IntroductionIntroduction

Introduction ~ AuthorIntroduction ~ Author Yann Martel Yann Martel

– Born June 25, 1963 in Salamanca, Born June 25, 1963 in Salamanca, Spain Spain

– Now lives in CanadaNow lives in Canada Travelled Iran, Turkey, and India Travelled Iran, Turkey, and India Started writing at age 27Started writing at age 27 To write To write Life of PiLife of Pi……

– Six months spent in India visiting Six months spent in India visiting mosques, temples, churches and mosques, temples, churches and zooszoos

– An entire year reading religious texts An entire year reading religious texts and castaway storiesand castaway stories

– Actual writing: two more years Actual writing: two more years

Story OverviewStory Overview The protagonist The protagonist Piscine ("Pi") Piscine ("Pi")

Molitor PatelMolitor Patel An Indian boy from Pondicherry, An Indian boy from Pondicherry,

IndiaIndia Exploring the issues of religion Exploring the issues of religion

and spirituality from an early age and spirituality from an early age His survival story: 227 days His survival story: 227 days

shipwrecked with a tiger in the shipwrecked with a tiger in the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean

CharactersCharacters

Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi)Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi)    – Protagonist of the story Protagonist of the story – The narrator for most of the The narrator for most of the

novelnovel– Infatuated with religionInfatuated with religion– Later becomes a student of Later becomes a student of

zoology and religionzoology and religion– Deeply intrigued by the Deeply intrigued by the

habits and characteristics of habits and characteristics of animals and people animals and people

CharactersCharacters

Richard ParkerRichard Parker  – The Royal Bengal tiger The Royal Bengal tiger

sharing a lifeboat with Pisharing a lifeboat with Pi– 450 pounds and about 450 pounds and about

nine feet longnine feet long– From the Pondicherry From the Pondicherry

ZooZoo– Governed by Animal Governed by Animal

InstinctsInstincts

CharactersCharacters ““The AuthorThe Author””

– The narrator of the (fictitious) Author’s The narrator of the (fictitious) Author’s Note Note

– Inserts himself into the narrative at Inserts himself into the narrative at several points throughout the textseveral points throughout the text

– Never identified by nameNever identified by name

– Yann Martel?Yann Martel? He lives in CanadaHe lives in Canada Published two booksPublished two books Inspired to write Pi’s life story Inspired to write Pi’s life story

during a trip to India during a trip to India

CharactersCharacters Francis AdirubasamyFrancis Adirubasamy  

– The elderly man The elderly man – Tells the author Pi’s story Tells the author Pi’s story

during a meeting in a during a meeting in a Pondicherry coffee shopPondicherry coffee shop

– Taught Pi to swim Taught Pi to swim – Helped name PiHelped name Pi– Pi calls him Pi calls him MamajiMamaji

(Indian: (Indian: respected uncle)respected uncle)

CharactersCharacters RaviRavi  

– Pi’s older brotherPi’s older brother– Typical older Typical older

brotherbrother– Teases his Teases his

younger brother younger brother mercilessly over mercilessly over his devotion to his devotion to three religionsthree religions

CharactersCharacters

Santosh PatelSantosh Patel  – Pi’s fatherPi’s father– More of a business man More of a business man

than a zoologistthan a zoologist– Runs the Pondicherry Runs the Pondicherry

ZooZoo– A worrier by natureA worrier by nature– Teaching his sons not Teaching his sons not

only to care for and only to care for and control wild animals, but control wild animals, but to fear them to fear them

– Decided to move his Decided to move his family to Canadafamily to Canada

CharactersCharactersGita PatelGita Patel  

– Pi’s beloved mother and Pi’s beloved mother and protectorprotector

– Studied botany, Studied botany, therefore enjoys working therefore enjoys working with plants and herbs.with plants and herbs.

– Encourages Pi to read Encourages Pi to read widelywidely

– Speaks her mindSpeaks her mind– Tries to keep the peace Tries to keep the peace

and please everyoneand please everyone– Taught Pi about Taught Pi about

HinduismHinduism

CharactersCharacters The HyenaThe Hyena  

– Ugly and intensely violent Ugly and intensely violent – Controlling the lifeboat before Richard Parker Controlling the lifeboat before Richard Parker

emergesemerges– Symbolic of savagery and impulseSymbolic of savagery and impulse

The ZebraThe Zebra  – A beautiful male Grant’s zebraA beautiful male Grant’s zebra– His leg broken jumping into the lifeboatHis leg broken jumping into the lifeboat– Symbolic of naivety Symbolic of naivety

Orange JuiceOrange Juice  – Maternal orangutan Maternal orangutan – Floating to the lifeboat on a raft of bananasFloating to the lifeboat on a raft of bananas– Symbolic of courage and defianceSymbolic of courage and defiance

Organization of the BookOrganization of the Book Three parts: Three parts:

– First section: an adult Pi Patel’s rumination over his First section: an adult Pi Patel’s rumination over his childhoodchildhood

– Second section: a blend of a detailed and realistic survival Second section: a blend of a detailed and realistic survival memoir and a fantastic allegory in a medieval stylememoir and a fantastic allegory in a medieval style

– Last section: Last section: The report to the Japanese governmentThe report to the Japanese government A choice to actually choose the story version the readers prefer A choice to actually choose the story version the readers prefer

SymbolismSymbolism

The animalsThe animals Algae IslandAlgae Island The color orangeThe color orange Pi himselfPi himself Tsimtsum ShipTsimtsum Ship

MotifsMotifs

Territorial DominanceTerritorial Dominance Hunger and ThirstHunger and Thirst RitualRitual