Life of Pi Preparation Questions free essay sample

Life of Pi: Yann Martel Analytical questions for holiday work. 1. Read the book carefully and respond to the following question. 2. Some questions will only make sense to students who have already read the book. Students reading it for the first time should leave spaces in order to develop responses after your reading and during class. 3. Also, make sure that you develop a list of question as you read so you can move beyond being the passive reader to the actively involved reader. You will be given a knowledge test on the novel during the first week of Term 3 so be prepared!!!! Author’s Note (remember that this is the fictional persona created by Martel) 1. What is the writer/author’s intent in this section? 2. Describe the author’s character. Give specific examples to support your interpretation. 3. What is the relevance of the reference to Kierkergaard? (research this philosopher) 4. What is the significance of the reference to the French colonization of Pondicherry? 5. We will write a custom essay sample on Life of Pi Preparation Questions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page What will supposedly make the author believe in God? 6. Consider the significance of the word â€Å"bamboozle† within the context of this novel. Part 1: Toronto and Pondicherry Chapter 1 * Consider the significances of Pi’s double major in Zoology and Religious studies? * In what ways does Patel allude to his suffering and the influence that suffering has had on him. Many of Pi’s anecdotes relate to human’s cruelty to each other. * How does the description of the survival of the three toed sloth foreshadow other events in the story? * Consider the significance of Pi’s loyalty to both India and Canada. * Discuss his memory of Richard Parker Chapter 2 1. Why is this chapter written in italics? How is Pi depicted at this stage in his life? Chapter 3 1. What is the significance of Pi’s name and how is swimming connected to the survival story? Chapter 4 1. Discuss Pi’s fascination with animal behaviour and interaction and the similarities he draws between humans. 2. Why does he think that animals are better off in a zoo? Chapter 5 1. What is a Sihk? p. 20 (research the religion) 2. Discuss 4 p. 20 3. What does Pi’s focus on his name tell us about his character and what possible significance can this name have in relation to the main ideas in the novel? Chapter 6 1. Why is the author focussing on Pi’s present preoccupation with food? 2. What is the â€Å"siege† of Leningrad†? p. 25 Chapter 7 1. Research Mendel and Darwin p. 26 Why are they relevant in this story 2. How is Mr. Kumar’s atheism expressed? 3. What is Pi’s response to agnostics? p. 28 Chapter 8 1. Discuss Pi’s comments re the danger of animals and the cruelty of humans. 2. What is anthropomorphism? 3. What lesson does Mr Patel teach Ravi and Pi and why? Chapter 9 1. How does this chapter foreshadow the training of Richard Parker? Chapter 10 1. How does Pi’s anecdote about the escaped animal link to Richard Parker? 2. Discuss the significance of Pi’s description of madness. Chapter 11 * What is the relevance of this chapter? Chapter 12 * Why does the writer refer to Pi’s preferences in food? Chapter 13 14 1. What does Pi’s description of lion taming add to our understanding of the deeper issues in this story? . Chapter 15 1. What is significant about the descriptions of religious images in Pi’s house Chapter 16 1. Discuss Pi’s religious development. Complete some research on the Hindu religion. . Chapter 17 1. Discuss Pi’s fascination with the Christian religion. Chapter 18, 19 20 1. .Discuss Pi’s introduction and consequent responses to the Islamic religion. Chapter 21 1. Discuss the nature of the author’s reflections on Pi’s experiences of religion. Chapter 22 1. . What is the relevance in this brief chapter of Pi’s reflection on atheists and agnostics? Chapter 23 1. What different views of god are explored in this section and why? 2. What does Pi mean at the end of this chapter, â€Å"That was my introduction to interfaith dialogue†? p 70. Chapter 24 25, 1. What is Ravi’s humorous suggestion in this very brief paragraph and what dimension does it add to the focus on religions in this novel? 2. Discuss Pi’s response to all of the faiths he has explored. Chapter 26, 27 28 1. . How do Pi’s parents cope with his request to be baptised? 2. What is Pi’s response to his baptism? Chapter 29 1. Discuss the rhetorical questions at the start of this chapter and the ways in which Pi and Ravi respond to the family’s emigration. 2. Discuss the political upheaval and the reasons that Pi’s parent wish to move away from their homeland. Chapter 30 1. What is the purpose for this brief response to the realisation that Pi has a wife? Chapter 31 1. What is the narrative purpose of this encounter between Pi’s atheist science teacher, Mr Kumar and Mr Kumar the Muslim baker? Chapter 32 1. What is the point of the story of Methuselah and the mouse? Chapter 33 1. Why has the writer included this short piece on Pi’s family photographs? Chapter 34 1. Discuss Pi’s interpretation of Westerners in this chapter that focuses on selling the animals and moving the zoo Chapter 35 1. Pi is sixteen years old when he and his family move to Canada. What are his reflections on this? Chapter 36 1. Discuss the reason that the narrator is surprised that Pi has two children. Part 2: The Pacific Ocean Chapter 37 1. Why does Pi feel ambivalent about saving Richard parker? 2. What is meant by â€Å"truly I was to be the next goat†?. p. 99 Chapter 38 1. Discuss Pi’s account of the night the ship sank. 2. What does the ship’s crew do to Pi and why? Chapter 39, 40 41 1. Discuss pi’s responses to his predicament and to his companions on the lifeboat Chapter 42 1. What is the narrative purpose for the inclusion of the demise of Orange Juice? Chapter 43, 44 45 1. Why is the Hyena the worst threat to Pi? 2. Why is Pi afraid? 3. Why does Pi think he will be rescued? Chapter 46 1. Why is the animals’ suffering described so graphically and at times dispassionately? Chapter 47 1. What has Pi discovered by the end of this chapter?. Chapter 48 1. Discuss the significance of Richard Parker’s name. Chapter 49, 50 51 1. What is Pi’s response when he discovers Richard Parker? Chapter52 1. Discuss the significance of the list. Chapter 53, 54 55 1. How does Pi plan to ensure his survival? 2. What is the nature of his plans to get rid of Richard parker? 3. What is meant by †if you wage a war of attrition, you will lose it! †p. 161 Chapter 56, 57, 58, 59 60 1. Discuss the significance of Pi’s statement, â€Å"Only fear can defeat life. † P. 161 2. What is â€Å"Prusten†? p. 163 . Discuss Pi’s new plan and why he is grateful for Richard parker. 4. Discuss Pi’s spiritual revelation. p. 177 Chapter 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 1. What does pi discover about fishing? 2. How long has Pi been at sea at this stage and what his his one key to survival? p. 192 3. What does Pi discover about solar sills? 4. What happens to P i’s skin and his clothes? Chapter66 67 1. Discuss Pi’s transformation from being a vegetarian to eating for survival. Chapter 68 1. In what ways are Pi and Richard Parker like animals in a zoo? Chapter 69 1. How are Pi’s memories of the past generated? Chapter70 1. What is the significance of the description of killing the turtle? Chapter 71, 72, 73 74, 75, 76 77 1. How does Pi train Richard Parker? 2. What does Pi wish he had? 3. How has hunger changed Pi? Chapter 78 1. What does Pi mean by the â€Å"worst pair of opposites† and why? p. 217 Chapter 79 1. Why does this chapter focus on pi’s distress about catching sharks? Chapter 80 81 What does Pi mean by â€Å"I had won†? p. 222 Chapter 82. 1. What does Pi state is the worst form of suffering that he has endured at sea? Chapter 83 1. . What does Pi lose in his chapter? 2. What fortunately is not damaged? Chapter 84. Discuss the significance of Pi’s descriptions of eating the bird Chapter 85. 1. According to Pi, when one is faced with continual terror they are replaced with numbness and completely give up. Chapter 86. 1. How does Pi feel about Richard Parker at the end of this chapter? Chapter 87. 1. What does Pi mean by â€Å"One of my favourite methods of escape was what amounts to gentle asphyxiation†? p. 236 Chapter 88 1. How does Pi attempt to communicate in this part of his journey? Chapter 89 1. . Why does Pi touch Richard Parker for the first time? Chapter 90 1. To what extent is Pi’s suffering mental and physical? . Who is the â€Å"voice†? 3. Discuss the significance of the last sentence, â€Å" something in me died then that has never come back. † P. 253 Chapter 91 1. Why could Pi never find the true identity of the visitor? 2. Discuss the significance of Pi’s confession. p. 256 Chapter 92 1. Discuss the island and its effects on Pi and Richard Parker. 2. Why does Pi decide to leave the island? 3. Why is this chapter so much longer than the others? Chapter 93 1. Why does Pi maintain his faith? Chapter 94 1. What is the significance of, â€Å"I wept like a child†? p. 285 Part 3: Benito Juarez Infirmary , Tomaltan, Mexico Chapter 95 1. Discus the significance of this chapter in italics. Chapters 96, 97 98 1. Discuss Pi’s story as presented in this section. Chapter 99. Note that this is one of the longer chapters 1. Why don’t the Japanese officials believe Pi’ story? 2. What does pi mean by, â€Å"I know what you want. You want a story that won’t surprise you. That will confirm what you already know. That won’t make you see higher or further or differently. †? 3. What is Pi’s response to the version that the Japanese choose to believe? Chapter 100 1. Discuss the significance of Mr Okamoto’s letter.