life of pi summary essay grade 12

Grade 12 - Life of Pi

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Mind the GAP Study Guide: English HL Literature - Life of Pi

This Mind the Gap study guide helps gr 12 learners to prepare for the end-of-year Grade 12 English Home Language (EHL) Literature exam.

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Grade 12 Life of Pi Study Guide - MIND THE GAP! - Western Cape Education Department

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Life of Pi Short Summary in English

Back to: Tamil Nadu Class 12 English Guide & Notes

Table of Contents

Important Points

• “Life of Pi” was written by Yann Martel .
• This novel was published in the year 2001 .
• Genre: Philosophical Fiction . (Not based on real incidents).
• Point of View- FIRST PERSON .
• Throughout the story Richard Parker is used to denote a Bengal Tiger.
• The full name of “Pi” is “ Piscine Molitor “.

Introduction

“Life of Pi” written by “Yann Martel”, revolves around the pathetic condition of Piscine Molitor (Pi Patel) accompanied by a Bengal Tiger, Richard Parker, in the middle of the ocean. Pi’s companion throughout his voyage at sea is Richard Parker, a 450-pound, adult Bengal tiger, who is portrayed as a real animal, acting in ways true to his species.

Parker has been highlighted as one of the major reasons why Pi was pushed towards life. It was Parker, who kept on distracting Pi from thinking too much about his family and his tragic circumstances.

Lost in the Ocean

The story begins with Pi being alone and orphaned. He was hanging on in the middle of the ocean. As he looked around, he was shocked to see a 450-pound Bengal Tiger beside him, whose tip of nose to tip of tail, took over a third of the length of the ship. However, the tiger was not reacting in a beastly manner because of its sea-sickness as well as sedation.

The lifeboat was made in such a way, so as to accommodate a maximum of thirty-two people. It was three and a half feet deep, eight feet wide and twenty-six feet long. The words”Tsimtsum and Panama” were printed on each side of the bow in black, stark, Roman capitals.

Pi was tired and weak for having no food, water or even sleep for nearly three days. His condition was so pitiful that despite an adult Tiger, a Hyena, and Sharks beneath him and a huge storm raging around, he took the courage to move forward.

Pi was so thirsty that he could not stop himself to search water, which ultimately took him dangerously close to the Tiger, Richard Parker. Nothing could stopped him neither the Tiger nor the Hyena.

Cans of Drinking Water

Finally he got victorious in his search for water, after finding stacks of cans of drinking water. With his shaking hands, Pi opened the Can with the tarpaulin hooks and drank the water.

After realising that the pure, delicious, beautiful and crystalline water had finally gone into his system, Pi came back to life with a sense of refreshment and relaxation. His forehead was wet with fresh, clean, refreshing perspiration. His entire body right down to the pores of his skin, was expressing in bliss, as he finally had water, after taking the risk of moving near a ferocious Tiger, (which actually Parker was not.)

Finally Survived

After 227 days, Pi realised that it was Richard Parker, who had helped him in his survival. Pi even realised that Parker had brought him peace, wholeness and a new life.

At the ending, Pi left Richard Parker in a jungle and waited for a ship. However, Pi was disheartened to see that Parker, (with whom he had spent more than 200 days on a ship), did not even turned back to bid him a last farewell.

Later a ship found Pi, and this was how Pi got reunited with his family once again.

Life of Pi Yann Martel

Life of Pi essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Life of Pi written by Yann Martel.

Life of Pi Material

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Life of Pi Essays

Living a lie: yann martel’s pi and his dissociation from reality sean patrick ewart.

Piscine Molitor Patel, the protagonist of Yann Martel’s acclaimed novel Life of Pi, survives a horrific 227-day ordeal trapped aboard a directionless lifeboat with only a 450-pound Bengal Tiger, named Richard Parker, for company. Pi’s account of...

A Matter of Perspective: The Invention of a Story in Martel’s Life of Pi Justin Caleb Walters College

In Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi, Piscine “Pi” Patel is forced to relay his life story to condescending Japanese skeptics who refuse to believe his tale; they refer to it as nothing more than a fictional invention. Pi somewhat agrees with the...

Religion as a Coping Mechanism in Life of Pi Damien Rajvin Stanley 12th Grade

In the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Pi Patel too uses his faith in God as a vital coping mechanism to survive in the vast Pacific Ocean. His faith in God proves to be a crucial part in Pi’s survival as it guides him through his ordeal. Pi, a...

Hope and Understanding: Comparing Life of Pi and Bless Me, Ultima Kelsey Braford 10th Grade

In tough times, it seems that many people turn to their faith. In moments of weakness, when it seems that everything is lost, many people find that a certain hope remains in God. Others turn to God for a "why"; a reason that circumstances are the...

Religious Allegories in Life of Pi Patrick Cole McAndrew 10th Grade

Religious Allegories in Life of Pi

Religion is a subject that has always been prevalent in literature. The most popular book of all time, and the first ever printed, is the Bible, which is comprised of many stories of faith. In Life of Pi, Pi is...

The Issue of Mortality in the Life of Pi Jamie Sung College

In Life of Pi, Yann Martel juxtaposes issues of morality alongside the primitive necessity of survival. Pi’s life-threatening experiences while stranded on the Pacific Ocean threaten the integrity of his morals and beliefs. His pluralistic faith...

Life of Pi: Spiritual Survival under Physical Stress Anonymous 10th Grade

Throughout the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel, the protagonist, Pi Patel struggles with survival yet manages to maintain a level-headed outlook on his situation. He does not lose his belief in God, in whatever form He may take, although...

The Ambiguity of Sacrifice: Understanding Pi's Change of Character Dao Vu 12th Grade

Equivalent exchange, an absolute law in nature, dictates that one must give up something so that one may gain something that is equal in value. By this logic, sacrifice is, at its very core, a necessity in life; however, it is also a gray area...

Life of Pi: The Symbolism of the Color Orange Shrabonti Bhowmik 12th Grade

In Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, Piscine Molitor Patel, an Indian boy who is living in Pondicherry, is the main character of the story. From an early age, he is exposed to three different religions: Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. Due to...

Performing Humans and Flesh Eating Boys: Deconstructing the Human/Non-Human Animal Divide in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi and Franz Kafka’s A Report to an Academy Anonymous College

The boundary between the human and the non-human animal is tested now more than ever with the prevailing field of Animal studies. Traditional theories in philosophical thinking from Aristotle to Descartes that regard the human and the non-human...

Semantics and Pragmatics: How the Writers of The Lost Continent and Life of Pi Portray the Theme of Exploration Georgiana Scott College

Throughout both novels, The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson and Life of Pi by Yann Martel, the protagonists are on a constant journey, throughout which they make many and continuing explorations. Their paths are lexically, semantically and...

Freudian Theory in Life of Pi Alyssa Wakefield 10th Grade

Many people are under the impression that humans have evolved past their origins, that they have risen above animalistic tendencies; however, mankind forever remains part of the animal kingdom, and such a truism is demonstrated within Yann Martel’...

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Life of Pi Summary and Analysis: Grade 12

Table of Contents

Life of Pi Novel Summary

“Life of Pi” is a novel by Yann Martel, which tells the story of a young Indian boy named Pi Patel, who survives a shipwreck and is stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

The novel is divided into three parts. In the first part, we learn about Pi’s childhood in Pondicherry, India, where his family owns a zoo. Pi is a curious and spiritual young boy, who explores his faith by practicing Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam simultaneously. When Pi’s family decides to move to Canada, they set sail on a Japanese cargo ship, along with many of their animals. However, the ship encounters a severe storm and sinks, leaving Pi stranded on a lifeboat with Richard Parker and other animals.

In the second part of the novel, Pi and Richard Parker are stranded on the lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They struggle to survive, facing challenges such as extreme weather, hunger, and dehydration. Despite his fear of the tiger, Pi manages to train Richard Parker and create a temporary peace between them.

Video: Life of Pi (Book) – Thug Notes Summary & Analysis

In the third and final part of the novel, Pi and Richard Parker wash up on the shore of a small island. The island provides them with food and water, but they soon realize that it is carnivorous and must leave. Pi and Richard Parker continue their journey across the ocean, eventually arriving in Mexico. Richard Parker immediately disappears into the jungle, and Pi is rescued and taken to a hospital.

The novel’s themes include faith, survival, and the power of storytelling. Through Pi’s journey, Martel explores the complexity and beauty of the human spirit, and how it can be tested and triumph over adversity.

In the end, the novel leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and possibility, as Pi’s extraordinary journey challenges our understanding of what is possible and what it means to be human.

Setting, Context and Timeline

The setting and context of Yann Martel’s “Life of Pi” are integral to the plot and themes of the novel. Part 1 of the novel is set in Pondicherry, which was a French colony in India and is now known as Puducherry. The city’s beautiful Franco-Tamil architecture is still visible today. The Botanical Gardens in Pondicherry once housed a zoo, and the director of the film adaptation used the gardens to film the zoo scenes in the movie. However, the zoo in the novel is largely fictitious, as the Pondicherry Zoo did not have the diverse range of species described by Pi.

The political climate of India during the time period in which the novel is set is also important. In 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was found guilty of charges related to her election campaign and declared a “state of emergency” that lasted 18 months. This period was marked by controversy, as Gandhi suspended civil liberties and jailed her opponents. Pi’s father becomes nervous about the possibility of Gandhi taking over his business and decides to move his family from India to Canada.

The setting and context of the novel play a key role in the plot development. Pi’s family’s ownership of a zoo allows for the situation in which Pi and the tiger are stranded at sea together to be believable, rather than contrived. Part 2 of the novel focuses on Pi’s journey at sea with the tiger, as they face extreme challenges and struggle to survive.

Part 3 of the novel is set in Benito Juarez Infirmary in Tomatlán, Mexico, where the first two parts of the novel come together to clarify the events in the story. The setting of the infirmary allows for the resolution of the plot and the exploration of the novel’s themes, including faith, survival, and the power of storytelling. Overall, the setting and context of “Life of Pi” contribute to the novel’s depth and richness, and play an important role in the story’s development.

• Pi (Piscine Molitor Patel): Pi is the protagonist of the novel and the main character. He is a young Indian boy who is stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Pi is a complex character who is deeply spiritual and curious about the world around him.
• Richard Parker, the tiger: Richard Parker is a Bengal tiger who is stranded on the lifeboat with Pi. At first, he poses a threat to Pi’s survival, but the two eventually develop a symbiotic relationship as they learn to coexist on the lifeboat.
• The Author: The Author is never named and remains largely a mystery throughout the novel. He serves as the narrator and is responsible for telling Pi’s story to the reader.
• Santosh Patel, Pi’s father: Santosh Patel is Pi’s father and the owner of the Pondicherry Zoo. He is a strict but loving father who teaches Pi important lessons about survival and self-reliance.
• Gita Patel, Pi’s mother: Gita Patel is Pi’s mother and a kind and nurturing figure in his life. She is deeply religious and teaches Pi about the importance of faith and devotion.
• Ravi Patel, Pi’s brother: Ravi Patel is Pi’s older brother and a source of rivalry and conflict in his life.
• Francis Adirubasamy, known as Mamaji: Mamaji is Pi’s mentor and provides him with guidance on his spiritual journey. He is also responsible for telling the story of Pi’s survival to the author.
• Satish Kumar, the biology teacher: Satish Kumar is Pi’s biology teacher and a source of inspiration and knowledge for Pi. He encourages Pi’s curiosity and love of learning.
• Satish Kumar, the Muslim mystic: Satish Kumar is a Muslim mystic who teaches Pi about the importance of seeing God in everything.
• Father Martin, the Catholic priest: Father Martin is a Catholic priest who teaches Pi about the tenets of Christianity and helps him explore his own spirituality.
• The Hindu Priest / Pandit: The Hindu Priest or Pandit helps Pi learn about Hinduism and the importance of devotion and ritual.
• The blind Frenchman, another castaway: The blind Frenchman is another castaway who encounters Pi on his journey. He is a source of conflict and danger for Pi.
• The ship’s cook, a cruel man: The ship’s cook is a cruel man who poses a threat to Pi’s survival.
• Meena Patel, Pi’s wife: Meena Patel is Pi’s wife, whom he marries later in the novel.
• Nikhil Patel, Pi’s son: Nikhil Patel is Pi’s son, whom he has with Meena.
• Mr Tomohiro Okamoto, Japanese official: Mr Tomohiro Okamoto is a Japanese official who interviews Pi after he is rescued from the lifeboat.
• Mr Atsuro Chiba, Japanese official: Mr Atsuro Chiba is another Japanese official who interviews Pi after he is rescued from the lifeboat.

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