Friday’s Essential Question In what ways is Pi’s chosen name a reflection of his spiritual self?

Summary Discussion Question We began class by discussing the symbolic value of Pi’s name and its relation to spirituality. We have located evidence in the text that clearly supports the idea that Pi is seeking spiritual knowledge by examining the religions of the world. In religious studies, the term universalism is used to define the belief that truth and spiritual knowledge are available in many of the religious traditions of the world. In what ways do Pi’s religious beliefs seem to fit the ideas of universalism? Provide textual evidence to support your response

Work Period Read Chapters 22 – 36 and be prepared to explain your designated chapter(s) to the class. Remember to discuss who is telling the story, who owns the story, and briefly describe what we learn about Pi.

Summary Chapter 22 suggests that the atheist is closer to faith than the agnostic. Chapter 23 describes the time all of Pi’s religious teachers met him at the same time, with his family, and had a nasty argument over which faith he followed and which is better.

Summary Chapter 24 describes how Ravi teased Pi for his attempt to follow multiple faiths. Chapter 25 speaks in general terms about the need to defend God from the inside. Chapter 26 and 27 describe Pi’s parents’ attmept to distract Pi from religion and to put religion within human constraints. Pi’s family laughs at him, then come, eventually to a kind of truce with his faith. Chapter 28 describes Pi’s baptism and indicates that religion and water are linked for him and that both are refreshing and life.

summary Chapter 29, Mr. Patel decides to move his family out of India (to Canada) due to the political upheaval in India. In chapter 30 the author meets Pi’s wife. The author realizes that Pi is no longer alone – that he has formed a new family – and that he has missed the many signs of Pi’s character. Chapter 31 the two Mr. Kumars both come to the zoo, where they view animals, meet one another, and each feed the same zebra.

Summary Chapter 32 pi explains zoomorphism: animals adopting other, different animals (or human) as their own. Chapter 33 Pi shows the author photos from his past. The author notes that Pi is smiling in the photos taken since his rescue but that his eyes tell a different story. There are only four photos from Inida, which Mamaji sent to Pi. None are of his family, and Pi can hardly remember what his mother looks like.

summary Chapter 34 is a comic review of the main bureaucratic and economic obstacles In chapter 35, the Patels, especially Mrs. Pate, say their emotional farewells to their country. In chapter 36 the author meets the rest of Pi’s family: his son, daughter, cat, and dog.