded and accepting Pi really is. This is in contrast with his parents who are eventually worried about him devoting himself to three separate religions. It also distinguishes him from the rest of the society who believe in affirming to only one religion. This then helps the readers to understand his personality as an extrovert who seeks out new experiences and is astounded by new ways of life and culture; which explains Pi opting himself for three different religions.
Part 1 Chapter 19 - The reader sees Pi explore his religious attraction further. This time it has led him to Islam. He also says in the chapter that he is attracted to the brotherhood and devotion of the religion. Pi is a religious explorer, an explorer of the mystical.
All his adventures as a young man lead him to different religious discoveries. Kumar taught me biology and Islam. Kumar led me to study zoology and religious studies at the University of Toronto. Kumar were the prophets of my youth. The readers can then notice that Pi is the kind of character who understands how to strike proper balance between two extremes; neither siding with science all the way nor religion but balancing both together. He thinks of phrases that echo in his mind and how they relate to his own life.
He makes a list of the words and phrases used to describe divine consciousness, including " He is setting the reader up for an amazing story that is believable only if it happens to an amazing person. He wants to make sure that the reader does not miss the depth of our main character: Pi and the depth of his soul and convictions.
We see that his convictions are just as pure and deep as they were when he was a boy before the foundations of his beliefs are shaken by events. Part 1 Chapter Pi felt totally comfortable in his religious exploration and expression.
Neither his parents nor his religious teachers knew of his interfaith practices and once they all found out, they decided to come together for a discussion. Neither of Pi's parents was very religious. His father was, foremost, a businessman. Pi's mother was indifferent on the subject, even though she had a Hindu upbringing and had been schooled as a Baptist. Although she was more interested in books and reading than religion, she never noticed Pi's interest in various religious books.
As long as he was reading, she was happy. Much to Pi's horror, once all the parties had converged, the three wise men, as Pi called them, began to claim Pi as their own. Each thought that he was more faithful to their religion than to the others. Then they began disparaging each other's beliefs. Pi and his parents were silent. Finally, Pi's father stepped in to remind them that the country allowed for freedom of religion. They argued that he could not be a Muslim, Hindu and Christian at the same time.
All eyes were on Pi awaiting his decision. Pi said that all he wanted to do was love God and he reminded all of them of Ghandi's words that "All religions are true. After the group fell silent for a few minutes, Pi's father interjected that he could not blame Pi for wanting to love God. The wise men left and Pi and his family went for ice cream.
This episode is Pi's first experience with standing up for his beliefs. His faith is challenged by all those in his life that mean everything to him. Although he's red-faced and embarrassed, he stands up to them and uses the words of Ghandi, whom they all respect, to defend himself and his beliefs.
This story foreshadows the challenges to come in which Pi will have to defend himself and his beliefs. Furthermore, the three wise men fighting amongst each other trying to enforce their beliefs and opinions unto each other symbolizes the issues of the contemporary world — wherein every religion is trying to dominate and oppress the other, wanting to prove that their faith is the righteous one out of all.
He felt people should pay more attention to themselves at the least or run to the defense of the widowed and homeless rather than attack him. He changed Christian churches, no longer lingered after Muslim prayers and attended Hindu temple at busy times when he was not detected. Rather than feeling he fit in everywhere, in every religion, as he once felt, Pi seems to not fit in, or feel welcome anywhere. Through his experience he still maintains his religious convictions and practices, although he has had to adjust to make it work for him and remain somewhat undetected.
Even at this early age, Pi feels that he is further enlightened than those around him and he can see past the issues that divide religions to see what to him is more important — care for the widowed and homeless, which is what religion is all about.
This in return shows the maturity level of our main character and the manner in which his perspectives and opinions are being developed as per his observations of the outside world. Part 1 Chapter Pi decided that he wanted to have a Christian baptism and that he wanted a prayer rug so he could pray outside.
To get these things, he had to muster the courage to talk to his father about them. He told his father his request.
His father questioned his desire. He told him that he wanted to be baptized and pray to Allah because he loved God.
His father said that he could not be both Muslim and Christian. Then his father told him to talk to his mother about it. He tried to talk to his mother, but she avoided the subject, telling him to first talk to his father.
Then she tried to talk to him about a book. Realizing that the subject of his religion was important to Pi, she conceded to the discussion. She told him he must choose a religion. He argued this point with her until she placed her hand on her forehead. His mother conceded to his wishes. Pi now finds out that not even his parents really support his interfaith practices.
In fact, they don't quite understand why he's religious at all. In this chapter, his parents come off as quite self- involved, neither of whom wants to condemn or support him on his religious journey. Pi doesn't really reveal how he feels after learning of his parents feelings other than to remark that it took courage for him to bring up the subject with his father. They question how he got to be so religious, especially during a time of progress and modernization in India.
They interjected their political views regarding Mrs. Ghandi and Pi's father sees her as a passing phase, just as they hope Pi's religious fervor is a passing phase. Pi's father questioned why Pi was so interested in Islam since, in his opinion, it was so foreign to Hinduism. They both wished that Pi could be more normal. In this chapter we see, through Pi's eyes, how his parents see him. The reader also learns more about their values. They certainly value progress and secularism in wishing their son was not so religious and old fashioned.
What we do not see in this chapter is how Pi feels about this discussion between his parents. Every child who has a relatively good relationship with his parents seems to have some desire for their approval. That desire is not apparent in Pi at this point. Part 1 Chapter Pi talks about his prayer rug and that he lost it.
He lovingly recalls what it looked like and that it reminded him of the sacredness of the earth and creation underneath it.
He most often prayed outside because he preferred the outdoors to anywhere else. He had a quiet corner of the yard underneath a shade tree picked out where he would pray. That spot would always remain in his memory as a special one.
He recalls his baptism as an uncomfortable event. His father and mother attended against their will but luckily his brother could not be there. The actual baptism was, for him, as refreshing as a warm summer rain.
Pi stood up for himself and got what he wanted, a prayer rug and baptism. Then he loses the rug and his baptism is awkward. This chapter provides further characterization of Pi.
He's still young and loses things and his baptism was not as glorious as it could have been. He does not dwell on these points, however. Rather he goes on and on about the beauty of his prayer rug and what it felt like to kneel on it and ends the chapter with the description of the baptism feeling like an all- consuming cleansing, even though it was only a trickle of water poured over his head.
Pi explores the reasons why his family needed to move, that his father hoped to provide a better life for their family and that the anxiety and worry over the political situation in India was taking a toll so heavy that it was no longer worth it for them to stay. There are big changes on the horizon for the Patel family as a result of the increasingly dictatorial actions of Mrs.
Ghandi, the ruler of India at the time. Pi's father wanted to raise his family in a progressive India, but when he saw that that was not going to happen; he decided it was time to move. Furthermore, he saw that the political climate would not be good for his livelihood. To Pi and his brother, Canada was an unimaginable country they knew nothing about and that it was very far away. The uneasiness instilled within Pi regarding their shifting foreshadows his castaway in the Pacific Ocean.
Part 1 Chapter The author is back at Pi's home. This time he meets Pi's wife. He didn't know Pi was married since he'd never mentioned his wife. They all chat briefly in the entryway of the home. Meena is her name, she's dressed in a white lab coat and she is a pharmacist on her way to work. The characterization of Pi continues and the reader now learns that Pi is married.
It reverts to the boy stranded on the Pacific Ocean, a boy who lost his family in the shipwreck, and who lost his best friend — Richard Parker — the day he was rescued. This tells the readers more about the character of Pi and portrays his concerns even after all these years. Part 1 Chapter Pi invited his Muslim mentor, Mr. Kumar, to the zoo. This was the first and only time Mr. Kumar and Mr. Kumar meet and by chance at that. Pi nervously awaited Mr. Kumar and ushered him into the zoo.
Kumar had never been to a zoo before and was struck with wonder. Pi showed him the zebras, which he had never seen before. He could not believe that they were naturally black and white.
At the zebra exhibit they run into Mr. Kumar, the teacher. Pi gave both men carrots to feed the zebra. Kumar, the baker, remarked at its wonder and praised God. Kumar represent the two sides of Pi, his piety and his interest in creation. The two sides of his character, represented by Mr.
Kumar, meet at the zoo. Pi finds great wonder in God's creation, the animals and also finds great interest in their behavior, which leads him to study zoology in college. The reader sees in this meeting the way his two mentors interact, as well as how the two sides of his character interact.
One side praises God for his wondrous creation; the other is interested in the biological lineage of the animal. Part 1 Chapter The author is again with Pi looking at photo albums.
They look at more recent photos and move backward. He also finds and feeds the tiger, and begins trying to train him. Along their journey, they encounter an island in the middle of the ocean that appears to be made up entirely of vegetation. He comes to the conclusion that island eats people, and he and Richard Parker continue their journey. After a while longer on the ocean, the two of them finally wash up on a beach.
It turns out that he and Richard Parker had spent days in the lifeboat, and had been presumed dead for quite some time. The beach he washed up on was in Mexico, and after landing, Richard Parker runs away and leaves Pi alone on the beach. The authorities soon find him, and the Japanese owners of the cargo ship that he was originally on arrive to interview him.
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