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Pi's journey
- 2. The Hero’s JourneyRe-Cap × The Hero’s Journey is a pattern of narrative identified by the American scholar Joseph Campbell that appears in drama, storytelling, myth, religious ritual, and psychological development. It describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero.
- 3. Introduction × This PowerPoint will go over the key components of Pi’s Journey × Please go over your own notes to see where you went wrong or did not provide enough detail × This will be an important component of the exam × This will not include everything you need to know about Pi’s Journey. Please make sure you ask Ms. L if you need any additional clarification.
- 4. The Call toAdventure Definition: “The hero begins in a mundane situation of normality from which some information is received that acts as a call to head off into the unknown.” (-Wikipedia)
- 5. The Call toAdventure × Right off the bat we have a complicated and debatable topic about when Pi was actually called to the adventure. × A lot of students think Pi’s call to adventure comes when his Father decides to pack up the family and move. × However, it can also be argued that there is a different call. Remember, we are examining the HERO’S journey, not the hero’s family’s journey. × In order to identify the call to adventure be sure to focus specifically on the Hero and his or her individual journey. × In Pi’s case, the journey centered around his time on the Life Raft with Richard Parker. So when was he specifically called to the adventure? × We’ll get back to this question after a quick tangent...
- 6. The Call toAdventure - Notes × Sometimes the Hero's call to adventure is actually a call: × (like when Neo from The Matrix literally receives a telephone call). × Sometimes the call is a more figurative proposition: × (like when Shrek from Shrek needs to go on an adventure to get his swamp back from the fairy tale creatures). × Sometimes the call is forced upon the protagonist × (like when Jonah from The Bible gets swallowed by the whale).
- 7. The Call toAdventure × So what’s the other moment that could be considered Pi’s call to adventure × The answer: When he wakes up during the storm and leaves his room on the Tsimtsum.
- 8. So Ms. L,which one is the correct answer? × I’m inclined to argue that the second answer has more credibility when put together as a whole journey. (I’ll explain why on the next page) × That being said, over the years of teaching this novel and The Hero’s Journey, I have had so many strong arguments presented to support the first theory too. × Therefore, either answer can be correct as long as it is thoroughly justified with very specific examples. × This PowerPoint presentation will be providing answers to support the second theory. × After reading it, if you are still convinced that the first theory is the correct one then that is completely fine. Just make sure you have strong examples to support your points in something like an exam essay *cough* hint *cough*
- 9. Call to Adventure- Rationale × Pi’s Call to Adventure came when he was already on board the Tsimtsum. × Although Pi and his family had already embarked on a journey towards a different life, it was not Pi’s journey. × Had the Tsimtsum not sunk, Pi and his family would have carried on a relatively normal life. True, there would have been some adjustments to their daily routine and their concept of normal, but life wouldn’t be drastically different. Pi himself wouldn’t be much different. × Although Pi would be in a new place, he still would have had his family and his routines. His foundation would still be in place. × Therefore, when Pi awoke and went up top the ship to see what was going on, this was his call to adventure. × This was the moment that signified the beginning of Pi’s own personal adventure. × This was the moment where his concept of normal would never again be the same. Where his foundation was to be completely shaken and pulled out from under him.
- 10. The Call toAdventure – God Like Being × But what about the bullet point about the “god like figure”? How does that work its way into this section? × Good question! In addition to considering WHAT the call to adventure is, you also want to ask yourself WHO is instigating this call? × In Pi’s case the storm and disaster are representative of a god like force. × God called Pi on the journey by waking him up during the storm.
- 11. Decision- Acceptance or Refusalof The Call × From time to time the Hero’s do actually refuse to go on the adventure. However, their wouldn't be a story if the Hero didn’t go on the journey... so in the end, one way or another, they always accept the journey. × In Pi’s case, he didn’t just go back to bed. He didn’t consciously agree to go on the journey, but he also didn’t refuse it. × Arguably, he does later accept the call by not simply giving up by jumping in the water and drowning himself.
- 12. Crossing the Threshold × The threshold is the barrier between two worlds. Frequently this barrier is metaphorical, but sometimes it is quite tangible (as in the case of the mirror in the Chronicles of Narnia or the well in Alice of Wonderland). × The threshold is the first “step” into this entirely new world. × The hero cannot return to his original world without going on the journey. × The world he came from will also never be the same
- 13. Crossing The Threshold × In Pi’s case, the threshold can be argued as the moment the crew members release Pi and throw him into the lifeboat. Oh look at that… another similarity to Jonah
- 14. Crossing the Threshold × Here is a great answer by Laura, one of your fellow students: × The idea of The Crossing of the First Threshold is that the hero is leaving his ordinary world behind. Pi says, “Richard Parker, can you believe what has happened to us? Tell me it’s a bad dream. Tell me it’s not real. Tell me I’m still in my bunk on the Tsimtsum and I am tossing and turning...” (Martel 107). This quote shows that Pi has crossed out of what is ordinary, and into an adventure. Everything has changed. Life will never again be the same.
- 15. Preparation × In thispoint I provided three guiding bullet points (Mentors, skill and knowledge, and Allies) and you needed to relate them back to the concept of preparation. × For example, How did each mentor impact on his preparation? What did they teach Pi that he would later use on his journey? × Pi had many mentors who contributed to his journey and his survival. A specific example of a mentor would be Mamaji who taught Pi how to swim. Let’s face it, if Pi didn’t have this basic skill under his belt, the story would have ended a lot sooner (and a lot more tragically). × As you review your own answers, try to think of at least 2 other examples of mentors AND how they impacted his journey (then do the same with knowledge/skills and allies)
- 16. Hints × — Acquiredknowledge or skills: — - How did Pi learn about the dangerous nature of Tigers? × — Allies: — - Orange Juice
- 17. The Obstacles × Pifaces a tremendous amount of obstacles throughout his time on the lifeboat. × Here are a couple highlights: × Pi killing and eating a fish for the first time. This was a huge mental obstacle for Pi to overcome. × The endless list of physical obstacles (sun, rain, hunger, thirst) × The biggest seemingly insurmountable obstacle: not being eaten by Richard Parker.
- 18. The Temptress × TheTemptress/Tempter–this relates to allure. Typically, this is synonymous with the seductress. (Unfortunately ladies, woman often end up as man’s downfall in The Hero’s Journey). In Life of Pi there is no “seductress” character. Therefore, you could argue that Martel did not include this element because Pi was so busy trying to survive he didn’t have the time or ability to be seduced or distracted by anything else. × However, a few students picked up on some very advanced concepts (with detailed examples) suggesting the Ocean was a temptress relating to Pi’s thirst) and also The Island which Pi was literally tempted to live at forever.
- 19. Supernatural Aid × TheIsland was also an example of Supernatural Aid because had it NOT been a crazy carnivorous island, Pi likely would have given up and lived there forever. Therefore, the island actually propelled the journey.
- 20. The Rescue/Return from Without × Eventually our Heroes always return to the “normal” or “original” world. × Wendy leaves Never Never Land to grow up × Alice leaves Wonderland × Shrek returns to his swamp × Neo exits The Matrix × However, the Heroes always come back changed – and rightly so! Nothing will ever be the same as it was at the beginning. × This is where the Hero once again crosses the threshold and leaves the adventure
- 21. The Rescue × InPi’s case, the rescue comes when he is quite literally rescued off the coast of Mexico. × Pi physically crosses the threshold when he leaves the lifeboat (remember how entering the lifeboat signified the crossing of the first threshold) × Another important thing to note is that Richard Parker also left – he walked away from Pi never to be found. × Thus, not only did Pi leave the “other” world but the other world left Pi
- 22. Master of TwoWorlds × Yann Martel includes this piece of the journey in such an interesting way. Pi literally describes two different worlds as he retells the story of his adventure. × One of the stories is totally unbelievable in the real world while the other is – although gruesome – more much realistic (again, in terms of a world very similar to the one you and I live in).
- 23. The Freedom toLive × Pi moves on with his life... × He has a career... × A family... × A life. × However, his true Freedom to Live brings the whole story full circle to the very beginning of the author’s note. × In telling his story, he is truly given the freedom to live.
- 24. The End If youhave any additional questions please don’t hesitate to send me an e-mail