Modern Fiction

Synopsis Life of Pi is a fantasy adventure novel by Yann Martel published in 2001. The protagonist, Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, a Tamil boy from Pondicherry, explores issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. He survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a boat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

Source of the Text Written by: Yann Martel Genre: Fantastical realism Theme : Adventure First Published: September 2001 Settings: India, Pacific Ocean, an island, Mexico, Canada Main Characters: Piscine Molitor Patel (aka Pi), The Author, Richard Parker Movie Versions: Life of Pi (2012)

Character List Main Character : Molitor Patel (aka Pi), The Author, Richard Parker (aka Thirsty). Supporting Character : Mr. Adirubasamy, Santosh Patel, Ravi Patel, Gita Patel, Orange Juice, Tomohiro Okamoto, Atsuro Chiba, The Frenchman and the Cook, Meena Patel, Usha Patel, Mr. Kumar, Mr. Satish Kumar.

Main Character Characteristic Piscine Molitor Patel (aka Pi) : brave (page 59, 109), religious (page 16, page 102, page 111, page 142), dicipline (page 112), smart (page 5 and page 78), persistant (page 80), explorer (page 58), observer (page 106) Richard Parker (tiger) : submissive (page 109), respecting Pi dominance (page 112) Ravi Patel ( Pi Brother ): Like to cook (page 15), neat (Page 15), adventurer (page 58) Mr. Patel : Dicipline ( page 18) Mrs. Patel : Affectionate( page 18 and Page 21) Mr. Adirubasamy : friendly (page 2)

Point Of View First Person Narrator Because , an author’s note is a traditional literary device in which a book’s author briefly addresses his or her readers before proceeding to the main text readers at first might believe that the “voice” of the note is Yann Martel’s. In fact, the narrator of the author’s note seems to have a background that is similar, if not identical, to Martel’s. However, as the novel continues, The Author becomes more and more of a character, intruding with both brief and lengthy passages to explain his ongoing relationship with Pi and his experience of listening to Pi’s story. Eventually, readers realize that The Author is a fictional character who is relating a fictional experience.

THE ELEMENTS OF ENTRINSIC Religious Values : This novel tell us about different point of view in many religion. For example that in this novel since little Pi is seeking for divine figure in his life. And also he began to profess many religion (Hinduism, Catholicism, and finally Islam). Social Value: This novel tell us that the main character Pi can’t survive in the pacific ocean if he is alone. Culture Value : Pi is known for very culturistic and since little Pi parents always told many Indian Culture to him.

Relating to the Story of Life of PI with the Author’s Background Relating to the Biography of Yann Martel, he was inspired to write a story about sharing a lifeboat with a wild animal after reading a review of novella Max and the cats by Brazilian author Moacyr Scliar in The New york Times Book Review. According to Martel, Max and the Cats was, "as far as I can remember...about a zoo in Berlin run by a Jewish family. The year is 1933 and, not surprisingly, business is bad. The family decides to emigrate to Brazil. Alas, the ship sinks and one lone Jew ends up in a lifeboat with a black panther." (source : http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/13-fiction/556-life-of-pi-martel?start=1) He also spent his childhood living in a variety of different countries, including Costa Rica, France, India, Iran, Mexico, Turkey, Canada, and the United States. Actually he has travelled to India for twice, then he got inspiration in India, so he took the main character from India and the setting in many countries especially India, and Canada. Based on the interview in thecrimson.com , Yann Martel is a religius person, so that’s why he discussed about religion faith in his book.

SYMBOLIC Pi told the Japanese investigators a horrific factual version of his ordeal in Chapter 99. The Japanese investigators didn’t believe Pi was living in lifeboat with animals, so he tried to tell another story. He changed the animals as humans. The hyna as the cook and murderer of his mother, orangutan as Pi’s mother, and the Zebra as a poor sailor boy who broke his leg and also killed by the cook. Orange juice floats up the lifeboat looking like the Virgin Mary (Page 63).

Figure Of Speech Hyperbole : My heart was chilled to ice (Page 56) “How could you Santosh? They’re children! They’ll be scared for the rest of their lives.” (page 21) The darkness melted away from the sky. (page 61) Simile : “They’ll cut your trouhg your fingers with their beaks as if they were butter.” (page 22) Onaomatopoeia (is a word that sounds like what it is describing) When Pi blows the whistle at Richard Parker the sound is "TREEEEE!" (page 165) Personification : Yet everytime the hyena paused at the stern bench, my heart jumped. (page 65)

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