LITERATURE

Life of Pi
by Yann Martel

STUDY GUIDE

written by
Elizabeth Herselman
Bronwen Louw

with extra material by

Jason Esch
Contents
How the exam works ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Assessment in Grade 12 ........................................................................................................................... 4
Tips for dealing with novels in the literature exam .................................................... 5

About the novel

The author: Yann Martel ..................................................................................................................................... 7
The genre ............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Background and setting ..................................................................................................................................... 8
The narrators ................................................................................................................................................................... 8
The structure of the novel ................................................................................................................................ 9
Summary of the plot ........................................................................................................................................... 10
Illustrated plot summary .............................................................................................................................. 13
The plot in time ......................................................................................................................................................... 26
Language .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Symbolism ...................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Themes ............................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Characters ...................................................................................................................................................................... 38

Questions and help

Revision ............................................................................................................................................................................. 42
Quiz .............................................................................................................................................................................. 42
Match the columns ....................................................................................................................................... 43
Quotations .............................................................................................................................................................. 43
Crossword puzzle ........................................................................................................................................ 44
Parallel stories ................................................................................................................................................. 45
Example contextual questions ............................................................................................................... 46
How to approach an essay ........................................................................................................................... 53
Analyse the question ................................................................................................................................ 53
Plan your essay ............................................................................................................................................... 53
Write your essay ............................................................................................................................................ 54
Check and edit your essay ................................................................................................................. 54
Example essay questions .............................................................................................................................. 55
Example test ................................................................................................................................................................ 57

Answers and help

Suggested answers .............................................................................................................................................. 58
Revision ................................................................................................................................................................... 58
Suggested answers .............................................................................................................................................. 61
Example contextual questions ...................................................................................................... 61
Suggested answers .............................................................................................................................................. 67
Example essay questions .................................................................................................................... 67
Suggested answers .............................................................................................................................................. 78
Example test ...................................................................................................................................................... 78
Glossary of instruction words ................................................................................................................. 79
Indexed glossary of literary terms ..................................................................................................... 79
 ­  7

About the novel

The author: Yann Martel
Yann Martel was born in Salamanca, Spain, in 1963 to French-speaking
Canadian parents. French is still Martel’s first language but he prefers to
Word check
write in English. Because his father, Émile, was a diplomat, Martel lived bildungsroman coming-
of-age novel
in numerous countries during his childhood. After completing high
magical realism fantasy
school and university in Canada, he travelled and did odd jobs before
elements in a realistic setting
becoming a writer at the age of 27. Some of what he writes in the
autobiographical based on the
Author’s note to Life of Pi is true: his first two books did not really make author’s life
any money and this led to Martel feeling as though he had not memoir a personal account of
accomplished anything. At the age of 33 he really was in India working someone’s life and memories
on his third novel and realised that it was not going to work. What is not
true in the Author’s note is how he came to write the novel Life of Pi. The
narrator tells us that he was given the lead to the remarkable story of Pi’s
survival by Pi’s old family friend who put him in contact with Pi, but in
reality Martel was inspired by a review he had read of a novella called
Max and the Cats. Once the idea for his own story came to him, he had
the outline of it within half an hour. He then spent the next few years
doing extensive research on religions, animals and zoos. The truth of
how he came to write the novel is certainly less interesting than the Tip
version he provides in the Author’s note which reminds us of one of Pi’s Remember that you are
questions “Which is the better story?” This, along with the other being examined on
important issues that Life of Pi raises, made it such a compelling novel Martel’s novel and not the film
version of his novel. The film
that it soon became an international bestseller. Not only has it sold more
differs in places from the novel
than 12 million copies, it has been awarded some of the most prestigious so an examiner will know if you
book awards in the world and has been made into a film by Ang Lee. Due refer to the film.
to the success of Life of Pi, Martel has been made scholar-in-residence at
Saskatchewan University in Canada where he continues to write and
where he lives with Alice Kuipers and their three children.

The genre
Life of Pi ticks several boxes in terms of genre, both fiction and non-
fiction. In terms of fiction, it is a coming-of-age novel (known as a
bildungsroman) as well as an adventure, because it features the
journey of a young person. It is a post-colonial novel with its diverse
cultural flavour. It is a work of magical realism in which fantasy
elements, such as humanlike animals and a cannibalistic island, appear
in a realistic setting. In terms of non-fiction, the initial Author’s note is
partially autobiographical, drawing on the experience of author Yann
Martel in his backpacking journey through Pondicherry, the extensive
commentary on animal behaviour makes it read like a documentary,
while the concluding interview scripts are another non-fiction genre.
Further, the first-person narration makes it read like a memoir. Martel’s
clever intertwining of fiction and non-fiction, in a realistic setting, forces
the reader to consider the nature of storytelling and truth.
10 About the novel

Summary of the plot

Author’s note Toronto, Canada and Pondicherry, India
Author’s note Struggling to write a popular novel, the Author goes to Pondicherry, India. Here he meets
Present day (1996) Francis Adirubasamy who tells him that he knows someone who has a story that will make him
believe in God. The Author contacts Mr Patel, the storyteller, who now lives in Canada.
Part 1 Toronto, Canada and Pondicherry, India
Chapters 1 and 2 Mr Pi Patel, now about 40 years old, tells the Author about his education in religious studies
Toronto, Canada and zoology. He remembers being in a Mexican hospital with swollen legs and scarred skin. Pi
Present day mentions Richard Parker.

Chapters 3 to 5 Mr Patel begins retelling his story. Father and Mamaji (Francis Adirubasamy) love swimming
Pi’s early life pools so he is named Piscine (meaning “swimming pool” in French) Molitor Patel. Mamaji
Pondicherry, India teaches Piscine to swim. His father and mother never learnt to swim.
Past Father runs the Pondicherry Zoo (Zootown). Piscine is deeply fond of animals and lives the life
of a prince playing in his menagerie, the zoo. When Piscine leaves St Joseph’s School and goes
to Petit Séminaire, he changes his nickname from Pissing Patel to Pi because he hates being
teased about his name.
Chapter 6 The Author observes that Pi’s kitchen is over stocked with a full spice rack, jam-packed
Toronto, Canada cupboards and mountains of cans and packages.
Present day
Chapters 7 to 11 Pi’s favourite subject at school is biology. His favourite teacher, Mr Kumar, is a communist and
Lessons about an atheist and views religion as darkness. The zoo is Mr Kumar’s temple.
animals Father teaches Pi and Ravi a lesson in the dangers of anthropomorphising the animals. He tells
Pondicherry, India them that they are never, under any circumstances, to touch a tiger. He makes them watch the
Past starved 550-pound tiger, Mahisha, attack and devour a goat. The boys are hysterical. Father tells
Pi and Ravi that life always defends itself; every animal is dangerous.
Pi describes life at the zoo. The most dangerous animal there is Man because of how people
terrorise the animals. Each animal has its own flight distance, which allows it to live comfortably
in a zoo enclosure.
Chapter 12 The Author notes that Pi gets agitated retelling his story. He adds that Pi is a sweet man,
Toronto, Canada tormented by his memories, especially of Richard Parker.
Present day
Chapters 13 and 14 Lions in zoos will not attack people who enter their enclosure because the lions are hungry.
Training animals Rather, they do so because the people have invaded their territory. This is why lion tamers enter
Pondicherry, India the circus ring before the lions: to establish their territory, which they reinforce with loud noises.
Past
Chapter 15 The Author notes that every room in Pi’s house is adorned with Hindu, Muslim and Christian
Toronto, Canada ornaments. His home is his temple.
Present day
Chapters 16 to 20 Auntie Rohini introduces Pi to Hinduism, which allows him to understand the universe.
Pi’s religions According to Pi, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam all believe in their own sort of Karma. Pi is
Pondicherry, India introduced to Christianity while on holiday in Munnar, India. He is drawn to the church because
of Christ’s humility. Back home, Pi peeks into the Great Mosque and sees Muslims praying for
Past
the first time. A quiet Muslim man, Mr Kumar, a baker, introduces Pi to Islam.
Chapter 21 Compared to Pi’s life, the Author reflects that his life – characterised by glum contentment –
Toronto, Canada lacks purpose.
Present day
Chapters 22 to 28 Pi is pressured by his priest, imam and pandit to choose a religion. His parents agree and Ravi
Pi’s decision on makes fun of his faiths. Pi avoids his religious leaders.
religion He is baptised a Christian and gets an Islamic prayer rug.
Pondicherry, India
Past
14 About the novel
38 About
38 About the the novel
novel

The characters
Characters

Piscine Molitor Patel

Young Pi Adult Pi The Author
Protagonist in India In Canada in 1990s; Writes the story
and on the lifeboat tells the Author his insightful; honest;
in 1970s survival story enlightening;
gentle; kind; loving; Older Pi’s family partly fictitious,
vegetarian; religious; animal- and • Meena Patel: Pi’s wife partly the real author: Yann Martel
nature-loving; intelligent; practical; • Nikhil (Nick): Pi’s teenage son
determined; sensitive; quick-witted; – confident
funny; wise; keenly aware of beauty • Usha: Pi’s four-year-old daughter
and colour – shy

On boat
Teachers Family
Richard Parker
Satish Kumar Santosh Patel Tiger; apparent
Pi’s biology teacher Pi’s father; zoo owner; antagonist/Pi’s alter
polio survivor; dies in 1977 when ship ego on the lifeboat
odd-looking, sinks 450 pounds; nine feet
triangle-shaped body; cautious; not long; carnivorous; ferocious;
scientific; atheist; communist religious; modern; firm an alpha male submissive to Pi

Father Martin Gita Patel Orange Juice

Catholic priest; Pi’s mother; killed by Orang-utan on
lives in Munnar cook lifeboat; killed by
kind; religious book-lover; calm; hyena
loving; gentle but firm; maternal; humanlike
courageous when lonely and seasick;
Satish Kumar courageous
Muslim Sufi; baker Ravi
devout; nondescript Pi’s older brother; Zebra/Taiwanese
dies in 1977 when ship sailor
sinks On the lifeboat; killed
sports-lover; playful; by hyena/cook
Hindu pandit tease gentle; young;
Patel family’s beautiful; exotic; injured;
spiritual leader tormented; vulnerable
offended
Francis Hyena/French
Adirubasamy cook
Pi’s honorary uncle; On the lifeboat; French
connects the Author cook/ castaway blind
to Pi Frenchman; killed by
called Mamaji (respected uncle); Richard Parker/Pi
champion swimmer ugly; violent; dangerous;
unpredictable; carnivorous;
cannibalistic; murderous/
desperately hungry
Japanese officials
Investigate sinking of Tsimstum; hear both stories
Tomohiro Okamoto Atsuro Chiba
Japanese Ministry of Transport official Okamoto’s junior colleague
sceptical; impatient; rude; businesslike naïve; trusting; inexperienced
46 Example contextual questions

Example contextual
questions
Question 1

Read the Author’s note on page 6 from “He took in my line of work with
Note
a widening of the eyes” to “there was a zoo in the Pondicherry Botanical
There is not enough space
Garden”. Then answer these questions.
to have all the extracts for
1. Place this passage in context by describing where the Author/ these contextual questions
narrator is and why he is there. (3) included here. Refer to your
2. a) State the Author/narrator’s line of work. (1) copy of the novel. Do not worry,
though. You will get copies of
b) What does the widening of Mr Adirubasamy’s eyes suggest
the extracts for contextual
to the Author/narrator about his listener’s opinion of his questions in tests and
profession? (2) examinations.
c) Is the Author/narrator’s interpretation of Mr Adirubasamy’s
opinion of his profession correct? Give a reason for your
answer. (3)
3. Compare the Author/narrator’s religious beliefs to those of
Mr Adirubasamy. Support your answer by quoting from the passage. (4) Tip
4. The Author/narrator refers to Christianity (“two thousand In a question like 2c, you
years ago”) and Islam (“seventh century Arabia”) as though they must first state Yes or No.
are two entirely separate belief systems. How does this contrast to You will not be awarded a mark
for saying Yes or No. Marks are
Pi’s beliefs depicted in the novel as a whole? (2)
awarded for substantiating/
5. Using what you know about Mr Adirubasamy’s role in Pi’s life, motivating your response.
explain why it is fitting that he be the one to lead the Author/
narrator to Pi. (3)
6. “Once upon a time there was a zoo ...”
Explain how this statement introduces the novel’s important
theme of storytelling and the listener/reader’s belief in these stories. (4)
7. What is the outcome of this encounter between the Author/
narrator and Mr Adirubasamy? (2)
8. Why do you think the Author/narrator has included this
encounter in the Author’s note? (1)
[25]

Question 2
Read Chapter 5, page 29 from “I repeated the stunt with every teacher”
to the end of the chapter. Then answer these questions.
1. Describe the “stunt” to which Pi is referring. (3)
2. “Repetition is important in the training of animals but also
of humans.”
a) State the reason Pi knows so much about the training of
animals. (1)
b) Explain fully how his knowledge of training animals later
saves Pi’s life. (3)
c) In your view, is Pi suggesting that humans and animals are
similar in some respects? Substantiate your response. (2)
 ­  55

Example essay questions

The questions on this page and the next are not a complete list of
Tip
example essay questions. However, if you are familiar with the themes
Do not try to memorise
and characters in the novel, and you have thought about how the events,
model essay answers.
characterisation and imagery support the themes, you should be well Rather practise answering essay
prepared to tackle any essay question. questions by setting aside an
For Home Language, essay answers should be between 400 and 450 hour per essay. Then analyse,
words in length. plan, draft and write the essay
in the alloted time.

Essay topics
Question 1
Analyse Question 1, Topics A–D. You will see that they are four different
questions covering very similar topics. The answers will show you
that when you know the story well, you can tailor the details to
fit the question.

Topic A
Ultimately, Life of Pi shows us that the will to survive is powerful.
Pi is resourceful and resilient in the face of enormous odds.
Examine how Pi ensures his survival under trying circumstances. [25]

Topic B
The story of the various animals on the lifeboat is merely a way for
Pi to protect himself from the horrors he discovers humans are
capable of when under extreme conditions. Evaluate this statement in
the light of the second story that Pi gives the Japanese investigators. [25]

Topic C
“I was giving up. I would have given up – if a voice hadn’t made
itself heard in my heart. The voice said, ‘I will not die. I refuse it.
I will make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds, as great
as they are. I have survived so far, miraculously. Now I will turn
miracle into routine. The amazing will be seen every day.’”
Discuss the elements of Pi’s animal story that are incredible and
therefore “hard to believe”. [25]

Topic D
“I know what you want. You want a story that won’t surprise you. Tip
That will confirm what you already know. That won’t make you In order to fit a quote into
see higher or further or differently.” Pi tells two stories, one with a sentence, adjust the
animals and one without animals, about his survival. Evaluate pronouns (first or third person),
the concord, the tense and/or
which one you think is “the better story”. [25]
the punctuation so that it fits
the grammar of sentence.
62 Suggested answers

Even his primary school teachers slipped up humans through her compassion toward
and mispronounced his name . (3) the sailor and Pi . The cook is vicious and
5. Following Pi’s lead, the other boys also give bloodthirsty/represents what is evil as is
themselves names which are letters in the seen in his cannibalising of the Taiwanese
Greek alphabet . These are used as symbols in sailor and the murder of Pi’s mother . Pi
engineering  (and maths and science). (2) shows us that humans are capable of both
good and evil . He helps his mother to
6. He is captain of the cricket team . (1)
care for the sailor but also kills and eats the
7. Ravi is used to being the popular (the word cook in order to save his own life . (4)
“lackeys” tells us this) older brother  who has
7. a) Pi’s father puts a goat in a tiger’s cage and
a say in Pi’s life at school (“It’s all right with
forces the boys to watch the tiger eat the
me”) . However, he is not particularly mean
goat . (1)
and their banter is typical of the kind of good-
natured teasing that many siblings participate in . (3) b) He wants them to realise how dangerous
tigers are . (1)
8. It seems contradictory  to base our
understanding of the universe on a number c) He loves his sons and wants to protect
that is not a rational number . This suggests them , even if it means showing them
that there must be something illogical or something harsh or cruel . (2)
irrational behind the workings of the universe . (3) d) Although Pi gives Richard Parker human
attributes  throughout the story of his
ordeal on the lifeboat, his choice of a tiger
Question 3 (page 47) to represent himself  shows us that there
1. a) He paints the word in bright red letters  is something
that grab the viewer’s attention. He poses a vicious and animal-like in all humans 
question  that makes the visitors curious (a kind of reverse anthropomorphism). (3)
as to what the answer could be. He has an
arrow pointing to a curtain (covering the
mirror), which also stimulates curiosity
Question 4 (page 48)
because the answer is hidden . (3) 1. “inflamed” ; “apoplectic”  (2)
b) The curtain has to be replaced regularly 2. India allows its citizens to practice/follow
because it gets damaged from over use . (1) whatever religion they choose to./In India
2. People feed dangerous objects to the animals there is no legal persecution on the basis
(like fishhooks, razors, nails) . At times of faith./There is supposed to be religious
people are actively cruel, for example they tolerance . (1)
smash birds’ beaks, break monkeys’ arms 3. Pi respects and admires the wisdom of all three
and deliberately injure the animals in other men . It is also a reference to the “three wise
ways . Some animals are stolen for food or for men” of the Christian nativity story . These
religious reasons . Others are fed the wrong men were not Christians but they recognised
food (such as sweets) by foolish people with Jesus as God, showing that different beliefs are
good intentions . People also do silly things all in search of God . (3)
that endanger themselves such as the lady 4. a) simile  (1)
who waved her sari in the lion’s face and was
subsequently caught by the lion . (any THREE) (3) b) The simile suggests that their fingers are
like exclamation marks  showing that the
3. It means to give human qualities to animals/to men are emphatic or determined   to prove
see animals in a human light/to view animals as that they are correct. (2)
thinking and behaving the way that people do . (1)
5. The fact that all three say exactly the same
4. The Author/narrator is indicating that animals thing at the same time and use precisely the
are not really (or necessarily) cute or friendly same gestures  shows that they are more
or devoted . These are characteristics that similar than they like to think . (2)
humans have attributed to the animals . (2)
6. The three men believe that their respective
5. They attack these animals because they see religions are the one and only truth/path to
them as vicious  since they kill the animals God . They believe that all other religions
these people consider to be cute . (2) are wrong and view them with suspicion
6. a) Pi is inferring that people are both “loving”, and mistrust . Pi, on the other hand, feels
“devoted” etc., as well as “bloodthirsty”, a strong connection to the Divine and
“depraved” etc. . When people give these experiences all the religions that he practices
attributes to animals, they are merely as strengthening his faith . To him the
transferring  these elements of their own symbols and rituals of each religion are
personalities onto them. (2) a means to maintaining a connection to
b) On the boat, Pi’s mother is loving and the universal divine presence, rather than
protective, not only towards Pi but also having meaning in and of themselves/the
to the poor wounded Taiwanese sailor./ individual dogmas are less important than the
Pi’s mother represents what is good about experiences of love and connection . (4)
 ­  67

Suggested answers
Example essay questions
These answers show you different ways of approaching an essay. They are
suggestions. You could add other information, or argue a different opinion as
long as you substantiate it with facts from the novel. Essays are assessed using
a rubric similar to the one on the website: www.oxford.co.za/9780190441715.

Question 1 (page 55)

Questions 1A–D cover the same topic area but in four different ways. Knowing
the details of the two stories well allows you to tailor these details after
analysing the question. Essentially this means that you need to change the
introduction and conclusion and adjust the arrangement and slant of the
content to fit the question.

Topic A
Analyse the question.
Action word: Examine
Subject matter: survival; being resourceful and resilient; trying circumstances
Limitations/specifications: Pi only (no other characters)

For Topic A, the temptation is to focus only on the trying circumstances. But how
Pi survives the ordeal is really through his storytelling of the animals on the
lifeboat.

The theme of survival is at the heart of the novel Life of Pi. The
protagonist faces enormous challenges when shipwrecked on the
emigration trip from India to Canada, leaving him stranded on a lifeboat
for nearly eight months. His ordeal makes him use every physical, Introduction: State what you will
emotional and psychological weapon at his disposal in order to survive. do; mention the areas you will
These weapons include psychological warfare through the simple act of cover.
storytelling. Not only must he survive being shipwrecked, he must also
survive what he resorts to doing in order to survive and live with the
survivor’s guilt and memories.

Body: This is the “do” part of your

essay. Use PEE: Point + Evidence +
Pi lives through a gruesome cannibalistic horror story and then tells an Explanation (linking evidence to
incredible animal story in order to survive his reality. He literally story- point.)
tells to survive. He has faith and thus seems to believe his storytelling .
His storytelling allows him to tap into his humour and creativity, essential Explain the value of storytelling
in surviving nearly eight months alone at sea. In his animal version, he is and faith.
never alone.
He creates an alternative persona in this story with animals. The tiger,
Richard Parker is his stronger carnivorous self who will protect his gentle State Pi’s link to Richard Parker as
vegetarian self. The vegetarian self is empowered as the alpha and begins it is essential to any understanding
to take care of the omega, and the tiger in return protects him. of the two stories.
Pi creates a whole world of animals : a majestic but wounded zebra to
represent a young Taiwanese sailor with a broken leg; a maternal orang-
utan to represent his mother; a ferocious scavenging hyena to represent Describe the animals and their
the cruel cannibalistic cook; and the tiger, Richard Parker, as Pi. He does human counterparts.
this in order to explain the murders and cannibalism in terms of hunger
and instinct instead of inhumane cruelty.
The trying circumstances of the story without animals, in which the
Taiwanese sailor, his mother, the French cook and Pi co-exist, is so brutal Trace the trying circumstances of
that Pi focuses on another reality which allows him to live with the very the story without animals.
real atrocities he commits, such as killing the cook and eating his liver.
Without the alternative story, his reality – horrors such as the cook killing
the sailor and using him for bait and eating him, or the cook killing Pi’s
mother before Pi kills the cook – would have killed him, either literally on Trace the horrors of the story
board the lifeboat or afterwards from the torment of the cannibal without animals.
survivor’s guilt.