My Life of Pi Final Report

1. Question Trace the changes in Pi’s identity from a young child to the adult he now is. Use events and quotes from the novel to demonstrate his transformation. What is Yann Martel saying about identity through this story?

2. Pi As A Child Picked On Pi was picked on mostly for his name, Piscine. This was because his name was pronounced as “pissing” by students and teachers. “’It’s Pissing Patel!’” (25) Pi became a quiet and anti-social student partly due to first impressions of his name. Pi hated his new name, “the sound would disappear, but the hurt would linger, like the smell of piss long after it has evaporated.” (26)

3. Pi As A Child Religious As a child, Pi found peace and safety in his religion. Pi was extremely focused in his religion, and took it very seriously. He studied religion, and took it a step further by doing things such as getting a prayer rug. “’Religion will save us,’ I said. Since when I could remember, religion had been very close to my heart.” (34) Pi studied three religions.

4. Pi As A Child Love & experience for animals Pi has a great love for animals, especially because his family owns the Pondicherry Zoo. This also helps Pi grow with a great experience knowledge of animals.

5. Pi’s Changes Taking control Pi makes a very important change in his life. He introduces a new stain into everyone's mind. Pi tells his fellow students and teachers that his name is pronounced “Pi,” instead of “Piscine.” On the chalkboard, Pi writes “My name is Piscine Molitor Patel, known to all as Pi Patel. For good measure I added ∏ = 3.14

6. Pi’s Changes Maturity & survival skills As Pi is later trapped on the boat with the tiger, he has to learn to use his survival skills and to tame a tiger. Pi develops strong maturity skills throughout the novel. Pi does whatever necessary to survive, like when he made his life raft. “Pulling the oars in one after the next, I worked them through the armholes of the life jackets...”

7. Pi As An Adult Saving Pi is now a changed man. He has been through an extreme life, and saves every bit of food he finds. Pi is used to doing so.

8. Pi As An Adult Life-changed Pi didn’t only change from a weak, scared child, into a strong adult. Pi is now changed for life. He will always have memories of the hardships while on the lifeboat, and the night the Tsimtsum sank. Pi will have to learn to deal with what has happened to him, which in his case, is extremely hard.

9. Pi As An Adult Job & Education Pi Patel was later educated in subjects learning about animal and human behaviour etc.

10. Life Of Pi Identity Throughout The Story Yann Martel is telling the readers that identity can be swayed drastically throughout your life. For example, Pi was a weak, non-confident, picked on child. He was insecure, and used religion to keep his life growing strong. Pi later turned into a survival boy, that would do what is needed if it meant surviving. By the end, Pi is a regular man, with extremely terrible memories. He now lives a regular life though.

11. jhgf The End