The+Life+of+Pi

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 * The Life of Pi

1. Why did you select this novel? My parents had been urging me to read it for a while now, so when I saw it on the book shelf I figured it was a great opportunity to read //The Life of Pi.// I've always enjoyed books that my parents recommended, considering that they introduced me to Gerald Durrel and some other great authors. Some books have a certain charm to them that makes them almost impossible to put down, I had a feeling that his book would have the same. I was right. Many of my friends had read this book before me, and all had enjoyed it. All of this was factored into my decision when I was choosing this book, and I believe that I chose well, as I am thoroughly enjoying //The Life of Pi.//

6. What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why? The story is set in many places, as it is primarily a book of flashbacks, meshed together to create a solid story. Currently, the protagonist Piscine "Pi" lives in Ontario, studying religion and Zoology at the university of Toronto, However the story is told mainly from the point of view as him as young child living in a zoo in India. Pi feels that the zoo is a wonderful place for an upbringing, as he puts it "What maharaja's son had such vast, luxurious grounds to play about? What palace had such a Menagerie?" The story is original, as it would be difficult to replicate the atmosphere of wonder and awe in a different setting.

10. What plot twists or unexpected events happen as the novel goes on? When Pi becomes a teenager he gets confused about his religious status, after being Hindu all his life he calls into question his religious upbringing. This happens when he meets a Christian priest on holiday, having afternoon tea with him every day for three days in a row and being told Biblical stories. Pi disagrees with many Christian philosophies, yet he feels inexplicably drawn to their way of life, this causes a moral dilemma. He spends many days pondering divine questions, and eventually decides to practice both religions.

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 * The Life of Pi

13. To what age group is the novel aimed? Support your answer with evidence. I believe that the novel is aimed at all ages twelve and above, as it has a rather complex story and some religious questions. Pi Patel himself is sixteen years old, perhaps the author wanted kids of that age to feel somehow connected with him. I, at thirteen, find that this novel is a good read, though I have always read books aimed at older children.

11. Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events? As I have mentioned before, Pi is telling this story as flashbacks, so the constant references to his life now can be disorienting. The main plot of the story, however, is quite easy to follow, with a simple, yet thrilling, story line. This story is written from a first person limited view, in the past tense, I like the author's choice to narrate the story in first person, as it gives us a sense of closeness with the protagonist, Pi Patel.

15. Describe any new characters that are introduced? What is their purpose? The first new character that was introduced in this section was Mr. Kumar, an Islamic baker that teaches Pi the ways of the Muslim people. Pi describes Mr. Kumar as being a very plain man, difficult to recognize, though his teachings of Islam are enthralling. Mr. Kumar adds a new element to the mix, the religion of Islam, and when he meets the Christian priest and the Hindu teacher, it causes conflict. Another character that is introduced is the tiger, a beautiful killer the joins the traveling menagerie on the large boat that is taking Pi, his family, and most of the zoo, to Canada. When the boat capsizes and sinks during the storm, the tiger swims to Pi's lifeboat. In a panic, Pi tries to knock the tiger off with an oar, but fails. The next morning Pi finds no sign of the tiger, and believes him to be dead.

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 * The Life of Pi

9. What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses? As Pi drifts on in the 26 foot lifeboat, he finds a menagerie of animals that have stowed away on his little boat. This includes a; Spotted hyena, an Orang-utan, and a Zebra with a broken leg. Pi is rattled and scared at this point already, these new threats make his chances of survival go down, and he thinks of just giving up hope. As the book continues, and the days drag on, Pi finds himself to be excruciatingly thirsty. He overcomes this dilemma, by confronting his fears and searching the lockers for water, not fifteen feet from where the hyena has made it's den. He is rewarded by finding many valuable supplies there.

14. Is there a message or main theme emerging in the book? How is it shown? During //The Life of Pi// much emphasis is put on religion, in fact, Pi uses it to anchor his sanity when he is hopelessly lost at sea. It is also shown that Pi is extremely ethical, shown by the way he cannot bring himself to kill a fish, even when he is starving. Eventually he has to overcome these feelings towards animals, and soon becomes amazed at the level of savagery that this catastrophe has brought him too.

8. How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest? As the story progresses, Pi finds himself in increasingly difficult and dire situations. Pi's take on survival changes once he spends a week on the boat, he begins to come up with drastic plans to save himself. The results of these crazy ideas are often productive. A few of these schemes are; Attempting to train Richard Parker (The tiger, that he learns is hidden under the tarpaulin) with nothing but a safety whistle and the shell of a sea turtle as a shield, Creating a raft out of lifejackets and oars lashed together crudely that he is to sleep on, and many more.

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 * The Life of Pi

20. Is the novel believable? In this section of the novel, Pi begins to descend into his fevered imagination, confusing reality with fantasy. One of the most confusing and intriguing plot points in the story so far is the discovery of a carnivorous island, one that consumes prey like a venus fly trap. The author makes it seem as if the island is totally real, though there is an element of doubt to he whole passage, as if the entire island is just a figment of Pi's imagination.

17. How are the major and minor conflicts solved? All conflicts in this story are solved with Pi's unique ingenuity and his desire to cling to life, no matter how desperate things may be. As the book progresses, the mood and the atmosphere become darker, and the solutions to his problems become more and more immoral. One example of this is when he resorts to minor cannibalism, eating the dried flesh of a dead sailor.

21. Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend? This book is phenomenal. It captures the imagination of the reader and holds it captive until Pi is rescued. I often found myself lying awake at night, wandering if Pi's struggles were in vain, if he would be devoured by the tiger that he shared his boat with. It is a great read, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a love of reading.

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 * The Life of Pi

22. Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations? The novel met my expectations (and greatly exceeded them) because, to be honest they were low to begin with, this is a school reading project. This book however, crushed every mental obstacle I had created to protect my mind from enjoying forced work. Something that isn't easy to do, if I may say so myself. It was a rare gem, a book that captured my interest, and held it too, not many books of a different decade do that to me.

12. Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? GIve examples and explain. To be honest, this has never been a factor for me when it comes to reading books, as I excel at understanding complicated language. //The Life of Pi// isn't a challenging read for any grade nine I hope, as it uses a mature theme, as oppose to mature language. If I had to give an example for a passage that represents this book's reading level, it would be this; //"He had seen me. He looked panic-stricken. He started swimming my way. The water about him was shifting wildly.// //He looked small and helpless." -//Page 97

16. What is the climax of the novel? I believe that the climax of the novel was when he lands his lifeboat in mexico. After a gruelling journey that pushed him to his limits, he is finally safe. Trying to imagine the magnitude of his emotions at this point is borderline impossible, it almost brings tears to one's eyes. One of the most interesting plot points at this point in the book, is when Richard Parker runs off into the jungle, never to be seen from again. This almost breaks Pi's heart, his one companion disappearing without so much as a goodbye. Pi went to hell and back, but he made it home in the end.

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