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SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM when , Prime 1977 1975 continuously grapples , Martel lived with his , Martel lived with his , but neither book received , but neither book received 1985 1996 Life of Pi in election campaign and was ordered to Self, 1971 and a novel, 2 is actually set in India, the country’s eclectic makeup is is actually set in India, the country’s 1993 pictures bought the screen rights to Martel’s novel, and a pictures bought the screen rights to Martel’s in 2000 , however, Martel’s international literary reputation was sealed international literary Martel’s , however, Life of Pi , in Salamanca, Spain, to Canadian parents. When Martel was a to Canadian parents. When Martel was , in Salamanca, Spain, 2002 Context Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. even flirts with nonfiction genres. The Author’s Note, for example, even flirts with nonfiction genres. The Author’s Piscine (Pi) Molitor Patel’s father, a zookeeper in Pondicherry, India, a zookeeper in Pondicherry, father, Piscine (Pi) Molitor Patel’s 1963 , 25 a runaway bestseller that went on to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize that went on to win the prestigious Man a runaway bestseller

Life of Pi, Life of Pi

can also be classiﬁed as a work of magical realism, a literary genre in which fantas-

2008

Life of Pi,

Life of Pi

can be characterized as a postcolonial novel, because of its post-Independence Indian setting as can be characterized as a postcolonial novel, because of its post-Independence Indian is set against the tumultuous period of Indian history known as the Emergency. In history known as the Emergency. is set against the tumultuous period of Indian

The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, The Facts Behind the

ann Martel was born on June ann Martel was born

Life of Pi Though only a relatively brief section of Life of Pi

claims that the story of Piscine Molitor Patel is a true story that the author, Yann Martel, heard while back- Yann claims that the story of Piscine Molitor Patel is a true story that the author, At the is structured as a memoir. its first-person narrator, and the novel, with packing through Pondicherry, writing. This mix- end of the novel, we are presented with interview transcripts, another genre of nonfiction fantastical story of Pi’s ing of fiction and nonfiction reflects the twist ending of the novel, in which the veracity Japanese interrogators, is forced to confront unsettling questions like Pi’s is called into doubt and the reader, about the nature of truth itself. Y young boy, his parents joined the Canadian Foreign Services, and the family moved frequently, living in moved frequently, Canadian Foreign Services, and the family his parents joined the young boy, Uni- went on to study philosophy at Trent Rica, Ontario, and British Columbia. Martel Alaska, France, Costa graduating in he discovered a love for writing. After versity in Ontario, where parents and worked a number of odd jobs while continuing to write fiction. He published a collection of short write fiction. He published a collection of a number of odd jobs while continuing to parents and worked stories, much critical or commercial attention. In much critical or commercial with the publication of with the publication feature film is expected in (awarded each year to the best English-language novel written by a Commonwealth or Irish author) and had by a Commonwealth or Irish author) and the best English-language novel written (awarded each year to Fox since been translated into thirty languages. reflected throughout the novel. Pi is raised as a Hindu but as a young boy discovers both Christianity and reflected throughout the novel. Pi is raised Note, an elderly Indian man In the Author’s simultaneously. Islam and decides to practice all three religions make you believe in God,” and describes the story of Pi as “a story that will Minister Indira Gandhi was found guilty of charges related to her Minister Indira Gandhi was found guilty tide of strikes and protests that were paralyzing the govern- resign. Instead—and in response to a rising herself the power suspending constitutional rights and giving ment—Gandhi declared a state of emergency, for eighteen months and was officially ended in March to rule by decree. The Emergency lasted The historical legacy of the Emergency has been highly contro- Gandhi called for a new round of elections. political oppo- democracy were severely curtailed and Gandhi’s versial: while civil liberties in this emerging a much-needed economy experienced and tortured, India’s nents found themselves jailed, abused, stabilization and growth. In situation. Speculating that Gandhi might try to take over his zoo grows nervous about the current political and move his father decides to sell off his zoo animals Pi’s and faced with depressing economic conditions, of the novel into motion. family to Canada, thus setting the main action the three most prominent religions in India, Pi provides a unique with questions of faith; as an adherent to choice of culture is further reflected in Martel’s diverse India’s perspective on issues of Indian spirituality. colony for nearly two hundred years, and consequently most of Pondicherry as a setting. India was a British a tiny city in southern India, Pondicherry, British culture. However, the nation has been deeply influenced by that sets it apart from was once the capital of French India and as such has retained a uniquely French flavor own nomadic childhood, Pi Patel pointedly begins his Martel’s the rest of the nation. Perhaps reflecting Yann and Canadian characters life in a diverse cultural setting before encountering French, Mexican, Japanese, along his journey. Rushdie and Gabriel well as its Canadian authorship. Like many postcolonial novels, such as those of Salman García Márquez, trees—appear in an tical elements—such as animals with human personalities or an island with cannibalistic be described as a bildungsroman (a coming-of-age novel could equally otherwise realistic setting. Martel’s tale) or an adventure story.

photocopy, recording, any ﬁle sharing system, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permis written prior the without system, retrieval and storage information any or system, sharing ﬁle any recording, photocopy, sion of SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes of sion

New York Times Book Review Times New York

a family of German zookeepers sets sail to Brazil. The ship goes a family of German

Life of Pi

. In a

Life of Pi,

Max and the Cats, Max and the Cats novel before beginning to write 1981 feature an epic struggle between man and beast. In man and beast. In epic struggle between feature an

Many critics have noted the book’s resemblance to Ernest Hemingway’s novel to Ernest Hemingway’s resemblance have noted the book’s Many critics Another, less flattering comparison has been drawn between less flattering comparison Another, Both novels while in in a mighty marlin, gles to pull novel in the of Scliar’s an unfavorable review boat. Both the fisherman and Pi learn to respect their animal counterparts; each pair is connected in their each pair is connected animal counterparts; Pi learn to respect their the fisherman and boat. Both allies, even dou- are also partners, are opponents, they resolve. Although they strength, and mutual suffering, are endurance. Because death and destruction novels emphasize the importance of bles. Furthermore, both options: defeat or endurance until destruc- present life as a choice between only two inevitable, both novels to the status of heroes. all odds elevates both human characters tion. Enduring against Martel claims never to have read a wild jaguar. man survives, stranded at sea with down and only one young Max and the Cats on the topic. Scliar considered a lawsuit but is said to have ells.com gaffe and has declined further discussion Scliar in his Martel mentions Martel. Whatever the real story, changed his mind after a discussion with Note, thanking him for “the spark of life.” Author’s Moacyr Scliar’s Moacyr Scliar’s was later reported, no such review being entranced by the premise. As disparagement, despite Updike’s The similarities between the two novel. Scliar’s himself claimed no knowledge of existed, and John Updike in novels are unmistakable: SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM

Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. Plot Overview Plot , they set sail in a cargo ship, along with a crew and many cages full of zoo creatures. , they set sail in a cargo ship, along with a 1977 , 21 Part One is narrated in the first person by Pi. Pi narrates from an advanced age, looking back at his earlier in the first person by Pi. Pi narrates from Part One is narrated At the beginning of Part Two, the ship is beginning to sink. Pi clings to a lifeboat and encourages a tiger, the ship is beginning At the beginning of Part Two, During a bout of temporary blindness passengers coexist warily. The days pass slowly and the lifeboat’s his time at sea, interview Pi about In Part Three, two officials from the Japanese Ministry of Transport

In an Author’s Note, an anonymous author figure explains that he traveled from his home in Canada to India author figure explains that he traveled Note, an anonymous In an Author’s he met an a café in the town of Pondicherry, restless. There, while sipping coffee in because he was feeling in a story fantastic enough to give him faith Adirubasamy who offered to tell him elderly man named Francis reader the story itself, but not before telling his of Pi Patel. The author then shifts into God. This story is that voice. own Pi’s come across more naturally if he tells it in that the account will He to his boyhood in Pondicherry. then even further back college student in Toronto, life as a high school and He describes how Francis and zoology. suffered intensely and found solace in religion explains that he has champion, taught him to and a competitive swimming associate of his father’s a close business Adirubasamy, swimming a Parisian name. Pi is named after the Piscine Molitor, swim and bestowed upon him his unusual father once ran the Pondicherry learn that Pi’s to frequent. We club with two pools that Adirubasamy used goat to a tiger Ravi, about the dangerous nature of animals by feeding a live Zoo, teaching Pi and his brother, to practice all then Islam, choosing a Hindu, discovers Christianity, before their young eyes. Pi, brought up as parents decide to move the family to strife, Pi’s political Motivated by India’s three religions simultaneously. Canada; on June Richard Parker, to join him. Then, realizing his mistake in bringing a wild animal aboard, Pi leaps into the to join him. Then, realizing his mistake in bringing a wild animal aboard, Richard Parker, as Pi describes the explosive noise and chaos of the sinking: crew- ocean. The narrative jumps back in time he soon finds himself alone with a zebra, an orangutan, and a members throw him into a lifeboat, where is gone. The storm subsides and Pi contemplates his difficult situa- hyena, all seemingly in shock. His family Parker intense surprise—Richard orangutan, and then—to Pi’s tion. The hyena kills the zebra and the of the lifeboat all along. Soon the tiger kills the hyena, and Pi reveals himself: the tiger has been in the bottom emergency sea. Pi subsists on canned water and filtered seawater, and Richard Parker are alone together at whom he masters and trains. provides for the tiger, rations, and freshly caught sea life. He also food and tether The two discuss with another blind castaway. brought on by dehydration, Pi has a run-in Parker kills him. When the blind man attacks Pi, intending to eat him, Richard their boats to one another. without any the boat pulls up to a strange island of trees that grow directly out of vegetation, Not long after, time, sleeping in their boat and exploring the island during the day. soil. Pi and Richard Parker stay here for a Pi finds human sleep in the trees and freshwater ponds. One day, Pi discovers a huge colony of meerkats who Parker head fruit and comes to the conclusion that the island eats people. He and Richard teeth in a tree’s and villagers take Pi to a back out to sea, finally washing ashore on a Mexican beach. Richard Parker runs off, hospital. it does not fully satisfy the hoping to shed light on the fate of the doomed ship. Pi tells the story as above, but ravenous cook instead of a skeptical men. So he tells it again, this time replacing the animals with humans: a note that the two sto- hyena, a sailor instead of a zebra, and his mother instead of the orangutan. The officials final report, they commend Pi for living so long with an In their ries match and that the second is far likelier. adult tiger.

pounds and about nine feet long, he pounds and about nine

respected uncle

450

5 an Indian term that means Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. Mamaji, Character List Character —and, more specifically, from a pool in Paris in which a close family friend, a pool in Paris in which a close family friend, from —and, more specifically, The protagonist of the story. Piscine is the narrator for most of the novel, and his is the narrator for most of the novel, Piscine story. The protagonist of the pool The elderly man who tells the author Pi’s story during a chance meeting in a The elderly man who tells the author Pi’s The Royal Bengal tiger with whom Pi shares his lifeboat. His captor, Richard Parker, named Parker, Richard captor, with whom Pi shares his lifeboat. His The Royal Bengal tiger The Catholic priest who introduces Pi to Christianity after Pi wanders into his church. He The Catholic priest who introduces Pi to Christianity after Pi wanders into his church. Pi’s atheistic biology teacher at Petit Séminaire, a secondary school in Pondicherry. A polio school in Pondicherry. atheistic biology teacher at Petit Séminaire, a secondary Pi’s He works in a biology teacher. A plain-featured Muslim mystic with the same name as Pi’s Pi’s father. He once owned a Madras hotel, but because of his deep interest in animals decided to He once owned a Madras hotel, but because of his father. Pi’s The narrator of the (fictitious) Author’s Note, who inserts himself into the narrative at several Note, who inserts himself into the narrative at several The narrator of the (fictitious) Author’s Pi’s beloved mother and protector. A book lover, she encourages Pi to read widely. Raised Hindu she encourages Pi to read widely. A book lover, mother and protector. beloved Pi’s account of his seven months at sea forms the bulk of the story. He gets his unusual name from the He gets his at sea forms the bulk of the story. account of his seven months French word for Francis Adirubasamy, loved to swim. A student of zoology and religion, Pi is deeply intrigued by the swim. A student of zoology and religion, loved to Francis Adirubasamy, of animals and people. habits and characteristics with a Baptist education, she does not subscribe to any religion and questions Pi’s religious declarations. with a Baptist education, she does not subscribe to any religion and questions Pi’s techniques. She speaks her mind, letting her husband know when she disagrees with his parenting Juice on the When Pi relates another version of his story to his rescuers, she takes the place of Orange lifeboat. and the Hindu pandit disagree about whose Kumar, preaches a message of love. He, the Muslim Mr. religion Pi should practice. survivor, he is an odd-looking man, with a body shaped like a triangle. His devotion to the power of he is an odd-looking man, with a body shaped survivor, scientific inquiry and explanation inspires Pi to study zoology in college. academic plans: his faith leads Pi this one has a strong effect on Pi’s Kumar, Like the other Mr. bakery. to study religion at college. him Thirsty, but a shipping clerk made a mistake and reversed their names. From then on, at the made a mistake and reversed their names. but a shipping clerk him Thirsty, Weighing was known as Richard Parker. Pondicherry Zoo, he kills the hyena on the lifeboat and the blind cannibal. With Pi, however, Richard Parker acts as an Richard Parker Pi, however, cannibal. With kills the hyena on the lifeboat and the blind dominance. Pi’s omega, or submissive, animal, respecting himself by Note never identifies who pens the Author’s points throughout the text. Though the author in Canada, Martel himself, thinly disguised: he lives is Yann name, there are many clues that indicate it life story during a trip to India. to write Pi’s has published two books, and was inspired run the Pondicherry Zoo. A worrier by nature, he teaches his sons not only to care for and control wild run the Pondicherry Zoo. A worrier by nature, of adoption a Hindu, he is not religious and is puzzled by Pi’s animals, but to fear them. Though raised in India lead him to move his family to Canada. numerous religions. The difficult conditions Pondicherry coffee shop. He taught Pi to swim as a child and bestowed upon him his unusual moniker. swim as a child and bestowed upon him his unusual moniker. Pondicherry coffee shop. He taught Pi to so as to get a first-person account of his strange and He arranges for the author to meet Pi in person, compelling tale. Pi calls him mercilessly over his devotion to three religions. Pi’s older brother. Ravi prefers sports to schoolwork and is quite popular. He teases his younger brother popular. Ravi prefers sports to schoolwork and is quite brother. older Pi’s

Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) Piscine Molitor Patel Gita Patel Satish Kumar Father Martin Satish Kumar Richard Parker Richard The Author Adirubasamy Francis Santosh Patel Ravi

. Along with his assistant, Atsuro Chiba, Okamoto . Along with his assistant, Atsuro Chiba, 6 Tsimtsum character list character Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright A fellow castaway whom Pi meets by chance in the middle of the ocean. Driven by A fellow castaway whom Pi meets by chance An official from the Maritime Department of the Japanese Ministry of Transport, who is of the Japanese Ministry of Transport, An official from the Maritime Department Pi’s son. He plays baseball. Pi’s One of three important religious figures in the novel. Never given a name, he is outraged Never given a name, figures in the novel. important religious One of three Okamoto’s assistant. Chiba is the more naïve and trusting of the two Japanese officials, and his assistant. Chiba is the more naïve and trusting of the two Japanese officials, and his Okamoto’s The maternal orangutan that floats to the lifeboat on a raft of bananas. She suffers almost The maternal orangutan that floats to the Pi’s wife, whom the author meets briefly in Toronto. author meets briefly wife, whom the Pi’s An ugly, intensely violent animal. He controls the lifeboat before Richard Parker emerges. He controls the lifeboat before Richard intensely violent animal. An ugly, Pi’s young daughter. She is shy but very close to her father. She is shy but very young daughter. Pi’s The human counterpart to the zebra in Pi’s second story. He is young, beautiful, and exotic. He He second story. The human counterpart to the zebra in Pi’s A beautiful male Grant’s zebra. He breaks his leg jumping into the lifeboat. The hyena torments He breaks his leg jumping into the lifeboat. zebra. A beautiful male Grant’s The human counterpart to the hyena in Pi’s second story. He is rude and violent and hoards food on He second story. The human counterpart to the hyena in Pi’s investigating the sinking of the Japanese the nerves. Chiba agrees with Pi that on his superior’s inexperience at conducting interviews gets than the one with people. version of his ordeal with animals is the better interviews Pi for three hours and is highly skeptical of his first account. interviews Pi for three hours and is highly him and he dies. Pi stabs mother, the lifeboat. After he kills the sailor and Pi’s hunger and desperation, he tries to kill and cannibalize Pi, but Richard Parker kills him first. hunger and desperation, he tries to kill and humanlike bouts of loneliness and seasickness. When the hyena attacks her, she fights back valiantly she fights back When the hyena attacks her, humanlike bouts of loneliness and seasickness. but is nonetheless killed and decapitated. him and eats him alive. when Pi, who was raised Hindu, begins practicing other religions. He and the other two religious the other two religious other religions. He and begins practicing was raised Hindu, when Pi, who wants to love God. that he just declaration Pi’s quieted somewhat by leaders are in the lifeboat. He broke his leg jumping off the ship, speaks only Chinese and is very sad and lonely the leg, and the sailor dies slowly. and it becomes infected. The cook cuts off The Zebra The Zebra Okamoto Tomohiro Atsuro Chiba The Cook Meena Patel Meena Patel Nikhil Patel (Nick) Usha Patel The Hyena Juice Orange The Blind Frenchman The Sailor The Hindu Pandit The Hindu SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM

-pound Royal Bengal tiger. Unlike many -pound Royal Bengal tiger. 450 7 Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. Analysis of Major Characters Major of Analysis Though Richard Parker is quite fearsome, ironically his presence helps Pi stay alive. Alone on the lifeboat, Though Richard Parker is quite fearsome, ironically his presence helps Pi stay alive. Though the narrative jumps back and forth in time, the novel traces Pi’s development and maturation in a development and maturation in time, the novel traces Pi’s Though the narrative jumps back and forth his atheistic in God inspires him as a child and helps sustain him while at sea. In Pondicherry, belief Pi’s

novels in which animals speak or act like humans, Richard Parker is portrayed as a real animal that acts in novels in which animals speak or act like humans, Richard Parker is portrayed as on a lifeboat alone, how- ways true to his species. It can be difficult to accept that a tiger and a boy could exist Captured as a cub, Parker grew up in the zoo and is accus- in the context of the novel, it seems plausible. ever, training and providing for him, so he is able to respond to He is used to zookeepers tomed to a life in captivity. he is no docile house cat. He has been tamed, but he still cues from Pi and submit to his dominance. However, of shelter and killing the hyena and the blind castaway swimming for the lifeboat in search acts instinctually, draw out his parting with Pi, for food. When the two wash up on the shore of Mexico, Richard Parker doesn’t he simply runs off into the jungle, never to be seen again. predatory marine life, Pi has many issues to face in addition to the tiger onboard: lack of food and water, and terrified of treacherous sea currents, and exposure to the elements. Overwhelmed by the circumstances Richard Parker Richard a Parker, companion throughout his ordeal at sea is Richard Pi’s Piscine Molitor Patel Piscine Molitor In the chapters that frame the the narrator. is the protagonist and, for most of the novel, Piscine Molitor Patel childhood and the ship- man, tells the author about his early graying, middle-aged Pi, as a shy, main story, know don’t reader from the truth. We his life. This narrative device distances the wreck that changed throughout Pi emphasizes what pieces to believe. This effect is intentional; story is accurate or whether Pi’s trumps cold, hard facts. As a child, he believing that imagination the better story, the importance of choosing to that provide meaning and dimension many religions and their rich narratives reads widely and embraces rescue, he offers first the more fanciful version with the Japanese investigators after his life. In his interviews provides an alternative version that is more realistic but ulti- of his time at sea. But, at their behest, he then defin- his questioners. The structure of the novel both illustrates Pi’s mately less appealing to both himself and love of stories, and highlights the inherent difficulties in trusting his ing characteristic, his dependence on and version of events. outgoing, and excitable child, dependent Pi is an eager, story. traditional bildungsroman, or coming-of-age In school, his primary concerns involve preventing his schoolmates on his family for protection and guidance. when the ship But as much as he can about religion and zoology. from mispronouncing his name and learning on a lifeboat with wild animals. The disaster serves as the cata- sinks, Pi is torn from his family and left alone become self-sufficient. Though he mourns the loss of his family lyst in his emotional growth; he must now He finds a survival guide and emergency provisions. Question- and fears for his life, he rises to the challenge. is a luxury under the conditions and learns to fish. He ing his own values, he decides that his vegetarianism pro- and even assumes a parental relationship with the tiger, capably protects himself from Richard Parker line. The devastating shipwreck turns Pi into an adult, able to fend viding him with food and keeping him in for himself out in the world alone. in God, making him realize the positive power of belief, the need biology teacher challenges his Hindu faith universe. Motivated to learn more, Pi starts practicing Christian- to overcome the otherwise bleakness of the His bur- share the same foundation: belief in a loving higher power. ity and Islam, realizing these religions all while at sea. In his first days on the lifeboat, he almost gives up, geoning need for spiritual connection deepens unwilling to face the difficulties that still await him. At that point, unable to bear the loss of his family and a miracle. This he realizes that the fact he is still alive means that God is with him; he has been given however, adventure, he prays reg- thought gives him strength, and he decides to fight to remain alive. Throughout his and a way to pass the time. to something greater, which provides him with solace, a sense of connection ularly,

8 Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright analysis of major characters of major analysis Richard Parker symbolizes Pi’s most animalistic instincts. Out on the lifeboat, Pi must perform many most animalistic instincts. Out on the Pi’s Richard Parker symbolizes dying, Pi becomes distraught and unable to take action. However, he soon realizes that his most immediate he soon realizes However, unable to take action. distraught and dying, Pi becomes train- through several forgotten, Pi manages, now temporarily His other problems Parker. threat is Richard less other obstacles seem making his success gives him confidence, This to dominate Parker. ing exercises, search- his continued existence: steps toward ensuring is able to take concrete Renewed, Pi insurmountable. Pi busy and Richard Parker keeps and providing for motivated. Caring and keeping himself ing for food life. After distract him, Pi might have given up on Richard Parker to challenge and passes the time. Without him alive. in Mexico, he thanks the tiger for keeping he washes up on land he in his normal life. An avowed vegetarian, that he would have found unimaginable actions to stay alive and more brutish about it, tearing apart birds their flesh. As time progresses, he becomes must kill fish and eat blind does. After Richard Parker mauls the in his mouth, the way Richard Parker greedily stuffing them cannibalistic in his unrelenting flesh for bait and even eats some of it, becoming man’s Frenchman, Pi uses the murderer. kills his mother’s He Japanese investigators, Pi is Richard Parker. In his second story to the hunger. and to his story more palatable, both to himself of himself that Pi has invented to make Parker is the version act of revenge are too much for Pi to death and his own shocking of his mother’s his audience. The brutality rather than himself in that role. a tiger as the killer, deal with, and he finds it easier to imagine

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days with other 227 9 Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. story: that there were no animals at all, and that Pi had spent those story: that there were no animals at all, and that is a story about struggling to survive through seemingly insurmountable odds. The shipwrecked to survive through seemingly insurmountable is a story about struggling begins with an old man in Pondicherry who tells the narrator, “I have a story that will make you begins with an old man in Pondicherry who tells the narrator, is a story within a story within a story. The novel is framed by a (ﬁctional) note from the author, The novel is framed by a (ﬁctional) note from the author, is a story within a story within a story. Themes, Motifs & Symbols Motifs Themes, Pi, however, is not a liar: to him, the various versions of his story each contain a different kind of truth. One is not a liar: to him, the various versions of his story each contain a different kind Pi, however, contemplate sea voyage are too horrible to “true” events of Pi’s Storytelling is also a means of survival. The

The Nature of Religious Belief The Will to Live to The Will believe in God.” Storytelling and religious belief are two closely linked ideas in the novel. On a literal level, believe in God.” Storytelling and religious belief are two closely linked ideas in the and Islam, come with its own set of tales and fables, three religions, Hinduism, Christianity, each of Pi’s the wealth of stories, but which are used to spread the teachings and illustrate the beliefs of the faith. Pi enjoys each of these stories might simply he also senses that, as Father Martin assured him was true of Christianity, universal story about love. be aspects of a greater, inhabitants of the little lifeboat don’t simply acquiesce to their fate: they actively fight against it. Pi abandons fate: they actively fight against it. Pi simply acquiesce to their lifeboat don’t inhabitants of the little fero- Juice, the peaceful orangutan, fights and eats fish to sustain himself. Orange his lifelong vegetarianism painful struggle viv- to stay alive; his slow, Even the severely wounded zebra battles ciously against the hyena. force. As Martel makes clear in his novel, living creatures will idly illustrates the sheer strength of his life they will also do unexpected, and sometimes heroic things to survive. However, often do extraordinary, turn toward can- treachery and the blind Frenchman’s hyena’s shameful and barbaric things if pressed. The go when faced with the possibility of extinction. At the end of the nibalism show just how far creatures will is actually an aspect of his own per- Richard Parker, fierce tiger, novel, when Pi raises the possibility that the reader is forced that Pi himself is responsible for some of the horrific events he has narrated, the and sonality, situation. in a life-or-death to decide just what kinds of actions are acceptable Life of Pi Life of Pi Life of Pi Themes Yann Martel, who describes how he first came to hear the fantastic tale of Piscine Molitor Patel. Within the Within who describes how he first came to hear the fantastic tale of Piscine Molitor Patel. Martel, Yann account of life on the open sea, which forms the fantastical first-person narration is Pi’s framework of Martel’s a transcript taken from an interrogation of Pi reveals the possible bulk of the book. At the end of the novel, “true” story within human survivors who all eventually perished, leaving only himself. human survivors who all eventually perished, other has an emotional or thematic truth that the other cannot version may be factually true, but the yeast- disdain for rationalists who only put their faith in “dry, approach. Throughout the novel, Pi expresses longer in the when stories—which can amaze and inspire listeners, and are bound to linger less factuality,” imagination—are, to him, infinitely superior. tells his integrators he directly: any young boy would go insane if faced with the kinds of acts Pi (indirectly) have to face Pi doesn’t has witnessed. By recasting his account as an incredible tale about humanlike animals, by creating the character of Richard Parker, the true cruelty human beings are actually capable of. Similarly, on the ocean. Even this Pi can disavow the ferocious, violent side of his personality that allowed him to survive aspect of his nature and the civilized, human eyes. He believes that the tiger-like a lie in Pi’s is not, technically, just as the boy Pi and the tiger aspect stand in tense opposition and occasional partnership with one another, Richard Parker are both enemies and allies. The Importance of Storytelling

SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM are continually fixated on Life of Pi because Pi asserts that both require faith on the part asserts that both require because Pi 10 Life of Pi themes, motifs & symbols motifs themes, Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright and Pi can appreciate an atheist’s ability to believe in the absence of God with to believe in the absence ability appreciate an atheist’s and Pi can something, something, Stories and religious beliefs are also linked in religious beliefs are Stories and no concrete proof of that absence. Pi has nothing but disdain, however, for agnostics, who claim that it is who claim that for agnostics, but disdain, however, Pi has nothing proof of that absence. no concrete statement on the question making a definitive therefore refrain from and who to know either way, impossible agnostics who cannot make a leap him, To evidence of a shameful lack of imagination. of God. Pi sees this as might the non-literal truth a fictional story are like listeners who cannot appreciate of faith in either direction provide. Ritual Animals are creatures of Throughout the novel, characters achieve comfort through the practice of rituals. is wrong with their ani- habit, as Pi establishes early on when he notes that zookeepers can tell if something their routines, even to the mals just by noticing changes in their daily routines. People, too, become wedded to of change. While religious traditions are a prime and grow troubled during times point of predictability, mother wants to buy cigarettes example of ritual in this novel, there are numerous others. For instance, Pi’s And Pi is brand in Winnipeg. be able to find her particular before traveling to Canada, for fear that she won’t rit- sustain him. Without able to survive his oceanic ordeal largely because he creates a series of daily rituals to give structure to uals, routines, and habits, the novel implies, people feel uneasy and unmoored. Rituals abstract ideas and emotions—in other words, ritual is an alternate form of storytelling. food and water. Ironically, the lifeboat is surrounded by food and water; however, the salty water is undrink- and water; however, the lifeboat is surrounded by food Ironically, food and water. struggles to land a fish or pull a turtle up over the side of the able and the food is difficult to catch. Pi constantly collect fresh drinking water using the solar stills. The repeated craft, just as he must steadily and consistently his current one former life and the sharp difference between Pi’s struggles against hunger and thirst illustrate never have to people are fed like animals in a zoo—they on the boat. In urban towns such as Pondicherry, But on the open ocean, it is up to Pi to fend for himself. His expend much effort to obtain their sustenance. more primitive existence on the open sea is marked by his attitudes transition from modern civilization to the the fish is lifeless, look- toward fish: initially Pi, a vegetarian, is reluctant to kill and eat an animal. Only once increasing comfort with eating meat sig- goes on, Pi’s As time ing as it might in a market, does Pi feel better. nals his embrace of his new life. Unsurprisingly in a novel about a shipwrecked castaway, the characters in castaway, Unsurprisingly in a novel about a shipwrecked of the listener or devotee. Surprisingly for such a religious boy, Pi admires atheists. To him, the important him, To Pi admires atheists. religious boy, for such a or devotee. Surprisingly of the listener believe in thing is to Motifs it also studies the strictness of the seemingly boundless nature of the sea, text deals with Though Martel’s careful way in which Pi marks off his territory and differentiates boundaries, borders, and demarcations. The are territorial creatures, as Pi notes: a family survival. Animals is necessary for Pi’s it from Richard Parker’s as we learn from Richard Tigers, intruders as if it were a lair. dog, for example, will guard its bed from establishing abso- similarly territorial. They mark their space and define its boundaries carefully, are Parker, control Pi must establish his master Richard Parker, their area. To lute dominance over every square inch of his urine over the tarp to designate a portion of the lifeboat as his over certain zones in the lifeboat. He pours The small and he uses his whistle to ensure that Richard Parker stays within his designated space. territory, size of its inhabitants make for a crowded vessel. In such a confined size of the lifeboat and the relatively large a relatively peaceful relationship between man and beast. If Rich- space, the demarcation of territory ensures that a distinct boundary can be erected the notion own personality, ard Parker is seen as an aspect of Pi’s need to disavow the violent, animalistic side of his nature. between the two represents Pi’s Hunger and Thirst Territorial Dominance Territorial SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM and sinks, alpha Tsimtsum days at sea. As the 227 , pi has so many decimal places , pi has so many decimal 14 . 3 11 themes, motifs & symbols motifs themes, Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright the color orange symbolizes hope and survival. Just before the scene in which the the color orange symbolizes hope and survival. sinks, Chinese crewmen give Pi a lifejacket with an orange whistle; on the boat, he finds an orange sinks, Chinese crewmen give Pi a lifejacket carries a host of relevant associations. It is a letter in the Greek alphabet that also contains associations. It is a letter in the Greek carries a host of relevant terms used in the book to denote dominant and submissive creatures. Pi is also an irrational mathe- to denote dominant and submissive creatures. terms used in the book Pi Life of Pi, the narrator describes visiting the adult Pi at his home in Canada and meeting his family. Pi’s daughter, Usha, daughter, Pi’s at his home in Canada and meeting his family. the narrator describes visiting the adult Pi will not be a com- if not happy, the reader that the end of the story, carries an orange cat. This moment assures The little since Pi is guaranteed to survive the catastrophe and father children of his own. plete tragedy, who helps Pi survive during his Parker, orange cat recalls the big orange cat, Richard Tsimtsum as Orange Juice the orangutan provides a mea- and tiger all help Pi survive, just whistle, buoy, The lifebuoy. maintain hope in the face of horrific tragedy. sure of emotional support that helps the boy The Color Orange In Piscine Molitor Patel’s preferred moniker is more than just a shortened version of his given name. Indeed, the moniker is more than just a shortened preferred Piscine Molitor Patel’s word Symbols Pi omega, distance in a circle. Often shortened to used to calculate matical number, difficult as, the book argues, some realities are too accurately comprehend it, just can’t that the human mind he Pi as more than just a realistic protagonist; associations establish the character or troubling to face. These with multiple layers of meaning. also is an allegorical figure SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM , smarting from the less than , smarting from the less 1996 12 Martel uses his narrator to make serious commentary on every- Martel uses his narrator to make serious Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. which masquerade as fact even though they are obviously works of imag- which masquerade as fact even though they Life of Pi, Don Quixote, Summary and Analysis and Summary The Author’s Note blends facts and fictions about Yann Martel’s own inspiration for the book to illustrate Martel’s Note blends facts and fictions about Yann The Author’s Three, another short section that is also concerned Note is balanced structurally by Part The Author’s In this slightly desperate state, the author says, he left the environs of Bombay and, after a period of wan- In this slightly desperate state, the author Mr. story, in his native Canada, the author called up the protagonist of Francis Adirubasamy’s back Later,

Though just six pages long, the Author’s Note clues us into the book’s origins even as it blurs the boundary Note clues us into the book’s Though just six pages long, the Author’s the text is nonfiction, placing this book squarely in the tradition of between fact and fiction. The note claims picaresque novels like ironic, to wry, illness, and so on—are subject of life—poverty, ination. In picaresque novels, the harsh realities and even humorous treatment. In the intersection of fact and thing from religion to politics, and the mock-journalistic introduction emphasizes fiction in his literary world. books before this the central theme of the book: storytelling. Martel really had written two not-so-successful Francis Adirubasamy in a one and inspiration had struck him during a visit to India. But did he really meet is just doing what fiction coffee shop, and does Pi Patel really exist? The answer is no. On one level, Martel another level, these open- writers do: creating an imaginary scenario to delight and entice his readers. But on central theme, which is that storytelling is a way to get ing six pages deftly lay the foundation for the novel’s want to say that this novel was around telling the boring or upsetting or uninteresting truth. Martel doesn’t getting up early every created by painstakingly researching zoos and religions and oceanic survival guides, an explanation would poke a hole in the balloon of fantasy Such morning, and writing for several hours a day. three hundred pages; so, instead, he invents a different ori- account inflates over the course of the next that Pi’s gin story. do not really fool with creating the impression that this entire book is a work of nonfiction. These bookends our disbelief and invest ourselves more fully in the of course, but they give us the ability to suspend the reader, story we are about to read. Analysis Author’s Note Author’s Summary who author, some background on the book’s section that precedes Part One begins with The brief, italicized The author tells us that in the text as a character. has written himself into trip to rejuvenate his mind. On this, his second his first two books, he flew to Bombay to favorable response to began that book failed to materialize, and he plans to write a novel about Portugal. But India, he arrived with to feel hopeless and dejected about his prospects. controlled by the in the south of India. Pondicherry had once been dering, arrived in the town of Pondicherry, decades ago. In a local coffee shop, the author continues, he French Empire but had become self-governing The man told bits and who offered to tell him a story. met by chance a man named Francis Adirubasamy, notes. pieces of the story while the author made him his own ver- Patel agreed to meet with him and tell point). Mr. Patel (we only know his last name at this documents, which he did over the course of numerous meetings. He showed the author sion of the story, received support- the author clippings about his ordeal. Later, including his old diary and ancient newspaper The author explains that he decided to write up Mr. of Transport. ing documents from the Japanese Ministry own voice and looking through his eyes. Any mistakes, he states, are the Patel’s using Mr. account Patel’s Patel and to the most notably to Mr. note ends with a series of acknowledgments, The author’s own. author’s novelist Moacyr Scliar.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any means, el means, any by or form any in distributed or transmitted, reproduced, be may publication this of part No reserved. rights All ectronic or mechanical, including including mechanical, or ectronic SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM which gives Pi the room was followed by light, car- Tsimtsum, Tsimstum, 13 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright The zoo occupies an important place in Pi’s memory. Indeed, growing up in a zoo shaped his belief system, memory. The zoo occupies an important place in Pi’s Though given only a brief mention, Pi’s reference of his thesis on sixteenth-century Kabbalist Isaac Luria’s reference of Though given only a brief mention, Pi’s Pi mentions his stay at a hospital in Mexico, where he was treated exceptionally well. He lists his ail- treated exceptionally well. He lists his at a hospital in Mexico, where he was Pi mentions his stay The author describes Pi as a small, gray- point of view. The narrative briefly switches to the author’s a pool. His resumes, as he reflects on his boyhood in India. Pi relates that he was named after narrative Pi’s and Pi explains that he grew up thinking the Santosh Patel, used to run the Pondicherry Zoo, father, Pi’s because of his full name, Piscine, which the other school chil- Pi describes the teasing he received as a child ried in five vessels. The vessels shattered, causing the sparks of light to sink into matter. God reordered them ried in five vessels. The vessels shattered, causing the sparks of light to sink into matter. This seemingly unimportant detail into five figures, which became the dimensions of our created reality. actually foreshadows the main event to come: the sinking of the ship, the like the five figures that make up reality for Interestingly, to create his own version of the events that follow. story. Luria, five characters on the lifeboat (including Pi himself) shape Pi’s the meaning of freedom. taught him about animal nature, and imbued in him many significant lessons about At this early point in Martel’s novel, we have seen hints that Pi has endured something devastating and novel, we have seen hints At this early point in Martel’s The book approaches that nameless event from the outside know exactly what. but we don’t extraordinary, after before getting to the heart of the tragedy itself. This life before and in, providing information about Pi’s a fully fleshed out char- technique builds up the suspense and allows us to get to know Pi as a normal boy and us firmly into the story: we want to know who Richard not just as a victim of circumstance. It also draws acter, memories of India. Parker is and what happened to him, and we wonder about Pi’s theory of creation states that cosmogony theory is very important to the book as a whole. In essence, Luria’s God contracted to make room for the universe. This contraction, called Analysis The main text of the book begins with Pi’s declaration that he has suffered a great deal, leaving him despon- declaration that he has suffered book begins with Pi’s The main text of the Pi tells us that he continued his to the reader. suffering and its source are not yet clear dent. The nature of his He mentions that his religious studies thesis studies and was a very good student. religious and zoological sloths and observes that their He speaks at length about cosmogony theory. Isaac Luria’s addressed aspects of they virtually disappear into the back- by the fact that they are so slow and dull; very survival is ensured learn also say anything about his profession. We Pi is now working, though he does not learn that ground. We named Richard Parker. loves Canada, and that he misses someone that Pi misses India and a says that he was up and walking in about retention, dark urine, broken skin—and ments—anemia, fluid tap and heard the water rushing forth the first time he turned on a water time. He tells us he fainted week’s a waiter in an Indian restaurant in Canada criticized him for using and describes how he felt wounded when his fingers to eat. and directly. haired, middle-aged man, who talks quickly whom Pi calls but he learned to swim from a family friend, Francis Adirubasamy, parents did not like water, when he was young, and he instills in Pi a love for the ritualistic Mamaji. Mamaji was a champion swimmer Molitor in Paris, favorite pool in the world is the Piscine Mamaji’s nature of swimming, stroke after stroke. unusual name. and it is after that pool that Pi received his habits of zoo creatures. Pi remembers the alarm-clock precision zoo was paradise. He discusses the ritualistic the songs that are birds’ daily rites, the hours of day at which of the roaring lions and the howler monkeys, him. He defends zoos against those who would rather the various animals could be counted on to entertain that wild creatures are at the mercy of nature, while zoo creatures animals were kept in the wild. He argues that many people Pi tells us that the Pondicherry Zoo is now shut down and live a life of luxury and constancy. now hold both zoos and religions in disrepute. his classmates and teachers to call him Pi by writing it on the dren turned into Pissing, and how he trained who tells us that we switch briefly back to the voice of the author, chalkboard of each of his classrooms. Then in Canada is extremely well-stocked. kitchen Pi’s Part One (Toronto and Pondicherry): Chapters 1–6 Chapters and Pondicherry): (Toronto Part One Summary SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM not only means “pool” in French but shares a not only means “pool” piscine 14 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright . As befits his name, Pi learns how to swim from Francis Adirubasamy, and he Pi learns how to swim from Francis Adirubasamy, . As befits his name, fish or pisces, Pi describes in vivid detail the day his father fed a live goat to a caged tiger to teach Pi and his brother, Ravi, fed a live goat to a caged tiger to teach Pi and his brother, Pi describes in vivid detail the day his father of their particular Pi discusses territoriality at greater length, explaining that animals are fiercely defensive full of various religious The author reasserts his voice and describes the Patel house in Canada, which is infant. He describes his Pi says he was born into Hinduism, becoming involved in its rites and rituals as an Given the amount of energy that Pi devotes to the ideas of rituals and routine in the lives of zoo creatures, Given the amount of energy that Pi devotes Explanations of Pi’s name take up nearly as much text as his philosophizing about zoos. The watery asso- up nearly as much text as his philosophizing name take Explanations of Pi’s Summary Mr. Satish Kumar. Mr. his favorite teacher, Pondicherry narrative, and he remembers return to Pi’s We Pi feels a deep kinship. In fact, Pi says, atheists are simply people Kumar is an atheist communist with whom is agnostics, full of doubt and uncertainty and devoid of faith, whom of a different faith, with strong beliefs. It Pi cannot stomach. But, according to a sign in the zoo, the most dangerous animal of all about the danger posed by wild animals. minimum distance at which an animal will tolerate a potential is man. Piscine explains flight distance—the to the smooth Getting animals used to the presence of humans, he continues, is the key predator or enemy. and by creating a good enclosure, providing food and water, running of a zoo and may be accomplished rarely if ever run back to the wild. On the zoo animals care of in this way, knowing each animal well. Taken has invaded their territory exceptional occasions when they do, it is usually because someone or something and frightened them away. the cage first, establish- area. They also respect the territory of other creatures, which is why lion tamers enter why socially inferior ani- ing their dominance before the lions are brought in. Pi shifts into an explanation of They have the most mals—omega animals—tend to be the most obedient, loyal, and faithful to their masters. to gain from a good relationship with an alpha creature. paintings, statues, devotional articles, photographs, He sees Hindu, Christian, and Islamic iconography. clothes, and books. Pi keeps the Bible on his nightstand. move into prayer constant hunger for Prasad, a Hindu offering to God, and the way his hands automatically sustains the universe position. He discusses the Hindu philosophy of life, which he embraces: “That which for expression, is the same beyond thought and language, and that which is at the core of us and struggles thing.” Pi states that he has always been and will always be a Hindu. gravitates toward water. His full name performs two related and yet antithetical functions in the text: first, it name performs two related and yet antithetical His full gravitates toward water. after a realistically have survived in the ocean that a very strong swimmer like Pi might emphasizes the idea positioning Pi as a mythic or ring of allegory, it is such an odd name that is has the shipwreck; and second, long number whose combinations symbol pi, an almost impossibly The literal, mathematic fabled character. with all its variations. long journey, never repeat, also symbolizes Pi’s his schoolmates and teachers into calling him Pi. One day at school, it is telling that he uses repetition to train full name on the blackboard; then he underlines his preferred nick- he leaps up during roll call and writes his out this act in each classroom, during every roll call, to the point name, Pi, and speaks it aloud. He carries along. For humans as well as animals, repetition proves to be a very where his fellow students start to follow effective teacher. Part One: Chapters 7–20 derivation with Zoos are places of habit: there are chores that the keepers must perform every day, such as feeding and clean- such as feeding and every day, must perform chores that the keepers of habit: there are Zoos are places of the zoo and on the orderliness Pi establishes early as well as animal rituals. and their cages, ing the animals just as humans of zoo life prefer the consistency it gives him. Animals sense of regularity the comforting sort of zoo. Zoo animals their own of modern society, and abundance themselves to the rituals accustom In the wild, by water and food. they enjoy the abundant and if given the opportunity, even away, rarely run odds and other creatures. Death is a constant battle for survival, a race against the contrast, life is a constant zoo creatures, defanged and pro- us living in modern society are essentially All of presence and possibility. freed. walls, walls from which Pi will soon be waiting for us beyond the enclosure tected from the wilderness name are undeniable: full ciations of Piscine Molitor’s SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 15 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright But lest the reader interpret Pi’s focus on rites and objects as merely superficial, Pi lets us know that he focus on rites and objects as merely superficial, Pi lets us But lest the reader interpret Pi’s the text, both Martel and Pi are fascinated in particular by the As is made abundantly apparent throughout and Islam and the earlier chapter on the atheist between these chapters on Hindu, Christianity, Tucked declaration that he once chapter leads naturally to Pi’s The dramatic violence of the tiger-and-goat Pi describes how, one day on holiday, when he was fourteen, he came across a church and, although he had across a church and, fourteen, he came when he was day on holiday, one how, Pi describes when Pi met a Muslim baker and mystic, he became a Muslim at age fifteen. It began Pi then explains how From the animalistic rites and rituals of the earlier zoo section of the novel, the novel has transitioned into a of the novel, the novel has transitioned into rites and rituals of the earlier zoo section From the animalistic eyes, many examples of through Pi’s rites and rituals. In these chapters we witness, section about religious lend also see the objects that and chanting. We church-going to Muslim prayer pious routine, from Christian of religious figures, like Christ on the cross or of Lord Gane- comfort to the faithful on a daily basis: paintings of incense and a copper spoon. A central message of the book is sha, and devotional articles such as sticks method humans have developed of making their lives more plea- becoming clearer and clearer: religion is a surable, more meaningful, and more understandable. He is well aware that without something bigger and more sig- understands there is more to faith than ritual. He says as much when he calls the miracles of Jesus Christ “minor nificant, a religious custom is a hollow act. Muslim prayer “hot-weather yoga for the Bedouins.” These slights magic, on the order of card tricks,” and of and appreciation for the heart and soul of each religious come before he has gained a true understanding each religion, he embraces their rituals with enthusiasm as well. faith, and once he embraces the essence of studies both subjects at college, and chapters on zoology are inter- intersection of zoology and religion. Pi references to the Pi makes multiple on religion and philosophy. spersed throughout Part One with chapters point, because bad graces these days, he says at one are in people’s ways in which zoos are like religion—both other words, people sometimes resist what they perceive as con- of prevailing notions about freedom. In on personal free- Religion, with its many dictates and rules, may be seen as intrusions straints on their liberty. way he defends zoos earlier in the book, by examining the very doms. But Pi defends religion the same life would be like without religion. Life inside the walls, as it were, definition of freedom and imagining what not to leave; life outside is bleak by comparison. is cozy and comfortable, and people prefer on the ferocity of tigers and the intense territorial- of whom Pi is extremely fond, falls the section Kumar, Mr. might seem odd, but in fact it is very relevant to its neighboring ity of animals. The placement of this chapter front of his two sons to teach them to never get too close to father allows a tiger to attack a goat in scenes. Pi’s are still wild animals at heart. animals, even if they’ve been domesticated and trained, the tiger cage. Wild Their intrinsic nature is deep-seated and always ready to boil up to the surface. violence. Martel establishes believed that Christianity was about great violence, and Islam about even greater and the sadistic brutality a vague and yet undeniable connection here between the feral acts of wild creatures religious conflicts. Pi soon that humans have inflicted upon other humans for centuries, often because of or violence. But he remains comes to see that Christianity and Islam are, in fact, about love rather than hatred decree that such as God’s puzzled by certain religious tenets that seem to go against the foundation of love, ominous and mysterious aspect of religion even as he sins. Pi senses this Christ be punished for man’s embraces God in all his guises. Analysis never been in one before, stepped across the threshold. Inside, Father Martin told him the story of Christ on told him the story Inside, Father Martin across the threshold. in one before, stepped never been that Martin responded Father story, to hear another strange. When he asked Pi found very the cross, which Christian; Father decided to become a Pi after, of it is love. Soon and the crux has only one story, Christianity him he already was. Martin told Pi watched himself to pray. middle of a conversation with Pi, excused who, in the Satish Kumar, a second Mr. the the baker explained that Islam is about later to ask the baker about his religion; the routine and returned Kumar and to visit a local mosque. pray with Mr. Beloved. Pi began to SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM and a volume by Robert Louis Stevenson. 16 Robinson Crusoe summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright s were a difficult time in India, though he admits that political troubles did not s were a difficult time in India, though he 1970 , and being very excited. He mentions his mother’s apprehension about leaving the place she has lived , and being very excited. He mentions his mother’s 1977 We return to the author’s first person. The author describes meeting Meena Patel, Pi’s wife, whose exist- wife, whose describes meeting Meena Patel, Pi’s first person. The author return to the author’s We the Muslim Kumars, the atheist biology teacher and two Mr. Pi narrates the one-time meeting of the Patel sold off many zoo creatures and made arrange- In preparation for the move to Canada, Pi says, Mr. is holding an two children: Nikhil and Usha. Usha, age four, again in first person, meets Pi’s The author, Pi explains that the One day, Pi tells us, he and his parents were out enjoying the weather at a seaside esplanade when the parents were out enjoying the weather Pi tells us, he and his One day, for a prayer mat, a request that flustered both of them. His Pi describes asking his father and mother , Analysis yeastless factuality” and This section begins with two of the most important phrases in the entire text: “dry, from Pi, and their significance is underscored by the fact Both come to the author directly “the better story.” spectrum of storytelling. that they are repeated within two pages. The two phrases are opposite poles on the bread. At the other end is a version of reality that has which is as flat as unrisen At one end is boring reality, risen loaf of bread, so to speak. been enlivened by imagination, improving the story—it becomes a full, hearty, The risen bread is When the options are presented in these terms, it is easy to see which is the more tempting. to eat as cardboard. far more appetizing, while the flattened, yeastless option looks about as appealing really affect him. His father, though, became incensed over the government’s actions and decided to move his though, became incensed over the government’s really affect him. His father, to Pi and Ravi. family to Canada—a place completely foreign of her all over Pi’s the author began to see signs he knew about her, ence first comes as a shock to him. Once any because he had not been looking for them. He wonders if house; until that point he had not noticed food for him, but confirms that the cook is indeed Pi himself. Meena is the one who has been cooking spicy them to a day they joined Pi for an outing at the Pondicherry Zoo, during which Pi introduced One baker. creature. Pi Neither had ever seen an exotic zebra before, but both were in awe of the splendid zebra. Grant’s when an animal sees another animal, or even another human, as segues into a discussion of zoomorphism: know the truth—the lion cubs know the dog is not their mother, being of its own kind. Pi says these animals not a lion—but they embrace the fiction because they are also in and the lions know the human is a human, need of stories to get through life. Pi describes setting sail on June ments to bring some of them across the Pacific in a cargo ship with the family. 21 all her life to travel into the unknown. a happy ending. story has orange cat in her arms. The author says Pi’s Finally, however, they gave in, and Pi came to treasure his rug. He used to pray in his yard, with his parents they gave in, and Pi came to treasure his however, Finally, Not long after he got his rug, he continues, he was baptized and brother watching him like an exotic creature. in the presence of his parents. The author sits in a café after a meeting with Pi and thinks about what he has just heard. He considers his what he has just heard. He considers after a meeting with Pi and thinks about The author sits in a café switch back to Pi’s philosophies. We religious writes down some thoughts about Pi’s own mundane life and faith” who he imagines would take a “leap of the final deathbed moments of an atheist, narration. Pi describes try of an agnostic, who on his deathbed would he describes the tiresome rationalizing at the last minute. Then a letting his imagination supply him with explanation for the white light rather than to present a reasonable “better story.” was various religions approached them. Each with whom Pi had been practicing his priest, imam, and pandit or Muslim, but rather all three simultaneously. that Pi was not just a Hindu, Christian, shocked to discover that such a thing was not secret. The religious figures protested to learn Pi’s parents were also surprised Pi’s religion. Pi responded that he just wanted to love God. Pi says possible and demanded that Pi choose a single act out in vio- Ravi, teased him mercilessly for some time afterward. Pi speculates that people who his brother, the true nature of religion. lence or anger in the name of god misunderstand books: mother attempted to distract him with Part One: Chapters 21–36 Chapters Part One: Summary SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM . Pi is sleep- Tsimtsum 17 which the Pi’s mother gives him in this section, are also which the Pi’s summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright Robinson Crusoe, and Pi The narrative moves back a few moments to the point just before the sinking of the The narrative moves back a few moments to the point just before the sinking of the The compulsion to invent a better story, to improve one’s reality and make it more livable, is such a deep- it more livable, reality and make to improve one’s story, to invent a better The compulsion and he knows enrich “yeastless” factuality, the saving grace of a myth or story to Pi strongly recognizes abilities. The dichot- is a strong metaphor for his storytelling robust cooking inclination toward spicy, Pi’s on layers, spices on spices—also helps explain why Pi practices That additive quality—of heaping layers The similarities between ing when a loud noise, perhaps an explosion, wakes him. He tries to wake Ravi so they can go exploring ing when a loud noise, perhaps an explosion, wakes him. He tries to wake Ravi cabin door and climbs up to the main deck, where he sees but Ravi stays asleep. Pi passes his parents’ together, noises; Pi begins to that it is raining. The boat is listing considerably to one side and making awful groaning but the stairwell is full of feel afraid. He tries to run back down to the level of the ship where his family is, water. Part Two (The Pacific Ocean): Chapters 37–42 Part Two Summary a Royal Bengal tiger The ship sinks, and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat in the midst of utter chaos. He sees and urges him to save himself. Richard Parker boards near drowning, named Richard Parker in the water, animal. He throws him- the lifeboat and suddenly Pi realizes the danger in sharing a tiny space with a vicious self into the roiling water. seated and natural instinct, Pi says, that even animals do it, whether unconsciously or not. For example, a lion or not. For do it, whether unconsciously that even animals natural instinct, Pi says, seated and circumstance, a lion and the appropriate the right conditions a lion. But given think a human is really doesn’t or life with a with life as an orphan its own. Faced either the human as one of willing to accept may become immea- fiction improves his life figure? The accept a dog as a maternal lion cub wouldn’t what foster mother, surably. why he is so perturbed by the idea of agnosti- requires a leap of faith. This is precisely that believing in a story novel. Agnostics, as Pi explains it, are rational comes up for the second time in the cism, which in this section or experience. They are wedded to factual- trust anything that they cannot see, taste, to a fault. They do not are feels such a strong distaste for them. They it—and that is the main reason why Pi ity—indeed, they prefer to take an imaginative leap, in either direction. completely unwilling by the fact that, as the author tells us, enriched bread is amplified dry bread and fluffy, omy between yeastless, that the author sweats and even has digestive who uses abundant spices—so much so Pi is a good cook, one chutneys, food. Pi also seems to take great pleasure in adding condiments (relishes, trouble when he eats Pi’s is one in which he has added yeast, to in Part Two, which we are about to get story, and so on) to the table. Pi’s make it palatable; apparently the facts alone would be hard to swal- spices, herbs, and anything else he can to low. and imam, nor- As we see during the confrontation with the priest, pandit, multiple religions simultaneously. Pi drives him to something in two additional faiths. However, mal born-and-raised Hindus do not adopt myths and more options. Each faith brings with it its own unique need more stories, more versions of reality, customs, and its own take on God. Pi explains that the essence of fables, its own assortment of rituals and religions at once he is able to surround himself in layers of every religion is love, and by practicing multiple affirmation. affection, acceptance, understanding, and striking. Like Pi, Crusoe is shipwrecked. Both characters keep journals of their daily activities, develop sur- striking. Like Pi, Crusoe is shipwrecked. on, both fall ill and hallucinate and encounter cannibals on an vival skills, and train animals. As time goes the differences in their characters are though the activities of both men are quite similar, island. However, deep feelings, Pi embraces them, ricocheting from the deepest lev- great. Whereas Crusoe seems incapable of difficult situation to great heights of joy at the thoughts of rescue, els of sorrow at the loss of his family and his his dominance his classmates to pronounce his name correctly, food, and God. Though Pi tries to train into a master- Crusoe takes this mastery one step further and enters extends primarily over Richard Parker. more appealing a victim of the cannibals whom he rescues. Pi is ultimately the slave relationship with Friday, connected to and caring about the world and others in a way that protagonist, a product of modern times, Crusoe never does. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM Tsimtsum’s 18 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright Pi hesitates and then walks past his parents’ cabin door, a hint at his desire to become independent. Pi hesitates and then walks past his parents’ cabin door, Taken another way, Pi’s untenable position could be interpreted as the turning point in an adolescent boy’s untenable Pi’s another way, Taken This vitality is drawn in stark contrast to the loss of lives—both human and animal—that the This vitality is drawn in stark contrast to Pi goes back up to the main deck, where he hears animals shrieking. Three Chinese crewmen put a life Chinese crewmen animals shrieking. Three where he hears up to the main deck, Pi goes back the water to from the lifeboat into just after Pi jumps again to the moment moves forward The narrative survivors, as far as Pi can tell. After some sink until it disappears. There are no other The ship continues to have drowned, for a tiger and hyena could Pi rationalizes that Richard Parker must A hyena appears and a star animal at the Pondicherry Zoo and the mother of two male An orangutan named Orange Juice, once sinking caused. The appearance of Orange Juice is particularly moving, since she is the most humanlike of all sinking caused. The appearance of Orange she her presence emphasizes the loss of human life. Moreover, the creatures that manage to board the lifeboat; and the parallel between is a maternal figure. Pi tells us that she gave birth to two boys at the Pondicherry Zoo, Orange Juice and Mrs. Patel (who also has two sons, Pi and Ravi) is striking. and the independence of life, when he must navigate the rough waters between the security of family life of growing up, the teas- adulthood. Certainly there is a great deal of material in Part One about the difficulty before the sinking of the ing from childhood friends, and the existential questioning of early adolescence. Just Tsimtsum, life goes on, with mus- But the loss of his family leaves him inconsolable and unsure of what to do. However, confusing, and in a lonely, cle aches to match emotional pain, and he must figure out how to fend for himself even violent world. Perhaps the strongest message of this section is the fierce, unrelenting power with which life will fight to stave Perhaps the strongest message of this section and near-fatal sinking, we bear witness to close calls of the ship’s off death. Again and again in the aftermath forty-foot fall Pi survives his us with its might and will power. incidents, and yet life continually surprises The zebra survives a much less spongy tarpaulin cover. lifeboat’s through the air and lands unharmed on the turbulent ocean in a state of shock and panic, swims through graceful fall and a broken leg. Richard Parker, gravity and the Orange Juice, having somehow evaded the ocean’s waters to clamber aboard a lifeboat. And out of nowhere to join this group of survivors. In retrospect, Pi suction of the sinking ship, magically appears of reason, I surely would have given up and let go of the oar, says, “Had I considered my prospects in light But the sheer will to live outweighs logical thought, and so he hoping that I might drown before being eaten.” and to life. clings to the oar, Analysis jacket on him and throw him over the side of the ship. He falls forty feet through the air before landing on a through the air before He falls forty feet the side of the ship. and throw him over jacket on him into the lifeboat zebra jumps side. A Grant’s the ship’s hanging from covering a lifeboat tarpaulin partially falls into the water. a bench. The lifeboat smashing down onto after him, is terrified. He looks into the boat but cuts through the water nearby and Pi A shark escape Richard Parker. another shark and quickly hoists him- He slips back into the water but sees the tiger. sees only the zebra, not holding on for dear a few feet above the water, off the edge of the ship. He dangles self up onto an oar hanging life. other further soreness and help him spot that he needs to change position to prevent time passes, Pi decides Richard Parker is hiding. under which he believes tarpaulin cover, up onto the lifeboat’s lifeboats. He climbs Pi at any moment. But, the tiger stays hidden. the tiger to appear and attack him Pi is frightened, expecting leg. is still alive but has a severely broken back notices that the zebra Pi realizes that the crew members must have thrown him into the not both be on the lifeboat at the same time. the lifeboat for themselves. Pi is fearful of the hyena but decides lifeboat as bait for the hyena, hoping to clear to the slyness and stealth of a jungle cat. that the upfront aggression of a dog is preferable of bananas tangled up in a net. She boards the lifeboat, seemingly orangutans, floats up to the lifeboat on a raft sink. in shock. Pi saves the net but the bananas SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM and that help is on the way. The The way. and that help is on the Tsimtsum 19 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright The brutality of the animals teaches Pi another lesson: the qualities a human or animal exhibit when The brutality of the animals teaches Pi another lesson: the qualities a human or pain. The clearest and Equally surprising to Pi is the fact that life continues in the face of unimaginable Daylight begins to fade and Pi contemplates the coming night with horror. In the dark, a rescue ship won’t with horror. and Pi contemplates the coming night Daylight begins to fade his family thoughts turn to rescue and seeing sun rises, and Pi’s After that first full night in the lifeboat, the panting with seasickness, and laughs at the gunnel, He sees Orange Juice near the boat’s Pi feels queasy. is full of mako sharks and other fish. Orange Juice sits up and Pi notices that the water around the boat off a large expanse of its hide and then sliding headfirst into Suddenly the hyena attacks the zebra, pulling orangutan puts Afterward, the hyena attacks Orange Juice. The The zebra finally dies later the next day. Analysis Patel teaches Ravi savagery begins in this gruesome section. In Part One, Mr. true education in nature’s Pi’s in a lifeboat with a and Pi about animal nature and its violent tendencies, but it is not until he finds himself wild animals in close zebra, hyena, orangutan, and tiger that Pi truly understands the vicious behavior of the hyena eats the quarters. Somewhat naïve, Pi is stunned by much of what he sees—for example, when violently to protect herself from the hyena. leg and when the gentle orangutan acts out zebra’s attacked or threatened. He unprovoked can vary radically from those that same human or animal will show if Zoo, strikes the hyena is astonished when Orange Juice, a maternal creature that grew up at the Pondicherry make any outward displays of aggression; he had assumed Pi has never before seen her with a powerful blow. Juice gives the hyena is like her nature was sweet and her disposition even and benevolent. The strike Orange and distinct from instinct. a slap in the face to Pi: suddenly he realizes that personality is something separate live in course of days. To most obvious example of this is the poor zebra, whose slow death takes place over the Pi himself stands as a clear example of heroic however, the reader, such physical misery is horrifying to Pi. To Pi imagines that the alert has gone out about the sinking of the alert has gone out about the sinking of the Pi imagines that the his spot on the tarpaulin as safe as possible, animals are otherwise quiet. Pi tries to make hyena whines, but the between him and the animals. The hyena the middle, but there is almost no barrier throwing the net over racing around the zebra then up onto a bench and looking into the water, jumping begins to act strangely, it a small space just behind the zebra, where Finally the hyena vomits and nestles into over and over again. zebra remains silent. remains for a time. The so the falls. It is cloudy and there is no moon, and the animals might attack him. Night be able to spot him, mouth barks from the zebra, as well as “wet Pi hears snarls coming from the hyena and darkness is complete. ani- from under the boat and notes that the do not come near him. He hears sounds sounds.” Still, the animals mals in the water are also battling for life. bro- he sees an appalling sight: the hyena has bitten off the zebra’s again. But when he looks into the lifeboat, still silent but grinding its teeth. ken leg and is eating it. The zebra is alive, Upon reflection, he finds it strange that Orange She looks out at the water. humanlike demeanor. orangutan’s about a zoo enclosure in which orangutans and hyenas live Juice remains unhurt by the hyena. Pi fantasizes it to go find help, A sea turtle bumps against the hull of the boat; Pi tells together peacefully and contentedly. and the turtle slips back down into the sea. she is looking for her two sons the same way that Pi has been looks around at the open water; Pi realizes Pi is devastated. searching the horizon for his family. Juice roars in protest and the hyena howls back. The two ani- its side, eating it alive from the inside. Orange zebra fades. Some blood falls over the side of the boat, and sharks mals engage in a fierce standoff while the that they will break the boat, causing it to sink, but soon the stand- begin to circle and bump the hull. Pi fears Pi admits to Horrified and scared, and the sharks swim away. off between the hyena and orangutan ends, As he sinks deeper into his grief, the hyena continues to eat. himself that his family has likely perished. no match for the but she is and impressing Pi with her savagery, up a fight, thumping the hyena on the head to the hyena, Pi cries and goes to the edge of the tarpaulin, ready to throw himself hyena, who decapitates her. a delirious sleep. head under the bench. He goes back to the bow and falls into when he sees Richard Parker’s Part Two: Chapters 43–47 Chapters Part Two: Summary SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 31 . Pi recognizes it as the rare sound tigers use to prusten 20 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright cans of water, among other survival items. cans of water, 124 Back on the lifeboat, Pi is so certain the tiger will kill him that he actually cheers up a bit. There’s nothing will kill him that he actually cheers up a bit. There’s Back on the lifeboat, Pi is so certain the tiger Alone and grief stricken without his family or any other human survivors, Pi finds both solace and sadness Pi finds both solace human survivors, his family or any other grief stricken without Alone and Pi decides that to survive with Richard Parker as a companion he needs to build a raft to put some distance Pi decides that to survive with Richard Parker around. Rain but Pi knows he is floating just above a vast ocean, with sharks all The raft proves seaworthy, rainwater and feasted on the hyena. While look- though, Richard Parker is sated, having drunk For now, Analysis its power over Pi. As a Fear takes numerous forms in the text, but its very omnipresence eventually reduces and even catalogs some of the gradations of anxiety he Pi is terribly self-aware, and he recognizes narrator, only to see a shark fin slice feels from minute to minute: the blind terror he feels when he jumps into the ocean hungry hyena; his dread through the water; the defensive panic that comes from facing down a carnivorous, enormous and all-encompassing fear of Richard Parker has an odd expression: it fate. Pi’s over his family’s express harmless intentions. At this moment, Pi decides to try to tame Richard Parker. He uses a whistle on express harmless intentions. At this moment, Pi decides to try to tame Richard Parker. Richard Parker intensely one of the lifejackets as a whip and shouts across the water to prove his alpha status. dislikes the sound of the whistle and lies down in the bottom of the lifeboat. Summary and a pro- capture. A panther had been killing people near Bangladesh, Pi tells the story of Richard Parker’s it. Leaving a goat as bait, the hunter instead attracted two fessional hunter was called in to try to capture sedated the mother and picked up the cub, sending them both off to tigers, a mother and her cub. The hunter paperwork, the name of the hunter who had picked up the cub, the Pondicherry Zoo. In the accompanying Patel that he The mix-up so amuses Mr. gets mixed up with the name of the cub, Thirsty. Richard Parker, decides to call the tiger cub Richard Parker. He observes the Suddenly he is overcome by thirst and explores the lifeboat looking for water. he can do now. feet long and its dimensions—twenty-six its bright orange color, details of the boat: its benches and oarlocks, emergency supplies under the end of the lifeboat under the eight feet wide. Pi discovers a locker containing the contents, he opens the locker and assesses “den.” Carefully, tarpaulin, where Richard Parker has his eagerly eating emergency rations. He tallies his supplies: he has greedily drinking some canned water and Part Two: Chapters 48–57 Chapters Part Two: cartons of rations and endurance. Pi’s body is unharmed, but his emotional and spiritual anguish is intense. He says that his second He says that his anguish is intense. emotional and spiritual is unharmed, but his body Pi’s endurance. anguish, he endures. face of great mental in the Yet, the worst of his life. lifeboat was one of night in the reactions to having some very human Juice seems to be He notes that Orange of Orange Juice. in the presence like a nauseated edge of the lifeboat herself up at the and seasick, holding she looks queasy her predicament: that Pi instantly recognizes as both she looks out at the open water in a way significantly, person might. More all). (not really expected them to appear after appearance of her two sons) and hopeless hopeful (awaiting the by their common bond— Pi is also saddened humanlike demeanor, by Orange Juice’s Though comforted their loss of family. between himself and the tiger. He creates a raft using oars, a lifebuoy, and life jackets, then tethers it to the He creates a raft using oars, a lifebuoy, between himself and the tiger. whining and Richard Parker begins to growl. The tiger kills the lifeboat. As he is doing so, the hyena starts Pi but gets dis- Richard Parker turns around and starts to approach hyena, who dies without a whimper. bounciness of the tarpaulin. At that moment, a rat appears and runs tracted by the rolling of the boat and the who devours it, giving Pi just enough time to head. Pi grabs and throws the rat at Richard Parker, up onto Pi’s escape into his raft. water for drinking. He continually checks the knots in the ropes falls and Pi uses a rain catcher to trap fresh of killing Richard Parker. holding together the parts of the raft. Unable to sleep, he entertains fanciful ways he realizes the flaws in his Finally Pi decides to wait for the tiger to run out of water and starve. The next day he will jump into the If Richard Parker gets hungry, plan: Bengal tigers can swim and drink saline water. drink seawater. he will ocean and swim out to Pi. If he gets thirsty, ing at Pi, he makes an unusual noise that sounds like SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM sound once a tiger’s way a tiger’s prusten prusten, . Martel has built zoomorphic ambiguity fish or pisces, 21 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright Pi tries to fish using a leather shoe as bait, but it doesn’t work very well. He climbs aboard the lifeboat in but it doesn’t Pi tries to fish using a leather shoe as bait, He has which he kills and feeds to Richard Parker. Pi manages to land a three-foot-long dorado, Later, Next, Pi discovers twelve solar stills—devices that transform salt water into fresh water through a process Next, Pi discovers twelve solar stills—devices This movement of Pi and Richard Parker toward one another, the literal lessening of physical distance, the literal and Richard Parker toward one another, This movement of Pi Pi’s fear is tempered somewhat by Richard Parker’s unexpected and welcome snort of unexpected and welcome Parker’s somewhat by Richard fear is tempered Pi’s Analysis remains reliant on nature. The survival items Pi finds in Pi Although manmade tools make survival easier, in feeding himself the lifeboat, in particular the solar stills, help Pi quench his thirst, though he still struggles first attempt at fishing is a decided failure; the rudimentary hook and bait he puts Pi’s and Richard Parker. a school of flying fish—results quite do the trick. A fluke of nature—the sudden appearance of together don’t lifeboat right into Pi’s in his first catch. The juxtaposition of the solar stills and the fish that literally jump more. Pi looks down at the ocean and sees that it is full of life in many forms. more. Pi looks down at the ocean and sees by a school of flying fish from the ocean. Some hit Pi and Richard search of better bait, only to be interrupted and back into the water. Parker; some fall into the boat; some jump over the hull and fly clear to the other side and pacifist, Pi hesitates Richard Parker eats his fill and Pi sets out to kill one himself. A lifelong vegetarian with his hands. neck and then cries when he finally breaks the fish’s Pi and Richard Parker, come to terms with the necessity of killing his food to stay alive. Having fed himself In fact, they have, water. checks the solar stills, not believing they will actually have worked to produce fresh As for Richard Parker. and Pi drinks heartily from one of the twelve stills. He empties the rest into a bucket the day ends, Pi realizes it has been a week since the ship sunk. Pi dries off and reads the survivor manual he has found in the lifeboat locker. He realizes that he needs to fish He realizes that he has found in the lifeboat locker. Pi dries off and reads the survivor manual He pulls up he decides to go back to the lifeboat. and hungry, and create a shelter from the elements. Thirsty across the bot- and sees that Richard Parker has marked his territory by spraying urine in the raft, cautiously, on the boat and urinates on the locker lid and tarpaulin, mark- tom of the boat. Pi drinks water from a puddle ing his own territory. He carves an oar He then makes improvements to his raft. water. of evaporation—and sets them up in the Pi enjoys a din- and adds a life vest to the floor of the raft. a canopy, and turns it into a mast, hangs a blanket as looks on from the lifeboat, making the ner of rations in the raft, and Richard Parkers Part Two: Chapters 58–62 Part Two: Summary of stating that his intentions are benevolent. Rather than demonstrating his pure animalistic brute strength, are benevolent. Rather than demonstrating of stating that his intentions than to negotiate. This occurrence more a quasi-human thing: he indicates a willingness Richard Parker does inclination is to run as far early Pi’s While with the courage to begin training the tiger. any other equips Pi between the lifeboat and raft will allow—the Parker as he can—as far as the lifeline away from Richard lifeboat and not confining himself back. He begins to reconsider boarding the affable snort brings him tiger’s to his raft. such of the novel: animals and humans aren’t that Martel will amplify over the course underscores a message will omega animals (such as Richard Parker) all. Earlier in the novel Pi says that different creatures after tolerating what they per- the social hierarchy, a human trainer in an effort to climb up often be obedient to in the same way odd demands. In essence, they mimic human behavior ceive as the human alpha creature’s It is significant, too, that the tiger bears a man’s mimics the tiger. that Pi, out of respect for Richard Parker, of the word name, while Pi could be a shortened form makes him feel a little better. With Richard Parker aboard the boat, death is inevitable, not just a possibility. not just a possibility. the boat, death is inevitable, Parker aboard Richard With feel a little better. makes him by knowing instead be comforted might happen; he can worrying about what this fact, Pi can stop Because of fear less paralyz- death makes his is. Accepting his own how horrible that fate regardless of what will happen, him to take action. ing and enables right into their names, pointing out quite strongly the gray area between humanity and animal nature. right into their names, pointing out quite SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 22 days as a castaway at sea. 227 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright Martel begins to lower Pi’s humanity a notch, bringing him closer and closer to an animal’s existence. Pi’s an animal’s closer and closer to bringing him humanity a notch, to lower Pi’s Martel begins Back on the raft and lifeboat, Pi busies himself with tasks. His daily schedule consists of chores and activi- Back on the raft and lifeboat, Pi busies himself reads the survival wetness causes sea boils. Pi disintegrate over time, and the near-constant clothes Pi’s drinks its blood, which the survival manual recommends as a Pi butchers a small hawksbill turtle and a wild creature in a lifeboat at sea. He then describes his training Pi presents a training manual for taming and carries out religious rituals adapted to writing down mostly practical observations, Pi keeps a diary, who clubs it with Parker, mako shark with his bare hands and throws it to Richard Pi catches a four-foot The repetition of activities necessary for life proves distressing for Pi. Biology dictates that animals (humans The repetition of activities necessary for life proves distressing for Pi. Biology dictates defecating, sleep- included) perform the same few essential acts again and again: eating, drinking, urinating, of a lifeboat in the Pacific, ing, and so on. In ordinary life, such repetition can be comforting. But in the context repetition is a window, where food and water and everything else are scarce and normalcy has gone out the Analysis Summary Pi, looking back at his ordeal, says he spent Part Two: Chapters 63–80 Chapters Part Two: seems to be Martel’s way of saying that man cannot completely separate himself from and be independent of and be independent separate himself from cannot completely way of saying that man Martel’s seems to be nature. and and acts furtive to delineate his territory he uses his urine Parker’s: to mimic Richard behavior starts him wild companion keeps to the behavior of his adapting a method of self-preservation: Imitation is stealthy. feralness, his humanity resists. He considers as Pi descends bit by bit into his innate relatively safe. But even flying not, and he hesitates before killing the the hyena would have done) but does drinking his urine (as demarcation between human civility The strict response from Richard Parker’s. fish—certainly a different not completely lost. blurs under these circumstances, but it is and animal behavior ties; he feeds himself and Richard Parker, keeps the vessels clean and functioning smoothly, and stimulates keeps the vessels clean and functioning smoothly, ties; he feeds himself and Richard Parker, the many weeks and months at sea, Pi says he survived only because his mind (prayers, writing, and rest). Of he managed to forget the very notion of time. clues about navigation, but he is at a loss. He continues to fish, manual, trying to understand its mysterious chopping their heads off with hatchets. He learns to train a net in grabbing the fish with his bare hands and more fish than he can eat. He also learns that turtles are a rela- the water as a lure, and some days he catches the sea life collecting on the underside of his raft and eating tively easy catch. Pi spends many hours observing of signal flares, which never succeed in eliciting a response from some of it. He describes the cuminlike smell rescuers. do this butch- Because the turtle is too unwieldy for the raft, Pi must nutritious and salt-free thirst quencher. needs to train Richard Parker to allow him onto the lifeboat more ery on the lifeboat tarpaulin. He decides he regularly. Parker by stomping on the middle bench of the boat and blowing attempts, during which he goads Richard During the first training practice, Richard Parker knocks Pi the whistle. He uses a turtle shell for a shield. by shield. Finally, but Pi persists. Each practice, he catches another turtle and fashions a new into the water, Parker back into the bottom of the boat by blowing on the whistle the fifth shield, he is able to send Richard the tiger. and rocking the boat to induce nausea in as part of the training exercise. After Richard his unique situation. He also cleans up after Richard Parker, a high-protein diet), Pi Parker defecates (once a month—like Pi, he is constipated from dehydration and It works: Richard Parker holds the feces in his hand and blows the whistle angrily to demonstrate dominance. feces, but fails. to eat the tiger’s Pi tries gets nervous. In a moment of supreme hunger, a dorado perfect. One day, his paw and accidentally gets bitten. Pi takes this as a reminder that the tiger is not into an attack crouch. Pi leaps onto the lifeboat and Pi grabs hold of it. Richard Parker sees the fish and gets then throws him a portion of his catch. Pi notes with some stares Richard Parker down until he backs away, disappointment that he has begun wolfing his food down like an animal. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 23 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright Pi sees several seabirds. He kills a masked booby, skins it, and eats its edible parts. One day a lightning skins it, and eats its edible parts. One day booby, Pi sees several seabirds. He kills a masked Pi is convinced he is near death. His pen continues to deteriorate, as does Richard Parker’s. condition Pi’s The voice grows Pi asks the voice if he has ever killed anyone, and the voice says yes, a man and a woman. Parker stop for a time, The lifeboat comes across a low island covered entirely with algae. Pi and Richard the center of each fruit holds a human tooth. From Pi discovers a tree that bears fruit. However, One day, The regularity of events on the lifeboat is reminiscent of the habits of animals in the wild or in a zoo, which in the wild or in of the habits of animals lifeboat is reminiscent of events on the The regularity absorbed into routine. Each daily life, though they are quickly the monotony of Pi’s New activities lighten A terrific storm rolls in and sends Pi scrambling into the lifeboat, where he lies flat on a bench at the end far- A terrific storm rolls in and sends Pi scrambling and night, dur- He closes the tarpaulin over them both. The storms rages for a day thest from Richard Parker. that resemble mountains. When the storm subsides, Pi realizes that ing which time the boat climbs up waves jacket remain. His stores of water are unharmed, but the lifeboat the raft is gone; only a couple oars and a life In one bucketful mending the torn tarpaulin and bailing out water. itself has sustained some damage. Pi starts train Richard Parker. he finds the orange whistle he has used to a tanker appears on the Another day, Parker cowers in fear. storm puts Pi in a state of exaltation; Richard nearly runs them oblivious to the small lifeboat, Instead, the tanker, horizon and Pi is sure they will be saved. which Pi salvages a bottle. He seals a message in it the lifeboat wanders into a mass of trash, from Later, over. and throws it back into the ocean. slipping into a He begins sleeping many hours a day, in his diary. runs out of ink and he can no longer write voice. The voice speaks to state of semiconsciousness. Pi goes blind, and in his sightless delirium, he hears a of beef and brains and all him, and Pi responds, talking about food. The voice, with a French accent, speaks but the French Parker, sorts of food that Pi finds distasteful. Pi assumes he is hearing the voice of Richard accent does not make sense to him. like Pi, and they join their weak and Pi urges it to come back. The voice belongs to a blind man, a castaway boat in order to kill and cannibalize him. But when he steps down The man climbs aboard Pi’s boats together. His vision with seawater. onto the floor of the boat, Richard Parker kills him. Pi cries and rinses his eyes butchered body. returns, and he sees the other man’s nursing themselves back to health. The island is full of and eating the vegetation, drinking the fresh water, fresh ponds are full of dead fish. A storm hits meerkats, small ferretlike creatures, and Pi sees that the island’s ferocious absorbing the ocean’s while Pi and Richard Parker are ashore, and the island weathers it beautifully, Seeing that meerkats spend the waves. Pi notices that the island burns his feet at night but not during the day. nights in the treetops, Pi, who has been sleeping on the lifeboat, joins them. dead fish and meerkats and this evidence, Pi decides that the island is carnivorous. He stocks the lifeboat with Part Two: Chapters 80–95 Part Two: Summary curse, a threat. Because there is no regular source of water, the compulsion to drink water every day is a nui- water every day is compulsion to drink the water, no regular source of Because there is curse, a threat. off his body. disintegrate and fall they day, same clothes every Pi must wear the sance. Because of zoo enclosure, becomes a sort the lifeboat itself in the book. Indeed, on at length earlier Pi has remarked Parker just Pi feeds Richard from wild creature. a cage, protecting zookeeper raft serves as and the tethered fashion. The entire setup is familiar—clearly, would, cleaning up after him in a similar the way a zookeeper faith in himself to footsteps, letting reason and Patel’s Pi follows in Mr. his father. Pi has learned well from serve as his guides. and inev- detail and great passion. However, or on the raft is treated in the account with “first” in the lifeboat that dull the senses. The first time Pi into a monotonous series of repetitions those firsts quickly meld itably, it is as though a the act. But as soon as it is over, in thrall as he hesitates and frets over kills a fish, we are held Unlike way he can, without any sort of guilt. now free to kill as many fish as he can, any spell has broken: Pi is Pi is pliable, versatile, and resourceful. to find any break in its routine disastrous, a wild animal that tends them customs, adapting them and integrating objects, he holds onto his religious Even without his devotional vegetarian, he soon finds himself drinking turtle blood, skinning into his daily routine. Though he is a strict for him to slip into a routine—he becomes a creature of a new birds, and eating eyes and brains. It is easy habit. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM to try to bet- Tsimtsum, 24 . Chiba has turned on the tape recorder, so the entire conver- so the entire . Chiba has turned on the tape recorder, 1978 , summary and analysis summary 19 Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright Mexico): Chapters 96–100 The interview begins. It is February As Pi’s situation grows more desperate, his efforts to communicate become increasingly urgent and as fre- grows more desperate, his efforts to communicate become increasingly urgent situation As Pi’s illustrate his inner struggles. The floating island symbolizes The odd natural phenomena Pi encounters The lifeboat washes ashore on a Mexican beach. Pi sprawls in the sand and Richard Parker bounds away and Richard Parker sprawls in the sand a Mexican beach. Pi washes ashore on The lifeboat Summary Okamoto and Tomohiro from the Maritime Department in the Japanese Ministry of Transport, officials Two landfall in Tomatlán, Atsuro Chiba, are in California on unrelated business when they hear that Pi has made Mexico. The Ministry directs them to speak with Pi, the lone survivor of the Japanese Part Three (Benito Juárez Infirmary, Tomatlán, Tomatlán, Infirmary, Part Three (Benito Juárez in Baja Cali- Tomatán, ter understand why the ship sank. Okamoto looks at a map and accidentally confuses and car in Mexico. He decides to drive to see Pi, but the journey is full of accidents fornia, with Tomatlán reach Pi, they are repairs and winds up taking forty-one long hours. By the time Okamoto and Chiba transcript of their conver- exhausted. They set about interviewing Pi, in English. Martel provides us with the Martel has had trans- sation, which includes portions spoken by Okamoto and Chiba in Japanese and which to the reader in a different font from the rest of The translated passages are presented lated by a third party. the interview transcript. is new at his job, and Oka- sation is on record. Okamoto introduces himself and Chiba, his assistant. Chiba Analysis several unexpected journey contains currents, this final section of Pi’s of the ocean’s Like the erratic motions of will cause his death. Then, the appearance there is the storm, which Pi feels certain stops and starts. First dialogue with Richard Next comes Pi’s potential for rescue, but ends in hopelessness. the tanker holds the offers one sort whose companionship of the French-accented castaway, which melds into the arrival Parker, a bea- sort of ending. The island, too, begins as murderous instincts offer a very different of ending but whose is The real conclusion, when it comes, healthful oasis that turns out to be dangerous. con of hope, a seemingly the lifeboat lands in Mexico, and Pi is saved. The arbitrary nature warning, sudden and unexpected. Without and emblematic of the changeable nature of the ocean, of this landfall is both convenient to the storyline which has carried them throughout. to the passing tanker and even tries to fire off a signal flare; all to no quently thwarted. He waves and shouts Pi sends out a even notice the tiny lifeboat they nearly crush. Later, avail. The people aboard the ship do not So, desperate to talk, to tell stories, he has a conversation with Rich- message in a bottle, but it is never found. But, this himself hoarse, elated at the company. Pi talks When he bumps into another castaway, ard Parker. his com- journaling, the death of his new friend. Pi’s attempt at communication also ends in disappointment: the pen dries up and he cannot write another word. In Mexico, munion with himself, comes to an end when a satisfying farewell nor understand the language of his rescuers. he is neither able to give Richard Parker Communication fails him at every end. it would have immediately had he stayed; rather, As Pi notes, it would not have killed him own despair. Pi’s and causing a numbing hopelessness. The carnivorous vegetation eaten away at his soul, deadening his spirit be to stay on the island would pessimism, his dwindling hope that he will ever be found. To represents Pi’s to leave the choice island rather than in civilization. Pi’s give up, to decide to end his days on a man-eating his odds of sal- about of remaining optimistic, however minutely, island and get back into the ocean is his way vation. eats and drinks his fill of algae and fresh water. Then he waits for Richard Parker to board the lifeboat and to board the lifeboat for Richard Parker Then he waits and fresh water. his fill of algae eats and drinks into the sea. pushes off res- Villagers able to say goodbye. saddened that he wasn’t loss of his comrade, Pi weeps at the into the jungle. their lan- He cannot understand him up and feed him. where they clean take him to a hospital, cue Pi and is finally saved. guage but realizes he SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM the animals are drawn realistically and behave 25 Life of Pi, summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright consists of two words only: “The story.” Okamoto and Chiba tell Pi that they find Okamoto and Chiba story.” two words only: “The consists of ’s sinking. Pi asks them which story they preferred: the one with animals or the one sinking. ’s 97 Tsimtsum Martel tweaks the traditional rendering of animals in children’s tales to strengthen Pi’s original story and tales to strengthen Pi’s Martel tweaks the traditional rendering of animals in children’s Pi tells two different stories Part Three conveys the difficulty of communicating precisely and accurately. When the two men return, they tell Pi that they do not believe his story. For example, they say, bananas do For example, they say, his story. they tell Pi that they do not believe When the two men return, they need to Okamoto replies that they enjoyed it, but that Pi asks the two men if they disliked his story. all the parallels between the characters and actions of this sec- Okamoto and Chiba are appalled but notice In the course of thirty pages, the sad tale we have been reading takes on a new and even more tragic layer of In the course of thirty pages, the sad tale we one in which the animals are replaced by humans. Once we learn meaning when Pi reveals another version, made up the animal version as a way to cope with extreme this, we immediately assume that Pi has probably The gutless, violent, ugly hyena beautiful, noble zebra represents the exotic Chinese sailor. The tragedy. with her vaguely cowardly cook. The maternal orangutan, greedy, embodies all the revolting qualities of the And the tiger is Pi himself, alternately vicious, mother. own human body and mannerisms, represents Pi’s story—with and without passive, watchful, ravenous, self-contained, tamed, and feral. Both versions of the to confess in these last animals—are viable, and Pi never tells us definitively which tale is true. Still, Pi seems of events. Only storytell- chapters that he has made up his entire story as a way to cope with a shocking series ing has the power to rescue him and deliver him from the absolute depths of despair. stories regularly make use of to illustrate the similarities between humans and animals. Fables and children’s in anthropomorphized animal characters. However, enables the protagonist, Pi, to make a strong case for Martel in ways that are true to their species. In this way, if, for example, Rich- the believability of his Richard Parker account—something that would not be possible best friend. into Pi’s ard Parker were a talking tiger or a tiger that magically turns, against his very nature, animals after all. Deprived Furthermore, he drives home the point that we humans are not so different from we resort to our basic of the luxuries and conveniences we have built up for ourselves in modern times, instincts and animalistic roots. willingness of humans to about his time at sea. At the broadest level, this deception illustrates the ability and suggests the difficulty of embellish and alter the truth, to fill in forgotten details with fictions and lies. It also Analysis moto tells him to pay attention and try to learn. Pi asks the two men if they had a nice trip coming down from had a nice trip coming the two men if they and try to learn. Pi asks him to pay attention moto tells Prior to meeting had a horrible trip. trip. Pi says he that they had a wonderful and Okamoto says California, and ask him he gratefully accepts, offer Pi a cookie, which lifeboat. Now they and Chiba saw the Pi, Okamoto Chapter to tell his story. cookie—he has Pi asks for another their disbelief. in Japanese they express interesting, but his story very right to take a break and tells Pi they will be beneath his bed sheet. Okamoto decides taken to storing cookies back. sink. asks the men to test them in the room’s bananas out from under his bed sheet and not float. Pi pulls two many continues grilling Pi, telling him that and tests the bananas; they float. Okamoto Okamoto fills the sink is a Chiba pipes up and says that his uncle impossible and contradict the laws of nature. aspects of his story are trees that are two feet tall states that bonsai trees—“Three-hundred-year-old and Pi cleverly bonsai master, there are botanically impossible. Okamoto says your arms”—must not exist because they that you can carry in that wild creatures are adept at hiding Pi explains Parker in or around Tomatlán. has been no trace of Richard cities. from humans, even in the four occupants of the lifeboat In this story, tell another story. know what really happened. Pi says he will young Chinese the cook (an ill-tempered, greedy French man), and a sailor (a beautiful are Pi, his mother, into the lifeboat, and the cook cuts the leg off and tries to use it for boy). The sailor had broken his leg jumping try to stop him. both horrified, and eats him. Pi and his mother, bait. The sailor dies and the cook butchers Pi fights the cook and kills him. Soon after, direction. mother and throws her head in Pi’s The cook kills Pi’s flesh. Then, as Pi says to Okamoto and Chiba, “Solitude began. I He eats his heart and liver and pieces of his turned to God. I survived.” to help solve the They ask more technical questions, but Pi can tell them nothing ond story and the first story. mystery of the his report, which In that the one with animals is “the better story.” without. Both Chiba and Okamoto agree Bengal tiger is story of survival at sea with an adult writes that Pi’s years later he sends to Martel, Okamoto astonishing and unique. SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM 26 summary and analysis summary Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes 2006 by Copyright Part Three provides the most important phrase of the novel: “the better story.” With those three words, we With better story.” the most important phrase of the novel: “the Part Three provides of the truth, then religion is a lifeboat that keeps us afloat in If fiction is an escape hatch or a gentler version arriving at a single objective truth, as opposed to differing interpretations of events. The smaller details, too, of events. The smaller interpretations as opposed to differing a single objective truth, arriving at used is a signal or symbol A word use language precisely. it is extremely hard to a message that send the reader a per- this way, is metaphorical in all of human language world. Given that things that exist in the to point to between tape-recorded conversation account. Even the unbiased, fact-based give an objective, son can never original because of the text are not the Japanese portions entirely unbiased: two interviewers is not Pi and the to the Ministry final report, delivered Okamoto’s the translator. through a third party, they have been filtered accounts there seems even in documents and journalistic subjective. Clearly, is also selective and of Transport, is that there can never line, Martel seems to say, authorship involved. The bottom to be a great deal of creative inter- Experience is always open to of a thing, event, person, place, or conversation. be only one right account pretation. with a to believe and how we come to grips that this is a book about how we choose what come to understand inter- words, as Pi reveals to us and to his two horrible that we can stand. In other reality that is often more is con- is a mechanism for self-preservation. Pi capacity for imagination and invention viewers, the human with one without. He is also aware that the one stories to offer us: one with animals and scious that he has two the version that we, his audience, would much rather remember. animals is the more enjoyable of the two, but engaging, even charming. The version with the cannibalistic The story with the Bengal tiger is farfetched and extremely upsetting. It reveals the on the other hand, is heartbreaking mother, cook and the death of Pi’s something that we humans do not like to know about ourselves. underlying ferocity of our animal nature, the simple bio- Both fiction and religion perform a similar function. They take the face of our own mortality. we die—and color them with narrative in an effort to make them logical imperatives—we are born, we live, rituals All religions provide believers with a creation story, more palatable, more personal, more digestible. fiction supplies us the nature of human life. All an indirect way, for daily life, and stories that illustrate, in help us get closer and closer to grasping universal truths. The sig- with characters, settings, and language that simile, allusion, imag- novel is just like that of fiction: both use metaphor, nificance of religion within Martel’s to help us understand and live with the realities of human existence. and hyperbole ery, SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM , after a long discussion of zoo enclo- , after a long discussion , the author used the phrases “dry, , the author used the phrases “dry, 4 21 27 in its entirety—emphasizes the important distinction between facts Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. 22 Explained Important Quotations Quotations Important about freedom plague them both. about freedom plague true to his reasonable self, if he stays beholden to dry, leap of faith. Whereas the agnostic, if he stays a f-f-failing might try to explain the warm light bathing him by saying, “Possibly yeastless factuality, very end, lack imagination and miss the better story. and, to the oxygenation of the b-b-brain,” We have already learned that Pi studied zoology and religion at the University of Toronto, and the above Toronto, have already learned that Pi studied zoology and religion at the University of We Pi himself to a story. The quote condemns those who lack artistry and imagination, the inability to commit

1.illusions faces the same problem. Certain Religion good graces. I know zoos are no longer in people’s chapter by Pi early in Part One, at the end of These words are spoken that Pi considered paradise as a boy. told us, runs the Pondicherry Zoo, a place Patel, Pi has recently sures. Mr. of that they deprive noble, wild creatures say negative things about zoos—namely Pi has heard many people animals in their natural lives—but he disagrees. Wild their freedom and trap them in boring, domesticated biological facts, ﬁghting, lack of food, and parasites on a regular basis. Given all these habitat encounter fear, natural laws that they are subject to a stringent set of social and animals in the wild are not free at all—rather, creatures of habit, zoo enclosures, with abundant food and water, they must follow or die. Since animals are for them. Given the chance, Pi says, most zoo animals do not clean cages, and a constant routine, are heaven cage frightens them. ever try to escape, unless something in their the two subjects are in his mind. He is quick to turn a discussion quote demonstrates just how closely aligned the religious inclinations. Just as people misunderstand people’s of animal freedom into a metaphor for what it means for a person to be “free” of any religious nature of animals in the wild, they also misunderstand is uncertain about the existence of god and does not subscribe to system of belief. The agnostic (someone who or disbelieve anything he wants, but in reality he does not allow any faith) may think he is at liberty to believe in the wild does: ups and downs the way an animal he endures life’s himself to take imaginative leaps. Instead, other hand, is like an animal in an enclosure, surrounded on all because he has to. A person of faith, on the than reality itself. Pi embraces religious doctrine for the same rea- sides by a version of reality that is far kinder a zoo enclosure: it makes life easier and more pleasurable. son he embraces the safety and security of 2. the deathbed “White, white! L-L-Love! My God!”—and last words: I can well imagine an atheist’s Spoken by Pi, this quotation—chapter in chapter and imagination, the crux of the entire novel. Previously, highlights this yeastless factuality” and “the better story” after a meeting with Pi in a café; the repetition lack of faith is linked to accurate observation and Religion is aligned with imagination, while dichotomy. variants of his own story: rationalism. In short, Pi is giving us a simple, straightforward explanation for the the one with animals and the one without. all religions tell wonderful tales, though not literal truths. and he believes is a consummate artist, a storyteller, they choose to believe that Pi believes that atheists (who do not believe in God) have the capacity to believe; and devise a story that will exist. At the end of their lives, they could embrace the notion of God God doesn’t make uncertainty a way of help them die in peace and contentment. Pi despises agnostics for their decision to these stories, our Without life. They choose to live a life of doubt, without any sort of narrative to guide them. existence is “dry” and unpalatable as unrisen or “yeastless” bread.

At this point Pi turns to God and, Martel implies, invents the story that we have just read. His mind is des- have just read. His the story that we Martel implies, invents Pi turns to God and, At this point perate to escape the physical reality of continued existence on the lifeboat, and so it soars into the realm of fic- and so it soars into on the lifeboat, of continued existence the physical reality perate to escape him: faith and salvation available to sources of for the only remaining lowest point, Pi reaches tion. At his a strategy for self-preserva- that such action, Martel emphasizes remaining Through the plot’s imagination. on a beach in in the text, Pi lands after this moment effective. Immediately be astonishingly tion can actually ex machina Mexico. Like a deus him from the depths of his misery. escape hatch, rescuing telling is Pi’s SPARKARKNOTES WWW.SPARKNOTES.COM days. 227 1990s and continues for 1977, 1977, 30 Copyright 2006 by SparkNotes LLC. Key Facts Key deal begins on July 2, 1996. Pi’s or Pi’s 1996. Life of Pi Martel Yann Novel Allegory; fable English in Canada in the late Researched in India and Canada and written 2002 Canongate Books Ltd. Martel Yann Piscine Molitor Patel and the author, explains how he came to hear the who author, Note is written in first person by the The prefatory Author’s is told in first person The account (Part One and Part Two) story we are about to read from Pi Patel himself. of a conversation between is written mainly as a transcript by Pi. The final section of the book (Part Three) Pi and two officials, bookended by first-person comments from the author. surreal, ruminative, philosophical, and, at times, journalistic Funny, Past tense of his point, some years after the publication story from an undetermined contemporary The author tells Pi’s second book in Pi’s boyhood home in Pondicherry, India; the Pacific Ocean; Tomatlán, Mexico; and, briefly, Toronto, Toronto, Mexico; and, briefly, India; the Pacific Ocean; Tomatlán, boyhood home in Pondicherry, Pi’s Canada

Full title Author of work Type Genre Language written and place Time of ﬁrst publication Date Publisher Narrator Point of view Tone Tense Setting (time) Setting (place)

Study Questions 1. text? How does the idea of survival play out in this condi- in seemingly impossible and adverse to this novel is the theme of survival, even Of central importance sur- First, there is the necessity of physical of surviving operates on several levels. tions. For Pi, the challenge as well as protection short supply, both in body alive. This requires food and water, vival: he must keep his but he is immediate threat, Richard Parker, knows he must defend himself from the from the elements. Pi sun- him in. Ocean storms, huge waves, sharks, is a whole host of dangers waiting to do also aware that there and inventiveness all of these things pose a risk to his life. Pi’s stroke, dehydration, drowning—any and clothes to protect his skin from the sun and builds a raft from oars resourcefulness (he covers himself with wet from both the tiger and sharks) enable him to remain physically and lifejackets to keep him at a safe distance safe. him endure; the Pi says at several points that Richard Parker helped his spirits up or else succumb to despair. one, in the non-animal version of the story) gives Pi mental presence of a companion (even an imagined for a tiger keep him occupied, preventing him from thinking too strength, and the requirements of caring much about his fate. sole member of his family to survive the sinking of the tions—represents the third level. Pi is the has inherited (from Mamaji) strong swimming skills and an affinity and he is able to do so largely because he the author tells us, “This Now Pi must propagate the Patel line. When we learn that Pi is a father, for water. Pi achieves survival in every sense. story has a happy ending.” Ultimately, 2. with whom other than the tiger, What does Pi try to communicate through his choice of the animals, that represent their human counterparts. Orange Juice, the The animals in the lifeboat embody qualities Pi remembers how the gentle orangutan own mother. Pi’s orangutan, is a motherly figure that represents defends herself picking at his hair to hone her maternal skills. When she used to hold him when he was a boy, reservoirs of courage and fierceness. This surprisingly revelation against the hyena, Pi realizes that she has mother stand up courageously to the cook. shock in seeing his about her character parallels Pi’s zebra is an exotic crea- the Grant’s in the text. Finally, and cannibalism mark him as a truly evil figure agery, Kumars who join Pi at the zoo have never ture, lovely to look at but foreign to Indian culture. The two Mr. for the young Chinese seen a zebra before and marvel at it. A zebra, therefore, serves as an ideal stand-in It is particularly exudes decency and natural beauty. language, sailor who, although he does not speak Pi’s appalling for the cook/hyena to desecrate such an innocent, stunning creature. 3. Discuss the importance of believability in this novel. him as far as he can go and Pi is a believer in the fullest sense of the word: he uses his rational intellect to take interview him in Mexico, then he takes imaginative leaps. As Pi himself tells the two Japanese officials who “Love is hard to believe, many things are difficult to believe, but we convince ourselves to do so nonetheless: give our- We God is hard to believe, ask any believer.” Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. ask any lover. they give us a reason to keep going. Where is the joy in because selves to these fictions, these variants on reality, merely a biological acci- a life deprived of romance and passion? Where is the self-awareness in a life that is is entirely rational or fact dent? Where is the comfort in an existence that has no rhyme or reason? A life that Study Questions & Essay Topics & Essay Questions Study

Quiz 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

. India: A History. . Toronto: Knopf Canada, . Toronto: . We Ate the Children Last We Self After his rescue, Pi is interviewed by two ofﬁcials from the by two ofﬁcials from Pi is interviewed After his rescue, A.B.Ministry of Transport Japanese C. of Police Japanese Department D. Japanese Shipping Association Japanese Zoological Society 1: c; 2: b; 3: a; 4: c; 5: b; 6: a; 7: d; 8: b; 9: a; 10: d; 11: c; 12: b; 13: c; 14: c; 15: a; 16: b; 17: d; 18: a; 19: 13: c; 14: c; 15: a; 16: b; 17: d; 18: a; 19: b; 6: a; 7: d; 8: b; 9: a; 10: d; 11: c; 12: b; 1: c; 2: b; 3: a; 4: c; 5: 23: a; 24: b; 25: a b; 20: c: 21: a; 22: d; Defoe, Daniel Suggestions for Further Reading Suggestions Alain Daniélou, Keay, John Keay, Yann Martel, 25. ———. S. Noss, David ———.