Life of Pi (chapters 24-39)

What is the significance of the meeting of the two Mr. Kumars?(30/32)

1. What is the significance of the meeting of the two Mr. Kumars? Mr. Kumar, the teacher, represents pure science. In the past, he has asserted that he does not believe in God, only in science. Mr. Kumar, the baker, is a devout Muslim. He thinks that God manifests himself in nature. Both men admire the zebras, so their meeting represents the symbolic meeting of science and spirituality.

What is suggested by Pi's telling the author that everything from before the family's emigration was "lost"?(33/34)

Again, all of the evidence so far indicates that, between India and Canada, Pi experienced a tremendous loss and a severe break with his past.

What point(s) is Pi establishing with his accounts of zoomorphism and unusual cohabitations of prey and predator?(31/32)

Clearly the novel is going to involve an odd cohabitation and the creation of a "herd" by an odd combination of creatures.

Why is the real reason Pi's mother worries about the brand names of items available in Canada? How does this advance a theme that has already been suggested?(35)

Concern over the brand names available is Mrs. Patel's way of expressing her apprehension about leaving everything familiar behind and facing an entirely new life in a new country and culture. Just as Pi said earlier that an animal removed from its known environment will become anxious, Pi's mother, preparing to leave her familiar surroundings, is reacting in a similar manner.

What ironies does Pi point out in this chapter?(24/25)

First, Pi mentions the irony of mere humans believing they need to defend and protect the Almighty. Then, he reflects on the irony that, now that it is known he is a practitioner of more than one religion, he is made to feel unwelcome at all of them.

To what does Pi compare his baptism—being sprinkled with a beaker-full of water?(28/29)

He compares it to a refreshing monsoon rain.

How old is Pi when he and his family embark for Canada?(35)

He is 16 years old.

What does Pi's wife do for a living?(30)

Meena is a pharmacist.

What causes the Patel family to leave India?(28/29)

Mr. Patel is alarmed by the fact that Mrs. Ghandi, the president of India, completely destroys the government of Tamil Nadu, the Indian state that includes Pondicherry. He thinks that Mrs. Ghandi has too much power and will eventually turn India into a police state. He thinks that he has no choice but to leave India.

What biological theory does Mr. Patel's attitude toward technology resemble? Why is this significant?(27)

Mr. Patel says that one must adapt to new technology or go the way of the dinosaur, echoing Darwin's theory of evolution. This is significant because it equates human society and the need for the species to adapt with the natural world and the need to be able to adapt.

What surprises the narrator in this chapter?(36)

Pi has a son, a daughter, and a dog. The narrator said earlier that Pi hides everything precious to him; he seems to have kept his family hidden.

What does Pi mean when he says, "the ship vanished into a pinprick hole on my map"?(37-38

Pi has told us he bought a map of the world to chart the family's voyage. His comparison of the ship's sinking to a "pinprick" suggests the smallness of the ship compared to the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.

How does Pi's survival illustrate his belief in the triumph of faith over reason?(39-40)

Pi notes that he is orphaned and alone, has a tiger in front of him, sharks beneath him, and a storm raging all around him. He says that if he had thought rationally about it, he would have given up, but that "God only knows" why he struggled to survive.

Why does zoomorphism occur? What does Pi's explanation foreshadow?(31/32)

Pi thinks that zoomorphism happens because it is the only way for animals to make sense of their lives. For example, in the story Pi tells about the lion cubs bonding with a dog, he says that if the lions knew that their mother was dead, they would be sad. By bonding with another mother, even if it is a dog, they can better cope with their situations. Again, this explanation foreshadows a series of events involving loss and the need for those left behind to rebuild new groups and make sense of their lives.

What is, ironically, the difference between the author's account (in italics) and Pi's?(33/34)

Pi's account is factual and detailed. The author's account is sentimental.

In addition to religion, what outside influence begins to impose itself on Pi's family in this chapter? What plot event is clearly overshadowed?(27)

Politics, especially the political situation in India, begins to impose itself on the lives of Pi's family. The family's emigration to Canada is clearly foreshadowed.

What is it that causes Pi's mother to look weary and to sigh, "Good grief" by the end of this chapter?(26)

She is exhausted from trying to debate a matter of faith from a rational standpoint.

Upon meeting Pi's son and daughter, the writer says that "this story has a happy ending." Why does the writer need to say this?(36)

Some great tragedy has been hinted at, so the scene of cozy domestic life may be coming after some family tragedy.

Why does Yann Martel make this chapter about Ravi's teasing Pi so short, with so relatively few examples and a general dismissal at the end? (24/25)

The adult Pi already knows the end of the story he is telling. Memory of his brother and their relationship is painful.

Why does Pi make a point of telling us the animals' reactions to the political situation in India?(28/29)

The fact that the animals neither know nor care about world politics illustrates the irrelevance of such matters to real life.

How does Martel manage to provide a note of humor even during this tense and suspenseful episode?(36-38)

The final several sentences, in which Pi says he trusted the crew and then admits casually, "Only when they threw me overboard did I begin to have doubts" are mildly humorous.

How is Pi's survival more an act of Providence than human action?(39-40)

The life boat Pi falls into is still attached to the ship and will sink when the ship sinks. It is only when the zebra jumps into the boat that the animal's weight and the force of his falling detaches the boat from the ship so Pi will be safe.

What is the primary conflict in this chapter, represented by Pi, his father, and his mother?(26)

The primary conflict is among faith, apathy, and reason. Pi represents faith, and he sees the similarities in the three religions rather than the differences. Pi's father represents bafflement or apathy. He makes a vague attempt to protest Pi's position but ultimately simply sends Pi away. Pi's mother represents reason. She tries to reason with Pi, offer analogies, and ultimately exhausts herself in her inability to dissuade him from his beliefs.

How does Yann Martel begin this section of the novel on a surprising and suspenseful note?(37-38)

The section begins with Pi encouraging Richard Parker and urging him to swim to the life boat. Then, it is suddenly revealed, almost as Pi himself realizes it, that Richard Parker is a Bengal tiger, and now Pi must share the life boat with him.

What is the surprise that Pi has for the writer at his home?(30)

The writer meets Pi's wife, Meena. Until now, the writer did not know that Pi was married.

Why has Pi not mentioned that he is married?(30)

The writer says that "life has taught [Pi] not to show off what is most precious to him." Along with the hints we had earlier, this is further evidence that Pi has experienced a great loss.

What important part of the plot does Chapter 38 provide?(37-38)

This chapter contains mostly exposition, the story of how the ship sank and Pi came to be the only survivor.

What do we learn about Richard Parker from the photograph that Pi shows the author?(33/34)

We learn nothing. We are not given so much as a physical description or a mention of age, size, etc.