Life of Pi: Author ’ s Note HKASL ~ Literature in English

Summary The brief, italicized section: The brief, italicized section: –With some background on the book ’ s author –Written himself into the text as a character –1996: second trip to India ~ He flew to Bombay to rejuvenate his mind after learning about the less than favorable response to his first two books –Plans: to write a novel about Portugal –Failed to materialize the book ~ hopeless and dejected about his prospects

Summary Arrived in the town of Pondicherry after a period of wandering Arrived in the town of Pondicherry after a period of wandering Pondicherry ~ once controlled by the French Empire Pondicherry ~ once controlled by the French Empire Become self-governing decades ago Become self-governing decades ago The author met by chance a man named Francis Adirubasamy in a local coffee shop The author met by chance a man named Francis Adirubasamy in a local coffee shop Francis offered to tell him a story Francis offered to tell him a story

Summary The author called up Mr. Patel [Pi] back in his native Canada The author called up Mr. Patel [Pi] back in his native Canada Mr. Patel agreed to meet with him and tell him his own version of the story Mr. Patel agreed to meet with him and tell him his own version of the story Showed the author documents, including his old diary and ancient newspaper clippings about his ordeal Showed the author documents, including his old diary and ancient newspaper clippings about his ordeal Supporting documents received from the Japanese Ministry of Transport Supporting documents received from the Japanese Ministry of Transport Author: to write up Mr. Patel ’ s account using Mr. Patel ’ s own voice and looking through his eyes. Any mistakes, he states, are the author ’ s own. Author: to write up Mr. Patel ’ s account using Mr. Patel ’ s own voice and looking through his eyes. Any mistakes, he states, are the author ’ s own.

Analysis It clues us into the book ’ s origins It clues us into the book ’ s origins It blurs the boundary between fact and fiction It blurs the boundary between fact and fiction Claim: the text is nonfiction Claim: the text is nonfiction In the tradition of picaresque novels In the tradition of picaresque novels –Example:Don Quixote –Masquerading as fact even though they are obviously works of imagination –Harsh realities of life — poverty, illness, and so on — are treated in a wry, ironic, and even humorous way Serious commentary made by the narrator on everything, from religion to politics Serious commentary made by the narrator on everything, from religion to politics Mock-journalistic introduction: the intersection of fact and fiction in his literary world Mock-journalistic introduction: the intersection of fact and fiction in his literary world

Analysis Central theme of the book: storytelling Central theme of the book: storytelling Two not-so-successful books before Two not-so-successful books before Struck by inspiration during a visit to India Struck by inspiration during a visit to India Did Yann Martel really meet Francis Adirubasamy in a coffee shop? Did Yann Martel really meet Francis Adirubasamy in a coffee shop? Does Pi Patel really exist? Does Pi Patel really exist? –No Martel: creating an imaginary scenario to delight and entice his readers Martel: creating an imaginary scenario to delight and entice his readers Foundation for the novel ’ s central theme: Foundation for the novel ’ s central theme: –Storytelling as a way to get around telling the boring or upsetting or uninteresting truth

Analysis Balanced structurally by Part Three: another short section concerned with creating the impression that this entire book is a work of nonfiction Balanced structurally by Part Three: another short section concerned with creating the impression that this entire book is a work of nonfiction To suspend our disbelief and invest ourselves more fully in the story we are about to read To suspend our disbelief and invest ourselves more fully in the story we are about to read

Life of Pi: Chapters 1 – 6

Summary Beginning: Pi ’ s declaration ~ his great suffering, leaving him despondent Beginning: Pi ’ s declaration ~ his great suffering, leaving him despondent The nature of his suffering and its source are not yet clear to the reader The nature of his suffering and its source are not yet clear to the reader Pi as a very good student in his religious and zoological studies Pi as a very good student in his religious and zoological studies His religious studies thesis: aspects of Isaac Luria ’ s cosmogony theory His religious studies thesis: aspects of Isaac Luria ’ s cosmogony theory Pi ’ s Speaking about sloths at length and his observation: Pi ’ s Speaking about sloths at length and his observation: –Their very survival ensured by their slow and dull lifestyle –Disappearance into the background Now working, Pi misses India and loves Canada, and he misses someone named Richard Parker. Now working, Pi misses India and loves Canada, and he misses someone named Richard Parker.

Summary Pi ’ s stay at a hospital in Mexico Pi ’ s stay at a hospital in Mexico –Treated exceptionally well –His ailments — anemia, fluid retention, dark urine, broken skin –Up and walking in about a week ’ s time Fainted the first time he turned on a water tap and heard the water rushing forth Fainted the first time he turned on a water tap and heard the water rushing forth How he felt wounded when a waiter in an Indian restaurant in Canada criticized him for using his fingers to eat. How he felt wounded when a waiter in an Indian restaurant in Canada criticized him for using his fingers to eat. Narrative briefly switched to the author ’ s point of view: Narrative briefly switched to the author ’ s point of view: –Describing Pi as a small, gray-haired, middle-aged man, who talks quickly and directly

Summary Pi ’ s narrative: his reflections on his boyhood in India Pi ’ s narrative: his reflections on his boyhood in India –Named after a pool –Learned to swim from a family friend, Francis Adirubasamy, whom Pi calls Mamaji –Mamaji: A champion swimmer when he was young A champion swimmer when he was young Instilled in Pi a love for the ritualistic nature of swimming Instilled in Pi a love for the ritualistic nature of swimming His favorite pool in the world: the Piscine Molitor in Paris [it is after that pool that Pi received his unusual name] His favorite pool in the world: the Piscine Molitor in Paris [it is after that pool that Pi received his unusual name]

Summary Pi ’ s father: used to run the Pondicherry Zoo Pi ’ s father: used to run the Pondicherry Zoo Pi grew up thinking the zoo was paradise Pi grew up thinking the zoo was paradise The ritualistic habits of zoo creatures: The ritualistic habits of zoo creatures: –The alarm-clock precision of the roaring lions –The howler monkeys –The songs that are birds ’ daily rites Defended zoos against those who would rather the animals were kept in the wild Defended zoos against those who would rather the animals were kept in the wild –Wild creatures: at the mercy of nature –Zoo creatures: a life of luxury and constancy Pondicherry Zoo is now shut down Pondicherry Zoo is now shut down Many people now hold both zoos and religions in disrepute. Many people now hold both zoos and religions in disrepute.

Summary Teasing Pi received as a child because of his full name, Piscine Teasing Pi received as a child because of his full name, Piscine –Other school children turned into Pissing –Trained his classmates and teachers to call him Pi: by writing it on the chalkboard of each of his classrooms by writing it on the chalkboard of each of his classrooms Briefly switched back to the voice of the author: Pi ’ s kitchen in Canada is extremely well-stocked Briefly switched back to the voice of the author: Pi ’ s kitchen in Canada is extremely well-stocked

Analysis Foreshadowing something devastating and extraordinary Foreshadowing something devastating and extraordinary –Approaching that nameless event from the outside in, –Providing information about Pi ’ s life before and after before getting to the heart of the tragedy itself –Building up the suspense –Allowing us to get to know Pi as a normal boy and a fully fleshed out character, not just as a victim of circumstance –Drawing readers firmly into the story ~ we want to know: Who is Richard Parker? Who is Richard Parker? What happened to him? What happened to him? Pi ’ s memories of India Pi ’ s memories of India

Analysis Pi ’ s reference of his thesis on sixteenth-century Kabbalist Isaac Luria ’ s cosmogony theory: very important to the book as a whole Pi ’ s reference of his thesis on sixteenth-century Kabbalist Isaac Luria ’ s cosmogony theory: very important to the book as a whole Luria ’ s theory of creation: Luria ’ s theory of creation: –God contracted to make room for the universe –This contraction: Tsimtsum –Followed by light, carried in five vessels –Shattered vessels causing the sparks of light to sink into matter –God reordered them into five figures, which became the dimensions of our created reality Foreshadowing the main event to come: Foreshadowing the main event to come: –Sinking of the ship, the Tsimtsum –Giving Pi the room to create his own version of the events that follow –Five figures that make up reality for Luria ~ five characters on the lifeboat (including Pi himself) shape Pi ’ s story [reality Vs. imagination]

Analysis Zoo: an important place in Pi ’ s memory Zoo: an important place in Pi ’ s memory Pi ’ s belief system shaped by growing up in a zoo Pi ’ s belief system shaped by growing up in a zoo –Knowing about animal nature –Imbued in him the meaning of freedom –Zoos are places of habit: Chores that the keepers must perform every day Chores that the keepers must perform every day Examples: feeding and cleaning the animals and their cages Examples: feeding and cleaning the animals and their cages Animal rituals Animal rituals

Analysis Pi establishes early on the orderliness of the zoo and the comforting sense of regularity it gives him Pi establishes early on the orderliness of the zoo and the comforting sense of regularity it gives him –Animals prefer the consistency of zoo life –Similarly humans accustom themselves to the rituals and abundance of modern society [their own sort of zoo] –Zoo animals rarely run away: they enjoy the abundant water and food –Life in the wild: a constant battle for survival + a race against the odds and other creatures –Death: a constant presence and possibility –All of us living in modern society: zoo creatures Defanged and protected from the wilderness waiting for us beyond the enclosure walls Defanged and protected from the wilderness waiting for us beyond the enclosure walls Walls from which Pi will soon be freed Walls from which Pi will soon be freed

Analysis Explanations of Pi ’ s name Explanations of Pi ’ s name –As much text as his philosophizing about zoos –The watery associations of Piscine Molitor ’ s full name: Piscine: Piscine: – “ Pool ” in French –A derivation with pisces, or fish Pi learns how to swim from Francis Adirubasamy Pi learns how to swim from Francis Adirubasamy He gravitates toward water He gravitates toward water

Analysis Pi ’ s name: Pi ’ s name: –Two functions in the text: Emphasizing the idea that a very strong swimmer like Pi might realistically have survived in the ocean after a shipwreck Emphasizing the idea that a very strong swimmer like Pi might realistically have survived in the ocean after a shipwreck Pi as an odd name that is has the ring of allegory, positioning Pi as a mythic or fabled character Pi as an odd name that is has the ring of allegory, positioning Pi as a mythic or fabled character –The literal, mathematic symbol pi: –An almost impossibly long number whose combinations never repeat –Symbolizing Pi ’ s long journey, with all its variations

Analysis Amount of energy that Pi devotes to the ideas of rituals and routine in the lives of zoo creatures: Amount of energy that Pi devotes to the ideas of rituals and routine in the lives of zoo creatures: –Repetition he used to train his schoolmates and teachers into calling him Pi Leaps up during roll call Leaps up during roll call Writes his full name on the blackboard Writes his full name on the blackboard Underlines his preferred nickname, Pi Underlines his preferred nickname, Pi Speaks it aloud Speaks it aloud Carries out this act in each classroom, during every roll call Carries out this act in each classroom, during every roll call To the point where his fellow students start to follow along To the point where his fellow students start to follow along –Indication: humans = animals Repetition proves to be a very effective teacher Repetition proves to be a very effective teacher