Dichotomy, symbols and motifs, style and imagery.

Richard Parker Thirsty Prusten Tiger = 8ft.

Solar Still

Dichotomy Dichotomy: division into two parts or classifications, especially when they are sharply distinguished or opposed. Work at table to find as many examples as possible.

Examples and Ch. 56 Pis double major (Theology and Zoology) Pis name: Heaven and Earth Ravi and Pi Canada and India The pool and the sea Pis mom and dad Pi and Richard Parker The Tsimtsum and the Lifeboat Reason vs. Imagination Science vs. Religion Truth vs. Fiction Religious Tolerance vs. Religious Antipathy Captivity vs. Freedom Heaven vs. Earth Atheists vs. Agnostics Man vs. Animal Past vs. Present Boredom and Terror *Fear and life*

Symbol Game In groups: For each symbol: What does it symbolize? Find a specific example. Why use this symbol in this book?

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Lifeboat

Water

Zebra, Hyena, and Orange Juice

Pis Makeshift Raft

Richard Parker

Motif: Macro/Micro We have covered (by default) several motifs. Can you remember some? This motif in Pi is the same as one in LOF: Macro/Micro literally means large and small Ecology – macrocosms and microcosms Physics – the universe level and subatomic level Sociology – a small group of people representing all of humankind 1. Find one piece of textual evidence in Pi that demonstrates one of these macro/micro ideas 2. Answer the question: what big idea is the motif supporting?

Micro/Macro

Lets Review… Take a look at Ch. 16 (page 47), the sentence beginning, I am Hindu… and ending with the, the same word – faith. What literary devices do you notice and what would you say about them? How does the author use literary devices to help us understand how Pi feels about his Hindu faith?

What about… Syntax

I am Hindu because of sculptured cones of red kumkum powder and baskets of yellow turmeric nuggets, because of garlands of flowers and pieces of broken coconut, because of the clanging of bells to announce ones arrival to God, because of the whine of the reedy nadaswaram and the beating of the drums, because of the patter of bare feet against stone floors down dark corridors pierced by shafts of sunlight, because of the fragrance of incense, because of flames of arati lamps circling in the darkness, because of bhajans being sweetly sung, because of elephants standing around to bless, because of colourful murals telling colourful stories, because of foreheads carrying, variously signified, the same word – faith.

Syntax… Did you notice it was all one sentence? What can we say about the fact Pi strings all of the reasons about why he is Hindu into one sentence? What could you say this suggests about his feelings towards this particular faith?

What about… Diction (Word Choice) High or Low?

I am Hindu because of sculptured cones of red kumkum powder and baskets of yellow turmeric nuggets, because of garlands of flowers and pieces of broken coconut, because of the clanging of bells to announce ones arrival to God, because of the whine of the reedy nadaswaram and the beating of the drums, because of the patter of bare feet against stone floors down dark corridors pierced by shafts of sunlight, because of the fragrance of incense, because of flames of arati lamps circling in the darkness, because of bhajans being sweetly sung, because of elephants standing around to bless, because of colourful murals telling colourful stories, because of foreheads carrying, variously signified, the same word – faith.

Diction… Did you notice the repetition of the word because? What can we say about the fact Pi begins every reason he gives with the word because? What could you say this suggests about his feelings towards this particular faith?

What about… Imagery

I am Hindu because of sculptured cones of red kumkum powder and baskets of yellow turmeric nuggets, because of garlands of flowers and pieces of broken coconut, because of the clanging of bells to announce ones arrival to God, because of the whine of the reedy nadaswaram and the beating of the drums, because of the patter of bare feet against stone floors down dark corridors pierced by shafts of sunlight, because of the fragrance of incense, because of flames of arati lamps circling in the darkness, because of bhajans being sweetly sung, because of elephants standing around to bless, because of colourful murals telling colourful stories, because of foreheads carrying, variously signified, the same word – faith.

Imagery… Did you notice the sensory references? What can we say about the fact invokes nearly all of our senses? What could you say this suggests about his feelings towards this particular faith?

A Sunrise on the Veld 1. Underline examples of specific details/imagery as we read. 2. Underline examples of figurative language of any kind as we read. 3. I will ask you to relate these two devices to the development of mood and setting and the overall theme of the story.

Steps to dealing with thesis: 1. What is a/the theme? a) Hints: It is going to be similar to one in Pi. Or, mans relationship to nature. Or, coming of age statement. b) How do I know this? 2. How does the establishment of a) mood/setting and imagery contribute to this theme? b) Examples you highlighted 3. How to approach imagery well:

Writing About Imagery Well My mother was making dinner, pulling black veins out of the backs of fleshy prawns. Next to her was a plate of squid, their backs crisscrossed with knife markings. My father leaned back and belched loudly… The imagery in these sentences give a visual and aural description of a truly disgusting dinner. The author describes black veins in the fish her mother prepares, as well as the crisscrossed marks in its fleshy back, followed by the unpleasant sound of her fathers belch. The sights and sounds of the dinner are horribly unappealing, and help the author to establish her disgust with her familys behavior and eating habits.

Imagery = literary device in which the author appeals to any of the five senses What is the purpose of imagery? Boot Camp review: to establish mood, tone, theme, setting, etc. NEVER WRITE: To paint a picture in the readers head To help the reader see the scene more clearly

Imagery Prompt #2 Thesis: In Life of Pi, Yann Martel reveals a message about survival through imagery. (ch. 61, when the first fish is finished off).