1. How Does Pi Visualize Death and the Role It Plays in His Life?

ELA 20AP Ms. Baudu Life of Pi Discussion Questions: Chapters 1-14

Complete these questions as you read Life of Pi. They will guide you through the novel. You may answer in point form. ( /14)

1. How does Pi visualize death and the role it plays in his life?

2. Why was Pi named after a Parisian swimming pool? Can you predict any irony in this?

3. Why did Piscine shorten his name to Pi?

4. On page 16, Pi says, “I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion.” Later in the chapter, he says, “I know zoos are no longer in people’s good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both” (21). After reading his descriptions of zoo life, has your opinion about zoos changed – or at least been made a little more open to change?

5. Who is Mr. Satish Kumar? What are his religious beliefs?

6. Why does Pi feel kinship with Mr. Satish Kumar?

7. Explain what Pi means when he says, “The obsession with putting ourselves at the centre of everything is the bane not only of theologians but also of zoologists” (34).

8. What is your opinion of the lesson that Pi’s father imparts to him and Ravi?

9. Although the information about the behaviour of wild (zoo) animals may seem extraneous, Pi is giving us this information for a reason. The information will help us to understand Pi’s actions and decisions while he is a castaway. Predict how the following information will be helpful to Pi in Part 2:

 Pi’s father’s lesson involving the danger of zoo animals  the information about animals getting used to the presence of humans (chapter 9)  animals that escape from zoos (chapter 10)  animals being able to hide in foreign environments (chapter 11)  lion taming (chapter 13)  the hierarchy of animals (chapter 14).