Introduction to Introduction to Life of PiLife of Pi

By: Yann MartelBy: Yann Martel

Key FactsKey Facts• GenreGenre: Allegory; fable: Allegory; fable

• Time & Place WrittenTime & Place Written: Researched in India & : Researched in India & Canada and written in Canada in the late Canada and written in Canada in the late 1990’s.1990’s.

• Publication DatePublication Date: 2002: 2002

• NarratorNarrator: Piscine (Pi) Molitor Patel and the : Piscine (Pi) Molitor Patel and the author, Yann Martel.author, Yann Martel.

• ToneTone: funny, surreal, philosophical, and at : funny, surreal, philosophical, and at times, journalistic.times, journalistic.

• TenseTense: Past : Past

ThemesThemes• The Will to LiveThe Will to Live: In both sections of the story, the : In both sections of the story, the

survivors do whatever it takes to live—even if what survivors do whatever it takes to live—even if what they have to do is barbaric, immoral or detestable they have to do is barbaric, immoral or detestable under normal circumstances.under normal circumstances.

• The Importance of StorytellingThe Importance of Storytelling: The book itself is a : The book itself is a story within a story. One side is factual, one side story within a story. One side is factual, one side seems rather fantastical. Both are true on some level; seems rather fantastical. Both are true on some level; one actual events and the other more metaphorical.one actual events and the other more metaphorical.

• The Nature of Religious BeliefThe Nature of Religious Belief: Connects with the : Connects with the theme of Storytelling in that all religions have stories theme of Storytelling in that all religions have stories that explain why they exist. Also, on some level both that explain why they exist. Also, on some level both believers and listeners have to have faith to exist.believers and listeners have to have faith to exist.

• Territorial DominanceTerritorial Dominance:: Establishing one’s Establishing one’s personal space and territory is necessary for personal space and territory is necessary for survival; regardless of how violent it can be.survival; regardless of how violent it can be.

• Hunger and ThirstHunger and Thirst: : A continual obstacle in the A continual obstacle in the story. Also plays a role in the theme of story. Also plays a role in the theme of survival and what a person/animal will go survival and what a person/animal will go through to survive. through to survive.

• RitualsRituals: : The practice of daily rituals is The practice of daily rituals is compared with the instincts and habits of the compared with the instincts and habits of the other people and animals in the story; they other people and animals in the story; they also serve as a means of survival for Pi.also serve as a means of survival for Pi.

MotifsMotifs

SymbolsSymbols• PiPi: : Pi’s name represents several things. It is a Pi’s name represents several things. It is a

letter in the Greek alphabet that also contains letter in the Greek alphabet that also contains alphaalpha and and omega omega (beginning/end), terms used (beginning/end), terms used in the book to denote dominant and in the book to denote dominant and submissive creatures. Pi is also a mathematical submissive creatures. Pi is also a mathematical number, used to calculate distance in a circle. number, used to calculate distance in a circle. These associations establish the character Pi These associations establish the character Pi as as more than just a realistic protagonist; he more than just a realistic protagonist; he also is an allegorical figure with multiple layers also is an allegorical figure with multiple layers of meaning.of meaning.

• The Color OrangeThe Color Orange: : Represents Represents HOPE & HOPE & SURVIVAL.SURVIVAL.

SettingSetting•TimeTime: : The author tells Pi’s story The author tells Pi’s story

from an undetermined point, some from an undetermined point, some years after the publication of his years after the publication of his second book in 1996. Pi’s ordeal second book in 1996. Pi’s ordeal begins on July 2, 1977, and begins on July 2, 1977, and continues for 277 days.continues for 277 days.

•PlacePlace: : Pi’s boyhood home in Pi’s boyhood home in Pondicherry, India; the Pacific Pondicherry, India; the Pacific Ocean; Tomatlan, Mexico; and, Ocean; Tomatlan, Mexico; and, briefly, Toronto, Canada.briefly, Toronto, Canada.

Author’s NoteAuthor’s Note• He tells the reader that the story He tells the reader that the story blurs blurs

the line between fact and fictionthe line between fact and fiction

• Martel uses his narrator to make Martel uses his narrator to make serious serious commentary on everything from religion commentary on everything from religion to politicsto politics, and the mock-journalistic , and the mock-journalistic introduction emphasizes the intersection introduction emphasizes the intersection of fact and fiction in his literary worldof fact and fiction in his literary world

• He also introduces himself, and he lets He also introduces himself, and he lets the reader know that he the reader know that he inserts himself inserts himself into the story as a fictional characterinto the story as a fictional character..

Religions in the NovelReligions in the Novel• Catholicism: Catholicism: the Christians in the Christians in

union with the Bishop of Romeunion with the Bishop of Rome..

• Christianity: Christianity: based on the life based on the life and teachings of Jesus as and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament and other New Testament writings.writings.

• Muslim: Muslim: Qur'an—which Muslims Qur'an—which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet; it is an as revealed to prophet; it is an Arabic word meaning "one who Arabic word meaning "one who submits to God“.submits to God“.

Places in the NovelPlaces in the Novel• Pondicherry, IndiaPondicherry, India

• Toronto, CanadaToronto, Canada

• The Pacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean

Religious ReferencesReligious References• Vishnu: Vishnu: a popular a popular

Hindu god, venerated Hindu god, venerated as the Supreme Being as the Supreme Being in the Vaishnava sect. in the Vaishnava sect. He is also commonly He is also commonly known as Narayana or known as Narayana or HariHari

• Kaabala: Kaabala: is the name is the name applied to the whole applied to the whole range of Jewish range of Jewish mystical activity. mystical activity. While codes of Jewish While codes of Jewish law focus on what it is law focus on what it is God wants from manGod wants from man

Religious ReferencesReligious References• Lakshmi: Lakshmi: the Hindu the Hindu

goddess of wealth, goddess of wealth, prosperity (both material prosperity (both material and spiritual), fortune, and and spiritual), fortune, and the embodiment of beautythe embodiment of beauty

• Ganesha: Ganesha: the Hindu deity the Hindu deity in a human form but with in a human form but with the head of an elephant - the head of an elephant - represents the power of represents the power of the Supreme Being that the Supreme Being that removes obstacles and removes obstacles and ensures success in human ensures success in human endeavorsendeavors

Religious ReferencesReligious References• Shiva: Shiva: a major Hindu deity, and is the Destroyer or a major Hindu deity, and is the Destroyer or

Transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of Transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divinethe primary aspects of the divine

• Krishna: Krishna: a Hindu deity, a complete avatar a Hindu deity, a complete avatar "incarnation“ of the preserver-god, Vishnu. Krishna is "incarnation“ of the preserver-god, Vishnu. Krishna is often described and portrayed as an infant or young often described and portrayed as an infant or young boy playing a fluteboy playing a flute

• Brahma: Brahma: the first god in the Hindu trimurti. He is the first god in the Hindu trimurti. He is regarded as the senior god and his job was creationregarded as the senior god and his job was creation

AnimalsAnimals• ZebraZebra

• MeerkatsMeerkats

• Bengal TigerBengal Tiger

• HyenaHyena

• OrangutanOrangutan

• Sea TurtlesSea Turtles

ReferencesReferencesSparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Life of SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Life of Pi.” Pi.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2006. 2006. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.Web. 17 Oct. 2012.