PreAP English 2 Austin High School

 Copy of passage from Life of Pi  RAW Book  Pencil  Highlighter

 Today, we will do a close reading of a passage from Life of Pi. Follow along with the class and annotate your copy of the passage.  Objectives:  Read closely  Annotate a passage  Analyze the passage for the “Big 5” – diction, detail, imagery, syntax, point of view – as well as tone and theme

 Deeper reading  Clarify understanding of the text  Call attention to important features  Prepare to write about a text  Aid in memory of the text  Facilitate analysis of the writing style  Academic skill that can also be useful in the workplace – more and more jobs require advanced reading skills

 Label a new page in your RAW Book with today’s date and the title “Life of Pi Passage Analysis.”  Number the paragraphs 1 – 3.  Follow along as I read aloud.

 What is the gist of this passage?  THINK: Write a brief summary of what the passage is about in your RAW book.  PAIR: Tell your partner what you wrote.  SHARE: Discuss as a class. Add any important details to your summary.

 In paragraph 1, what verb is repeated four times? Find it and underline it.

 The repeated word is “imagine.”  What is the connotation of “imagine” as it is used four times in this passage?  Annotate your thoughts.

 “They imagine this wild animal roaming about the savannah…”  “They imagine this animal overseeing its offspring proudly and tenderly…”  “The life of the wild animal is simple, noble, and meaningful, they imagine.  “So some people imagine.”  Pi says such people are “well-meaning but misinformed.” What they imagine about the animals is false.  Repeating this word four times emphasizes that their idea of a “simple, noble, and meaningful” life exists only in their imagination, not in the wild.

 In paragraph 1, underline words placed in quotation marks or parentheses.  What is the effect of placing these words in quotation marks / parentheses?  THINK: Annotate your ideas to the question above.  PAIR: Discuss your ideas with your partner.  SHARE: Share your ideas with the class.

 The novel is written primarily in 1 st person (“I”), focusing on Pi’s point of view. However, in these paragraphs, Pi writes about the perspective of others.  Take note of the pronouns in paragraph 1. What is the point of view of most of the sentences?  “They” = 3 rd person

 Whose perspective is Pi sharing in this paragraph?  Annotate “POV” on the left-hand column next to paragraph 1.  POV 3 rd person: people who criticize zoos

 Highlight vivid images of animals.  Share out – what did you mark?

 In the margin, annotate the images you marked.  What is the effect of this diction and imagery?  For example…

 “They imagine this wild animal roaming about the savannah on digestive walks after eating a prey that accepted its lot piously, or going for callisthenic runs to stay slim after overindulging.”  Silly images of personified animal – people worry about their weight, not animals. Animals do not “roam” for pleasure or exercise.  “Pious” = religious connotations are ironic – an animal of prey would run / fight for its life, not “martyr” itself for a greater good Now you do it! Annotate the imagery in paragraph 1.

 Paragraph 2 is one brief sentence. What is the effect?  THINK: Annotate your answer.  PAIR: Tell your partner what you think.  SHARE: Share out what you discussed with your partner.

 In paragraph 3, circle the word “species,” which is used twice.  Why use this word? Annotate the connotations of “species” as used in this passage.

 Highlight details in paragraph 3 that describe animals and people.  What did you highlight? Share out.  What is the effect of these details? Annotate.

 What is Pi’s attitude toward people who criticize zoos? Support your answer with evidence from the passage. (Refer to things you’ve annotated.)  Write your answer in the RAW book.

 Good work!  Today, you built a foundation for further analysis to come.  Glue your annotated passage into your RAW book.