Narrative Voice
What effect does switching between Pi’s first-person narration and the author’s third-person commentary have on the reader?
Response 1:
“I am sitting in a downtown cafe, after, thinking. I have just spent most of an afternoon with him.”(chapter 21, page 63). The author’s italicized commentary makes the story feel more believable, like a real-life account being retold by someone who actually met Pi. It adds realism to the fictional story.
Response 2:
“Our encounters always leave me weary of the glum contentment that characterizes my life.”(chapter 21, page 63). The switch gives us different points of view, contrasting the author’s cookie cutter life with Pi’s rather uncommon life while also stepping back to see the bigger picture.
Response 3:
“What were those words he used that struck me?”(chapter 21, page 63). It creates a sense of mystery and builds curiosity, begging the question of why this author is so interested in Pi, how did he find him, and what makes Pi’s story so special?
Why is it ironic that Pi ends up teaching the religious leaders about God?
Response 1:
“I just want to love God.”(chapter 23, page 69). It’s ironic because Pi is just a teenager, and the leaders are supposed to be the experts. Yet he understands God in a more open and loving way than they do.
Response 2:
“Bapu Gandhi said, ‘All religions are true.” (chapter 23, page 69). They come to correct him, but he ends up showing them that all religions are about the same thing, which is love for God.
What does Mr. Kumar the atheist believe in instead of religion?
Response 1:
“When I was your age, I lived in bed, racked with polio. I asked myself every day, ‘Where is God? Where is God? Where is God? God never came. It wasn’t God who saved me, it was medicine.” His life experiences have caused him to believe that it is science that saves, changes, creates things, not God.
Response 2:
“Reason is my prophet,”(page 28). His faith is in things that can be proven, like evolution and medicine, but he still respects the world and Pi’s beliefs.
What was the significance of Pi hating the idea of Christianity when he was first introduced to it?
Response 1:
“It’s morning in Bethany and God is hungry, God wants His breakfast. He comes to a fig tree. It’s not the season for figs, so the tree has no figs. God is peeved. The son mutters, ‘May you never bear fruit again,' and instantly the fig tree withers.”(chapter 17, page 56-57) He didn’t understand why God and Jesus would punish a fig tree for not being in season. It didn’t make sense to him at first.
Response 2:
“This Son, on the other hand, who goes hungry, who suffers from thirst, who gets tired, who is sad, who is anxious, who is heckled and harassed, who has to put up with followers who don’t get it and opponents who don’t respect him—what kind of god is that?”(chapter 17, page 55). Pi's initial aversion to Christianity was because he could not understand why Jesus lived like a human.
How does Ravi's stance of Pi's multireligious identity show that Ravi is a foil character to Pi?
Response 1:
“So Swami Jesus, will you go on the hajj this year?”( chapter 24, page 70). Ravi teases Pi and doesn’t take religion seriously, while Pi is deeply spiritual. Their differences highlight Pi’s faith and curiosity.
Response 2: Ravi’s nonbelief contrasts with Pi’s being devout and open. This makes Pi’s journey stand out more, since Ravi represents the average skeptical teenager, which highlights how Pi is much more than that. “As for Ravi, if Lord Krishna had held a cricket bat rather than a flute, if Christ had appeared more plainly to him as an umpire, if the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, had shown some notions of bowling, he might have lifted a religious eyelid, but they didn’t, and so he slumbered.”(chapter 23, page 66)
Why might Martel use a fictional author instead of writing directly as himself?
“Ah yes: “dry yeastless factuality”, “the better story”. I take pen and paper out and write:”(chapter 21, page 63). It gives Martel more freedom to explore themes like truth and belief without being tied to his real identity. The fictional author becomes a tool for storytelling.
Response 2:
“I am sitting in a downtown cafe, after, thinking. I have just spent most of an afternoon with him.”(chapter 21, page 63). By using a made up author, Martel makes it feel like a “story within a story,” which blurs the lines between fact and fiction.
Response 3:
“What were those words he used that struck me?”(chapter 21, page 63). He might do it to distance himself from the events of the book so that the focus stays on Pi and the message, not the writer.
Why is it ironic that the 3 wise men are so hateful toward each other?
Response 1:
“It was hard to tell whose face was more inflamed. It looked as if they might come to blows.”(chapter 23, page 68). They all claim to follow peaceful religions, but they argue and act selfishly, which goes against what they preach.
Response 2:
“Yes! Practice! —singular!” the wise men screamed in unison.”(chapter 23, page 68). They are supposed to be holy and wise, but they act more childish than Pi, who actually understands faith better than they do.
What is the significance of both of Pi’s mentors being named Mr. Kumar?
Response 1:
“Mr. And Mr. Kumar taught me biology and Islam. Mr and Mr. Kumar led me to study zoology and religious studies at the University of Toronto. Mr. and Mr. Kumar were the prophets of my Indian youth.”(chapter 20, page 61). It shows how both science and religion shape Pi’s worldview, even though they seem like opposites.
Response 2:
“Mr. and Mr. Kumar taught me biology and Islam.”(chapter 20, page 61). The shared name symbolizes balance, in which both men teach Pi different ways of seeing the world, and he learns to respect both.
What draws Pi to Islam during his first visit to the mosque?
Response 1:
“The building, clean and white except for various edges painted green……….it was pleasant and quiet.”(chapter 18, page 58). He’s drawn to the simplicity of the mosque, the clean white walls, the quiet prayer and the peaceful atmosphere. It feels honest and direct.
Response 2:
“It felt good to bring my forehead to the ground. Immediately it felt like a deeply religious contact.”(chapter 19, page 61).He loves the feeling of connection with God and how humble the religion feels. It touches his heart in a different way.
How does Pi's reaction to Christianity differ from others in his culture?
Response 1:
“Balderdash! Christians know nothing about religion,” said the pandit. “They strayed long ago from God’s path,” said the imam.”(chapter 23, page 67). Most people around him reject Christianity or don’t understand it, but Pi is curious and ends up embracing it.
Response 2:
“Piscine is a good Christian boy. I hope to see him join our choir soon.”(chapter 23, page 66). Instead of mocking it or ignoring it, Pi looks deeper and finds beauty in Jesus’s sacrifice. That sets him apart from others around him.
What does the author’s comment about being "weary of the glum contentment that characterizes my life" reveal about his voice?
Response 1:
“Our encounters always leave me weary,”(chapter 21, page 63). It shows he’s tired of how boring and basic his life is, even if it leaves him content enough, and wishes for a life more like Pi’s.
Response 2:
“Ah, yes.”(chapter 21, page 63).It reveals that he’s thoughtful, maybe a little sarcastic, and values deeper connections in storytelling.
What makes Pi’s practice of three religions at once ironic?
Response 1:
“He can’t be a Hindu, a Christian and a Muslim. It’s impossible. He must choose.”(chapter 23, page 69). It’s ironic because most people think you can only follow one religion, but Pi believes that all faiths can lead to God.
Response 2:
“When I went to church, the priest glared at me so that I could not feel the peace of Christ. A Brahmin sometimes shooed me away from darshan…..As if this small-mindedness did God any good.”(chapter 25, page 71). While others see contradictions, Pi sees harmony. The irony is that a child accepts what adults can’t understand.
How does Pi reconcile faith and science in his life?
Response 1:
“Mr. and Mr. Kumar led me to study zoology and religious studies at the University of Toronto.”(chapter 20, page 61). He believes that science explains how things work, but religion explains why they matter. He sees them as partners, not enemies.
Response 2:
Pi believes that there has to be reason within the religion, which is why he was so hateful of Christianity when he learned of it, saying, “He bothered me, this Son. Every day I burned with greater indignation against Him, found more flaws to Him.” and also, “I ask you, is it the fig tree's fault that it's not the season for figs? What kind of a thing is that to do to an innocent fig tree, wither it instantly?” (chapter 17, page 56, 57)
How does Pi describe his connection to God? Why is that important to his nature?
Response 1:
“I went to temple at crowded times when the Brahmins were too distracted to come between God and me.” (chapter 25, page 71) He describes it as something personal and deep, but just a part of who he is, not just something he does. It is important to his character, as it shows that he has a strong connection to his faith, and to God.
Why is Pi’s father concerned about his religious beliefs?
Response 1:
“What does this have to do with us, Piscine? We’re Indians!”(chapter 26, page 72). He thinks Pi is getting too caught up in religion and wants him to be more logical and realistic, to be part of the new, modern India.
Response 2:
“You can’t be both. You must be either one or the other.”(chapter 26, page 72) He’s worried Pi will get confused or judged by others for following multiple faiths, and he wants him to focus on what’s practical.
Do you think Pi is deceiving himself or his readers? Why might his memories distort what really happened?
Response 1:
Not really, as Pi could be distorting his memories, as he might have been not as tolerant as he seemed to be here. He learned to accept very quickly, which may be different from what really happened. He also describes his parents to have been non-tolerant as well as his brother, which emphasizes his ‘good’ character, so that could also be a distortion. “Thursday, mosque on Friday, synagogue on Saturday and church on Sunday, you only need to convert to three more religions to be on holiday for the rest of your life." And other lampoonery of such kind.” (chapter 24, page 70) This emphasizes how terrible Ravi is, which could be a distortion as well.
Response 2:
Pi is a reliable narrator, as he has no reason to be wrong, and has given vivid and detailed accounts of everything so far. He admits that he was not originally accepting of Christianity, saying, “What a downright weird story. What peculiar psychology.” after hearing about it. (chapter 17, page 53) He is confused and admits that he was intolerant to the idea of Christianity in the beginning, and has admitted fault. There is no reason to say he is deceiving himself or others.
Response 3:
Pi has said in Chapter 22-23 that he values “the better story” which might signify that he prioritizes emotional and spiritual stories over factual commitment. While he is dismissing agnosticism, he says “..."Possibly a f-f-failing oxygenation of the b-b-brain," and, to the very end, lack imagination and miss the better story.” ( chapter 22, page 64) This proves that he holds religion over reason, and could be distorting his memories of others who may not share these ideals.
What is ironic about Pi’s parents thinking he’s confused about religion?
Response 1:
“The Imitation of Christ! I say again, I wonder how far he will go with these interests!” cried Father. They laughed.”(page 76). They think he’s just being silly or rebellious, but in reality, Pi has thought deeply about his beliefs and is more spiritual than they are.
Response 2:
“Father and I find your religious zeal a bit of a mystery.”(chapter 26, page 73).They assume he’s lost, but really, he’s found peace through faith. It shows that adults don’t always understand kids’ inner lives.
When Pi says, “[My father] was a businessman… hardworking, earthbound professional, more concerned with inbreeding among lions than any overarching moral or existential scheme.” How does this reflect his father’s worldview?
Response 1:
“Father saw himself as part of the New India, rich, modern and secular as ice cream. He didn’t have a religious bone in his body.”(chapter 23, page 65) This reflects how his father’s worldview is very much based on logic and fact. Religion doesn’t bring prosperity to the zoo.
Response 2:
“More concerned with inbreeding among lions than any overarching moral or existential scheme.”(chapter 23, page 65).This reflects how his father’s view of the world is very small. He is only preoccupied with the “inbreeding among his lions” than “any overarching moral or existential scheme”, unlike Pi.
What do Pi’s consistent acts of prayer signify?
Response 1:
“I went to temple at crowded times when the Brahmins were too distracted to come between God and me.” (chapter 25, page 71) Going consistently shows that faith is part of his identity. Praying keeps him mentally strong and gives him hope, makes him feel closer with God.
Response 2:
“It felt good to bring my forehead to the ground. Immediately, it felt like a deeply religious contact.” (chapter 19, page 61). Even when things are bad, Pi stays loyal to God. It shows his devotion and how faith gives him comfort.
While Pi's mother is a Hindu, she is more culturally religious than spiritually religious. How is her perspective different than Pi's, and why?
Response 1:
“A Hindu upbringing and a Baptist education had precisely canceled each other out as far as religion was concerned.”(chapter 23, page 65). Pi’s mother follows Hinduism more out of tradition and family than deep belief. She respects the stories and practices but doesn’t feel a strong personal connection to God like Pi does.
Response 3:
“Mother was mum, bored, and neutral on the subject.”(chapter 23, page 65). Their perspectives differ because Pi wants to explore different faiths and grow spiritually, while his mother sticks with the familiar and doesn’t question things as deeply.
How does the presence of both the author’s voice and Pi’s voice affect the way you experience the story?
Response 1:
“What were those words he used that struck me?”(chapter 21, page 63). Having both voices makes the story feel more real, like we’re getting an inside look at Pi’s life and also seeing how someone else reacts to his story. It feels like a mix of personal diary and documentary.
Response 2:
“Our encounters always leave me weary of the glum contentment that characterizes my life.”(chapter 21, page 63). It adds depth because we’re not just stuck in Pi’s head, but instead we get to see how others view him. The author’s voice makes us question what’s true, while Pi’s voice makes us feel connected to his emotions and beliefs.
Response 3:
“I pause. What of God’s silence?”(chapter 21, page 63). The two voices create tension between belief and doubt. Pi is deeply sincere when he talks about his love for his faith and God, while the author inserts his skeptical, journalistic tone that makes us take a step back and reconsider how much of Pi’s story is based in reality.
How does Martel use irony to criticize organized religion?
Response 1:
“It’s impossible. He must choose.”(chapter 23, page 69). Martel shows how religious leaders care more about rules and labels than true belief or love for God.
Response 2:
“The pandit interrupted them quietly. In Tamil he said, “The real question is, why is the priest and the imam properly popped out of their heads. They were both native Tamils.”(chapter 23, page 68). He uses irony to point out how organized religion can be divisive, even though it’s supposed to unite people. This is shown when the pandit shuns his own people because of their religion.
Why does Pi find that atheism is better than agnosticism?
Response 1: Pi sees atheists as making a definitive choice to believe in the non-existence of God. This act of believing in the absence of God, in his view, is still a form of faith, a belief system just as any other. However, Pi criticizes agnostics for their unwillingness to take any imaginative leap. “an atheist's last words: "White, white! L-L-Love! My God!"-and the deathbed leap of faith. Whereas the agnostic... might try to explain the warm light bathing him by saying, "Possibly a f-f-failing oxygenation of the b-b-brain," and, to the very end, lack
imagination and miss the better story.”( chapter 22, page 64) He believes they are too bound to factuality and are not willing to embrace a story or narrative, whether it's yes there is a god or no there is not. He sees their perpetual doubt and uncertainty as a lack of commitment to any belief system whatsoever.
Response 2: “To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.” (chapter 7, page 28) Pi finds that atheism is better than agnosticism because at least atheists have made a choice about what they believe. He respects that they take a clear stand, even if it's against religion. Agnostics, on the other hand, seem like they’re just sitting on the fence and not committing to anything, which kind of frustrates him.
Is it possible to practice multiple religions at once? Why or why not?
Response 1:
Yes, it is possible. Pi practices Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam all at the same time. He sees beauty and truth in each religion and believes they all bring him closer to God. For Pi, religion is about love, faith, and
understanding, not about choosing sides. This shows that it is possible to follow multiple religions if someone is open-minded and truly believes in the messages behind them, like Pi. “I just want to love God.”(chapter 23, page 69)
Response 2:
Even though Pi tries to follow three religions, each religion has different beliefs and practices that sometimes don’t match up. For example, Christianity believes Jesus is the son of God, but Islam doesn’t. The religious leaders in the book argue that Pi can’t be all three because the religions have different truths, in chapter 23. So, it’s hard to fully follow more than one without going against the others. “It’s impossible. He must choose.”(chapter 23, page 69).
In what ways does each parent influence Pi’s spiritual journey?
Response 1:
“Father?” “Yes, Piscine.” “I would like to be baptized and I would like a prayer rug.”(page 71). “I loved my prayer rug.”(page 76). Pi’s father influences his spiritual journey by putting up with his unusual religious habits, allowing him to get baptized, and purchasing him a prayer rug.
Response 2:
“She never said anything when as a child I devoured the comic books of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and an illustrated children’s Bible and other stories of the gods.”(chapter 23, page 66). His mother encouraged Pi to read extensively, which resulted in him reading and becoming absorbed in many religious books and texts at a young age.