life of pi questions

how old is pi when him and his fam move to canada?

16

why does pi prefer praying outdoors?

he appreciates nature and sees God through nature.

why does mr kumar call the zoo his "temple"?

he see the animals as models of modern behavior. instead of holy books he looks to animals.

why does piscine like praying in the mosque?

he thinks its physically satisfying because they knell down and pray.

what has happened to pi at the beginning of chapter 37

the ship sinks

how do pi and ravi feel about moving to canada?

they dont know about canada and they dont wanna go there.

once again the point of view shifts from first person to third person. who do you think is speaking in chapter 6?

the author

who is the 1st speaker in the book? what kind of person does he seem to be? how con you tell?

the author. romantic. on a whim goes to india.

although pi goes to a christian school, he knows very little about Christianity. what are his first thoughts about the religion?

Christianity has a reputation for few Gods and great violence.

upon meeting pis son and daughter, the writer says that "this story has a happy ending" why does the writer need to say this?

assuring us that it all will be okay.

why does pi nat consider the fact that he will have to share the lifeboat with 2 large and potentially dangerous animals?

because he loves animals and hes more comfortable with animals than the ocean.

why does mr. kumar not believe in God?

because he prayed to God to cure his polio but medicine cured it.

according to pi, why do zoologists "commonly say...that the most dangerous animal in the zoo in man"?

because we are the ones who torment the animals and humans bring in dangerous things.

pi begins his discussion of religion with an examination of Hinduism, the first religion he practiced. using pis explanation as a basis, describe, in your own words, the concept of brahman nirguna.

brahman nirguna is the fundamental spiritual essences beyond human understanding.

why is pi scared when he realizes that all of the religious leaders have come to see him?

he doesn't tell each of them that he is studying the other religions.

what is the tone of his language as he describes the religious objects- does he sound pleased or disapproving?

he has a positive view.

it is natural thing for people to compare new concepts to what they already know. pis first religious expirences were in the hindu temple. now, he has been exposed to Christianity, and his new religion is difficult for him to understand. what is it about Christianity that confuses pi so much?

he has a problem with the fact that christians believe christ was the human body of god who allowed himself to be crucified for sins of all men.

the author of this book spends a lot of time explain both the human and animal experience of a zoo. why do you think that martel goes into such detail explaining how zoos work?

he has a strong connection to zoos and shows difference of man and nature

compare and contrast the ways pi comes to know hinduism, Christianity, and islam

he is finished by Christianity and islam because of violence. learns about each religion by one on one interaction

what can we determine about mr. patel from his tone?

he is gentle. intensely emotional. very interested and knowledgeable about animals.

in this chapter, we finally learn the full name of our narrator is Piscine Molitor Patel. how did he get this name and why is it significant.

he is named after mamaji's favorite pool in paris, he love to swim.

how does pis life change after word get out that he has been practicing several different religions?

he is no longer welcome at the great mosque, the darshon, and the catholic church

describe the relationship between pi and mr. kumar.

he is pis mentor and pi disagrees on the religion issue with him but he majors in zoology because of mr. kumar.

why does pi make a point of telling us the animals reactions to mr ghandis actions?

he is showing political debates do not affect animals at all.

if pi loves the fact that hinduism is so broad and that it takes into account the existence of god in all living things, what does he like most about Christianity?

he likes the humanity and christ is god incarnated.

why would pi want to save richard parker in the first place?

he loves all creatures and doesn't want to be alone.

what distinction does mr. patel make between the ocean and the swimming pool?

he ocean is uncontrollable while a swimming pool has a "proper rectangularity and formal flatness".

what words does each mr kumar say upon seeing the zebra? why does the author juxapose these 2 statements?

he says God is great in arabic. atheist say the latin name of the zebra. the point the author is trying to show is they both have incantations so they are parallel.

why is is father more willing to accept Christianity than islam? why is this ironic?

he says christians give india good schools and its ironic because he has progress and the new india.

why does zoomorphism occur?

he says its the only way animals can make snse of their lives and it helps him cope.

what argument does pi use when his parents say he must choose one religion and stick to it?

he says that mamaji is both an indian and french citizen so why cant he be a member of more than one religion

why does pi think richard parker does not try to kill the zebra?

he says tigers and hyenas

pis father thinks that it is important that pi and his brother, ravi, know how dangerous animals can be. what does mr. patel do to show his sons how dangerous tiger are? what theme of the book does this episode emphasize?

he starves the tiger and then puts a goat in the cage and makes his kids watch. this shows the difference between humans and animals.

explain what animals represent to mr. kumar and how his views on animals differ from pis?

he thinks animals are fine illustrations of science. pi sees them as a representative of order in the world and spiritual harmony.

pi shows the writer a picture of richard parker. what can we infer about richard parker, based upon this picture?

he thinks hes a person or schoolmate of pi because he sees a group of kids not an animal.

what is ironic about pis reaction to becoming a christian?

he thinks the hindu god is helping him find the christian god.

what does pi do to combat the changes in his life?

he tries to attend when there are others he can blend in with.

at first pi wants to save richard parker. then he pushes him away. why does pi do this?

he was scared richard parker might kill him.

what does pi mean when he says, "the ship vanished into a pinprick hole in my map"?

he was tracking their voyage on a map with pins.

why is pis father confused by pis religious devotion?

his father sees religion as old fashion and backwards

what detail does the author note in chapter 6?

his kitchen is jammed full

what does the narrator mean when he say that whomever he visits "bobs" on the "ocean of memory"?

his mind drifts occasionally and he is easy going about the story.

what is "flight distance"?

how close animal will let you get before it flees.

as opposed to brahman nirguna, what is brahman saguna?

it is God; mad manifest and physical things. God we can understand.

what is the problem with the tsimtsum that causes it to sink?

its a mystery.

what is the greater meaning in pis story about the mouse and the viper?

its an example of zoomorphism.

why would pi keep this surprise secret?

life has taught. pi not to show off what is most precious to him.

what is significant trait did the narrator and mamaji share?

love of swimming

hoe can a zookeeper minimize animals flight distance?

make your presence confortable

who 1st tells the author about mr. patel's story? how many storytellers does this make in the book so far?

mr. adirabasamy. the author. mr. adirabasamy.

analyze the description of mr. kumar in chapter 7. what language and imagery use to describe him?

mr. kumar represents abstract reasoning and is associated with theoretical concepts.

what were mr patel's 2 majors in college? what connection does he make between the 2?

patel majored in booth zoology and religious studies. he connects religious studies majors people who analyze religion, but will not commit to believing in God- in sloths; they are confused and hesitant.

why does mr. kumar love the zoo?

people with emotions cause problems but the zoo is orderly.

whom is the narrator is chapter 6 describing?

pi

what is humorous about the way pi greets mr kumar, the baker?

pi is rubbing, his eyes so he can see mr. kumar come into the zoo and he misses see in mr. kumar and them mr. kumar asks him what is wrong.

although each religious man fights for pi, what does pi want for himself?

pi says all religions are true; he just wants to love God.

what might be significant about the name of pi?

pi stood for a swimming pool.

describe pis argument with his mother in chapter 26.

pis mother says citizenship are 2 different things. but pi says if there is one religious nation then all ways of getting to it should be okay.

what is the surprise that pi has for the writer at his home?

pis wife meena

briefly outline each religious mans argument for his own religion and against the other two

priest: there is salvation only in Jesus. God is truly with us and Christ is alive. he refers to muhammad as an illiterate merchant and tells imam that his God is dead. imam: hindus enslave people. hindus and christians are idolaters. christians strayed from Gods path and Christianity is a circus with dead people out of toombs all the time.

what does ice cream seem to symbolize in chapter 23?

secular, unremarkable, werk a day world.

why does pis mom really worry about he brand name of items in canada?

she doesnt know things there. something new she has to learn.

what do we find out about pi in chapter 33?

she is prolly dead and he has no contact with her anymore.

what qualities does pi show in choosing to change his own name? what kind of person is pi patel?

shows his will to survive and he can take control.

how does chapter 38 begin?

starts with words i don't understand; present, still having a hard time with his story.

does mr patel support or oppose technology?

support, they must adapt to technology or die.

near the ned of this chapter, the story makes an abrupt change. we started the chapter with the narrator talking about his love of animals and his personal beliefs about God. at the end of the chapter, however, he begins talking about doctors, nurses, and his medical health. what do you think the author is trying to convey here?

the author is foreshadowing that the narrator has some sort of medical trauma.

compare and contrast the first time pi goes into the catholic church in munnar with the last time he goes there.

the first time he feels like he is gunna be kicked out because he is not christian. after he feels like it is his house too.

what can we infer about the narrator so far?

the he has suffered great hardship and loss. he came from india was in hospital.

what causes the patel family to finally leave india?

the pres. of india destroys the government.

pi tells us that "we are all born like Catholics," by which he means we have no religious bent, but are in a kind of limbo. what does pi say made him hindu?

the rich sensory details and he is huindu in his religious philosophy.

what is most significant about the story that the author hears?

the story will make you believe in God.

chapter 2 is very short. why do you think the author included this chapter? what is hinted at in this chapter?

the transition between pis life in Canada and in india. young but gray hair.

what according to pi does "an animal hate above all else"?

the unknown

what is strange about the house that the narrator describes at the beginning of chapter 15?

there are items in this house from 3 different religions and are: hindu god ganesha, the Buddhist deity krishna, and Jesus Christ.

what evidence do we have that pis family supports his religious endeavors?

they allow him a muslim prayer mat and a christian baptism.

what problem does pi have with agnostics?

they dwell in doubt

how are atheist like believer according to pi?

they follow their reason and take a leap of faith.

what according to pi account for most "hostile and aggressive behavior" among animals

they need to know where the stand in the heiarchy.

even thought lions are dangerous circus lion tamers are able to control them relatively easily. how can they do this?

they stress their physical dominance over the animals.

pi says "the obsession with putting ourselves at the centre of everything is the bane not only the theologists but also of zoologists." what might he mean by this?

we compare everything to ourselves and we can only understand things through our selves.

what is "zoomorphism"?

when an animal take a human or another animal as its kind.

what does the muslim man do that makes the greatest impression on pi?

when he hears the call to prayer and puts down the mat and prays.

in father martins opinion, what does it take to be a christian?

who ever meets christ in good faith is a christian.

do you believe everything the narator says in the "authors note"? how reliable do you think he is? why?

you cant believe everything you read. fiction is the selective transformation of reality. we sacrifice our imagination. he is twisting things around.