Life of Pi: Characters
Main protagonist who survives 227 days at sea.
Pi Patel
Pi survives a shipwreck in this ocean.
Pacific Ocean
Hospital where Henrietta was treated.
John Hopkins Hospital
HeLa cells were the first human cells to do this in a lab.
Continuously divide (immortal cells)
Both books explore this theme about human resilience.
Perseverance/resilience
Name the Bengal tiger who shares the lifeboat.
Richard Parker
The story explores the conflict between faith and this discipline.
Science
Scientist who first cultured Henrietta’s cells.
Dr. George Gey
HeLa cells contributed to the development of this vaccine.
Polio vaccine
Pi’s story begins in this country; Henrietta’s begins in this U.S. state.
India; Virginia
Pondicherry
zoo
DAILY DOUBLE – Pi uses this method to collect drinking water on the lifeboat.
Henrietta’s daughter who worked with Rebecca Skloot.
Deborah Lacks
The ethical issue surrounding HeLa cells involves lack of this.
Informed consent
Both books involve this concept of survival against odds.
Survival against odds
This character teaches Pi about Christianity.
Father Martin
The carnivorous island Pi encounters is covered with these plants.
Algae
HeLa cells were given this famous name.
HeLa
DAILY DOUBLE – Disease led to Henrietta's hospitalization
cervical cancer
Name the author of Life of Pi and the author of Henrietta Lacks.
Yann Martel; Rebecca Skloot
Pi’s full name is derived from this mathematical concept.
The mathematical constant Pi (π)
The novel ends with Pi giving two versions of his story to these people.
Japanese officials
Henrietta’s husband’s name.
David Lacks (Day)
major medical field benefited from HeLa cells
Cancer research
DAILY DOUBLE – Both stories raise questions about this aspect of truth and belief.
Subjectivity/individuality of truth / Faith vs. Science