Question

The Life of Pi

1. What does the author tell us in the introduction? What expectations does it set?

2. What religions does Pi practice? How does he find each? How does he describe each? What are some reactions to his multi-religious practices?

3. Explain how Pi’s twin concerns of theology and zoology are illustrated by Mr. Kumar and Mr. Kumar or the sloth.

4. Reflect on what story means to you. What is “the better story” according to Pi? How does this relate to religion, to Pi’s life in general, and to truth?

5. The “official report” gathered by the Japanese investigators is supposed to be the “truth” but is filled with doubt.What does this suggest? ****Please keep in mind that these questions are to be based on the novel NOT the movie. The movie is very different from the novel. Thank you.   : ) ****

Answer 1

The Life of Pi

The Life of Pi is a Canadian Fantasy adventure novel written by Yann Martel. It is about an Indian boy who hails from Pondicherry, India. It is about how the boy explores practicality and spirituality from childhood.

1. What does the author tell us in the introduction? What expectations does it set?

The author tells us of how he came about to writing 'Life of Pi'. He talks about his two previous failures in his writing ventures. Then he details about how one of his books stayed on the shelves untouched and which had been catastrophic for sales. The author also says how it did not affect him because he had moved on to another storyline set in Portugal. He says how he dropped that storyline to take a break in Bombay, to write about a story set in Matheran. He goes on to stay how he journeyed a second time to India along the hill stations and slowly moved on to Pondicherry. He sets the tone of the story with the help of a conversation he has with an elderly Indian gentleman at a coffee shop who says that he has a story which will make the author believe in God. And thus the author sets the tone of the story and preps the author up for a nice story with an expectation that at the end of it the author would have a story worthy enough for sales or spirituality.

2. What religions does Pi practice? How does he find each? How does he describe each? What are some reactions to his multi-religious practices?

Pi practices Hinduism, Christianity & Islam.

He came across Hinduism as a child in Madurai. He talks about his visits to a temple has inspired and enchanted him. He describes about the smells and sights and the experience Hinduism has to behold a person. He talks about idol worship, rites & rituals, being a Brahman and the feeling of being in the sacred cosmic womb. He met with Christianity when he was fourteen years old. He talks about how he visited a church in Munnar for the first time and how he felt peace within the church. He talks about the resurrection of Christ and how it moved him to think about God's sacrifice for mankind. He ponders about the idea that Hinduism is like the flow of Ganges whereas Christianity is rushed. He then talks about how he came across Islam when he was 15. He talks about a man he met who shared bread with him, how he visited a mosque and felt an instant connection. He talks about how he felt when he saw a beautiful view and felt like an immortal.

By sixteen, the author was a fully practising Hindu, Christian and Muslim. This brought about some kind of confusion among the people from whom he was learning to practice these religions. They end up taunting and cursing each other about the drawbacks of each of their religions. The author's father ends up asking the author as to which religion he finally wants to follow - to which the author replies that he just wants to love God. This leaves the confused people stunned.

3. Explain how Pi’s twin concerns of theology and zoology are illustrated by Mr Kumar and Mr Kumar or the sloth.

Pi's concerns about theology and zoology come from the fact that his father once told him that the most dangerous animal is the one in the mirror. Mr Kumar & Mr Kumar - Pi comes across Satish Kumar, his teacher who is an atheist. He sees the zoo as his temple and has utmost reverence to it. the other Mr Kumar in the story is a baker who helps Pi with knowledge about Islam. As for the sloth, Pi feels that they are sage-like beings always in meditation. It is meant to help humans introspect rather than point fingers at others.

4. Reflect on what story means to you. What is “the better story” according to Pi? How does this relate to religion, to Pi’s life in general, and to the truth?

The story explores spirituality and the importance of it. Pi feels that it is better to be either a theist or an atheist rather than being an agnostic. He says that we all should have moments of doubt, but pass beyond it. According to Pi, neither stories make any difference to him because at the end of it his family dies and he suffers. But still, he prefers the one with animals. The story relates in such a way that spirituality and the practicality with which he was brought up hs helped him be courageous. It has helped him endure all the hardships that he has to, to survive the wreak. It is essentially a story that shows the limits of human endurance and the concept of survival of the fittest.

5. The “official report” gathered by the Japanese investigators is supposed to be the “truth” but is filled with doubt. What does this suggest?

As per the official report, it is not possible for a starved human to survive for so long at sea with an adult Bengal tiger for company. There seemed to be no storm warnings in that area and as per Pi's interrogation reports, the explosion that he heard might have been the engine blast. In spite of all this, since there's not enough evidence to confirm the cause for the sinking of the ship. This suggests that in spite of whether or not Pi's story is true, or which of his two stories is true - The courage and endurance of the sole survivor, Patel has been identified as one of the rarest of rare cases of escape from a shipwreck. They also decide to close the case with the settlement of insurance. This suggests that there is immense respect for the struggle that Pi has gone through.