Discussion Questions Life of Pi Chapters 37-55

In your current group… In Part Two, the author/narrator’s voice disappears; all of the chapters are told in Pi’s voice. In terms of the structure of the novel, why does Martel do this?

All #1s Move Clockwise At what point does the reader clearly conclude that Richard Parker is the name of a tiger and not a person? (Find a page reference.) How does Martel use language to perpetuate ambiguity about Richard Parker right up until that point?

All #1s and #2s Move Clockwise Though most of the narration of these chapters is intense and serious, Pi’s character also has a humorous, maybe even sarcastic, voice in places. Find examples and discuss how Martel’s use of language contributes to the humorous tone.

All #2s and #3s Move Clockwise How has Martel used lightness and darkness / day and night in Part Two, and to what effect?

All #3s and #4s Move Clockwise Why might Martel have chosen to give the tiger a human-sounding name? Think of the earlier chapters about the zoo animals. Also think about what Richard Parker might mean to Pi.

All #1s and #4s Move Clockwise Why does Pi deem Plan Number Four to be a “clever, suicidal plan”?