Journey of Pi: Beginning in India

1. In the Author’s Note, the narrator tells us that he deliberately traveled to India to “write my novel” which was to be set in Portugal. He ends up writing a novel that begins in India. Based on your reading, so far, why is India such an appropriate setting for the beginning of the story of Pi? Prepare your response in a well-developed three paragraph essay. Yesterday’s Summary Writing Prompt

2. What events prepare Pi for survival at sea? Today’s Essential Question

3. Read the final sentence on p. 93 aloud: “This story has a happy ending.” Based on the structure of the narrative, we already know that Pi survives. How do we explain this guarantee that this will be “happy ending”? Food for Thought

4. Read chapters 37 – 44 • Be prepared to answer the following questions: Work Period

5. Pi needs to be prepared to survive a shipwreck and months on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. Discuss events in Pi’s life prior to departing India that may have prepared him for survival. Recall two groups of events: • (1) __________________and • (2) ___________________. • How are Pi’s survival and the death of his mother, father, and brother foreshadowed? Work Period

6. In your group, discussion the following questions in the next four slides. Be prepared to explain your responses to the class. Food for thought

7. How could Pi’s tenable (shaky) position on the lifeboat be symbolically interpreted as a turning point in an adolescent's life? Discussion Question

8. Based on your reading, what evidence from the novel points out the fact that life continues in the face of unimaginable pain? Discussion Question

9. The brutality of the animals teaches Pi another lesson. Discuss the qualities a human or animal exhibit when unprovoked versus what that same human or animal will show if attacked or threatened. Discussion question

10. Alone and grief stricken without his family or any other human survivors, Pi finds both solace and sadness in the presence of Orange Juice. Why? Discussion Question

11. Alone and grief stricken without his family or any other human survivors, Pi finds both solace and sadness in the presence of Orange Juice. Why? How could Pi’s tenable (shaky) position on the lifeboat be symbolically interpreted as a turning point in an adolescent's life? Based on your reading, what evidence from the novel points out the fact that life continues in the face of unimaginable pain? The brutality of the animals teaches Pi another lesson. Discuss the qualities a human or animal exhibit when unprovoked versus what that same human or animal will show if attacked or threatened. Discussion questions