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

SummarySummary• The brief, italicized section: The brief, italicized section:

– With some background on the book’s authorWith some background on the book’s author– Written himself into the text as a characterWritten himself into the text as a character– 1996: second trip to India ~ He flew to Bombay 1996: second trip to India ~ He flew to Bombay

to rejuvenate his mind after learning about the to rejuvenate his mind after learning about the less than favorable response to his first two less than favorable response to his first two booksbooks

– Plans: to write a novel about PortugalPlans: to write a novel about Portugal– Failed to materialize the book ~ hopeless and Failed to materialize the book ~ hopeless and

dejected about his prospectsdejected about his prospects

SummarySummary• Arrived in the town of Pondicherry after a periArrived in the town of Pondicherry after a period of wanderingod of wandering• Pondicherry ~ once controlled by the French EPondicherry ~ once controlled by the French Empire mpire • Become self-governing decades agoBecome self-governing decades ago• The author met by chance a man named FrancThe author met by chance a man named Francis Adirubasamy in a local coffee shopis Adirubasamy in a local coffee shop• Francis offered to tell him a storyFrancis offered to tell him a story

SummarySummary• The author called up Mr. Patel [Pi] back in his native The author called up Mr. Patel [Pi] back in his native

CanadaCanada• Mr. Patel agreed to meet with him and tell him his Mr. Patel agreed to meet with him and tell him his

own version of the storyown version of the story• Showed the author documents, including his old Showed the author documents, including his old

diary and ancient newspaper clippings about his diary and ancient newspaper clippings about his ordealordeal

• Supporting documents received from the Japanese Supporting documents received from the Japanese Ministry of TransportMinistry of Transport

• Author: to write up Mr. Patel’s account using Mr. Author: to write up Mr. Patel’s account using Mr. Patel’s own voice and looking through his eyes. Any Patel’s own voice and looking through his eyes. Any mistakes, he states, are the author’s own. mistakes, he states, are the author’s own.

AnalysisAnalysis• It clues us into the book’s origins It clues us into the book’s origins • It blurs the boundary between fact and fictionIt 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:Example:Don QuixoteDon Quixote– Masquerading as fact even though they are obviously works of imagiMasquerading as fact even though they are obviously works of imaginationnation– Harsh realities of life — poverty, illness, and so on — are treated in a Harsh realities of life — poverty, illness, and so on — are treated in a wry, ironic, and even humorous way wry, ironic, and even humorous way

• Serious commentary made by the narrator on everything, from rSerious commentary made by the narrator on everything, from religion to politicseligion to politics• Mock-journalistic introduction: the intersection of fact and fictioMock-journalistic introduction: the intersection of fact and fiction in his literary world n in his literary world

AnalysisAnalysis• Central theme of the book: storytellingCentral theme of the book: storytelling• Two not-so-successful books before Two not-so-successful books before • Struck by inspiration during a visit to IndiaStruck by inspiration during a visit to India• Did Yann Martel really meet Francis Adirubasamy in a Did Yann Martel really meet Francis Adirubasamy in a coffee shop? coffee shop? • Does Pi Patel really exist? Does Pi Patel really exist?

– No No • Martel: creating an imaginary scenario to delight and Martel: creating an imaginary scenario to delight and entice his readers 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 upsetStorytelling as a way to get around telling the boring or upsetting or uninteresting truthting or uninteresting truth

AnalysisAnalysis• Balanced structurally by Part Three: anoBalanced structurally by Part Three: another short section concerned with creatither short section concerned with creating the impression that this entire book ing the impression that this entire book is a work of nonfictions a work of nonfiction• To suspend our disbelief and invest oursTo suspend our disbelief and invest ourselves more fully in the story we are abouelves more fully in the story we are about to read t to read

Life of Pi: Chapters 1 – 6 Life of Pi: Chapters 1 – 6

Summary Summary • Beginning: Pi’s declaration ~ his great suffering, leaving him deBeginning: Pi’s declaration ~ his great suffering, leaving him despondentspondent• The nature of his suffering and its source are not yet clear to the rThe nature of his suffering and its source are not yet clear to the readereader• 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 His religious studies thesis: aspects of Isaac Luria’s cosmogony theorytheory• 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 lifestyleTheir very survival ensured by their slow and dull lifestyle– Disappearance into the background Disappearance into the background

• Now working, Pi misses India and loves Canada, and he misses sNow working, Pi misses India and loves Canada, and he misses someone named Richard Parker. omeone named Richard Parker.

Summary Summary • Pi’s stay at a hospital in MexicoPi’s stay at a hospital in Mexico

– Treated exceptionally wellTreated exceptionally well– His ailments—anemia, fluid retention, dark urine, broken skinHis ailments—anemia, fluid retention, dark urine, broken skin– Up and walking in about a week’s timeUp and walking in about a week’s time

• Fainted the first time he turned on a water tap and heaFainted the first time he turned on a water tap and heard the water rushing forth rd the water rushing forth • How he felt wounded when a waiter in an Indian restaHow he felt wounded when a waiter in an Indian restaurant in Canada criticized him for using his fingers to eurant in Canada criticized him for using his fingers to eat.at.• Narrative briefly switched to the author’s point of vieNarrative briefly switched to the author’s point of view:w:

– Describing Pi as a small, gray-haired, middle-aged man, who tDescribing Pi as a small, gray-haired, middle-aged man, who talks quickly and directly alks quickly and directly

SummarySummary• Pi’s narrative: his reflections on his boyhood Pi’s narrative: his reflections on his boyhood in India in India

– Named after a poolNamed after a pool– Learned to swim from a family friend, Francis AdiruLearned to swim from a family friend, Francis Adirubasamy, whom Pi calls Mamajibasamy, whom Pi calls Mamaji– Mamaji: Mamaji:

• A champion swimmer when he was youngA champion swimmer when he was young• Instilled in Pi a love for the ritualistic nature of swimmingInstilled in Pi a love for the ritualistic nature of swimming• His favorite pool in the world: the Piscine Molitor in Paris [iHis favorite pool in the world: the Piscine Molitor in Paris [it is after that pool that Pi received his unusual name]t is after that pool that Pi received his unusual name]

SummarySummary• Pi’s father: used to run the Pondicherry ZooPi’s father: used to run the Pondicherry Zoo• Pi grew up thinking the zoo was paradisePi 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 alarm-clock precision of the roaring lions – The howler monkeysThe howler monkeys– The songs that are birds’ daily ritesThe songs that are birds’ daily rites

• Defended zoos against those who would rather the animals were Defended zoos against those who would rather the animals were kept in the wildkept in the wild– Wild creatures: at the mercy of natureWild creatures: at the mercy of nature– Zoo creatures: a life of luxury and constancy 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.

SummarySummary• Teasing Pi received as a child because of his fuTeasing Pi received as a child because of his full name, Piscinell name, Piscine

– Other school children turned into PissingOther school children turned into Pissing– Trained his classmates and teachers to call him Pi: 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 authoBriefly switched back to the voice of the author: Pi’s kitchen in Canada is extremely well-str: Pi’s kitchen in Canada is extremely well-stocked ocked

Analysis Analysis • Foreshadowing something devastating and extraordinForeshadowing something devastating and extraordinaryary

– Approaching that nameless event from the outside in, Approaching that nameless event from the outside in, – Providing information about Pi’s life before and after before Providing information about Pi’s life before and after before getting to the heart of the tragedy itselfgetting to the heart of the tragedy itself– Building up the suspense Building up the suspense – Allowing us to get to know Pi as a normal boy and a fully fleshAllowing us to get to know Pi as a normal boy and a fully fleshed out character, not just as a victim of circumstanceed out character, not just as a victim of circumstance– Drawing readers firmly into the story ~ we want to know: 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 IndiaPi’s memories of India

AnalysisAnalysis• Pi’s reference of his thesis on sixteenth-century Kabbalist Isaac LPi’s reference of his thesis on sixteenth-century Kabbalist Isaac Luria’s cosmogony theory: very important to the book as a wholeuria’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 universeGod contracted to make room for the universe– This contraction: This contraction: TsimtsumTsimtsum– Followed by light, carried in five vesselsFollowed by light, carried in five vessels– Shattered vessels causing the sparks of light to sink into matterShattered vessels causing the sparks of light to sink into matter– God reordered them into five figures, which became the dimensions of God reordered them into five figures, which became the dimensions of our created realityour created reality

• Foreshadowing the main event to come: Foreshadowing the main event to come: – Sinking of the ship, the Sinking of the ship, the TsimtsumTsimtsum– Giving Pi the room to create his own version of the events that followGiving 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 lifeboFive figures that make up reality for Luria ~ five characters on the lifeboat (including Pi himself) shape Pi’s story [reality Vs. imagination] at (including Pi himself) shape Pi’s story [reality Vs. imagination]

AnalysisAnalysis• Zoo: an important place in Pi’s memoryZoo: an important place in Pi’s memory• Pi’s belief system shaped by growing up in a zPi’s belief system shaped by growing up in a zoo oo

– Knowing about animal natureKnowing about animal nature– Imbued in him the meaning of freedomImbued in him the meaning of freedom– Zoos are places of habit: Zoos are places of habit:

• Chores that the keepers must perform every dayChores that the keepers must perform every day• Examples: feeding and cleaning the animals and their cagesExamples: feeding and cleaning the animals and their cages• Animal ritualsAnimal rituals

AnalysisAnalysis• Pi establishes early on the orderliness of the zoo and tPi establishes early on the orderliness of the zoo and the comforting sense of regularity it gives himhe comforting sense of regularity it gives him

– Animals prefer the consistency of zoo life Animals prefer the consistency of zoo life – Similarly humans accustom themselves to the rituals and abuSimilarly humans accustom themselves to the rituals and abundance of modern society [their own sort of zoo]ndance of modern society [their own sort of zoo]– Zoo animals rarely run away: they enjoy the abundant water Zoo animals rarely run away: they enjoy the abundant water and foodand food– Life in the wild: a constant battle for survival + a race against tLife in the wild: a constant battle for survival + a race against the odds and other creatureshe odds and other creatures– Death: a constant presence and possibilityDeath: a constant presence and possibility– All of us living in modern society: zoo creaturesAll of us living in modern society: zoo creatures

• Defanged and protected from the wilderness waiting for us beyoDefanged and protected from the wilderness waiting for us beyond the enclosure walls nd the enclosure walls • Walls from which Pi will soon be freedWalls from which Pi will soon be freed

AnalysisAnalysis• Explanations of Pi’s name Explanations of Pi’s name

– As much text as his philosophizing about zoosAs much text as his philosophizing about zoos– The watery associations of Piscine Molitor’s fThe watery associations of Piscine Molitor’s full name: ull name:

•Piscine: Piscine: – ““Pool” in French Pool” in French – A derivation with A derivation with pisces,pisces, or or fishfish

•Pi learns how to swim from Francis AdirubasamyPi learns how to swim from Francis Adirubasamy•He gravitates toward water He gravitates toward water

AnalysisAnalysis• Pi’s name:Pi’s name:

– Two functions in the text: Two functions in the text: • Emphasizing the idea that a very strong swimmer like Pi migEmphasizing the idea that a very strong swimmer like Pi might realistically have survived in the ocean after a shipwreckht realistically have survived in the ocean after a shipwreck• Pi as an odd name that is has the ring of allegory, positioninPi as an odd name that is has the ring of allegory, positioning Pi as a mythic or fabled characterg Pi as a mythic or fabled character

– The literal, mathematic symbol pi: The literal, mathematic symbol pi: – An almost impossibly long number whose combinatiAn almost impossibly long number whose combinations never repeatons never repeat– Symbolizing Pi’s long journey, with all its variationsSymbolizing Pi’s long journey, with all its variations

AnalysisAnalysis• Amount of energy that Pi devotes to the ideas of Amount of energy that Pi devotes to the ideas of rituals and routine in the lives of zoo creatures: rituals and routine in the lives of zoo creatures:

– Repetition he used to train his schoolmates and teacRepetition he used to train his schoolmates and teachers into calling him Pihers into calling him Pi• Leaps up during roll call Leaps up during roll call • Writes his full name on the blackboardWrites his full name on the blackboard• Underlines his preferred nickname, PiUnderlines his preferred nickname, Pi• Speaks it aloudSpeaks it aloud• Carries out this act in each classroom, during every roll callCarries 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 = animalsIndication: humans = animals• Repetition proves to be a very effective teacher Repetition proves to be a very effective teacher