This document entails a full summary of the book, also delving into the representation behind each character and situation happening in the story. This document is perfect for trying to memorise the timeline and understand what is happening in the book. I achieved an A grading using this document.
PART 1:
AUTHOR’S NOTE
● The author was poor, had no inspiration for book set in Canada so decides to travel to India for a few
months to finish the story
● He establishes his motive for writing the novel and the verisimilitude around the novel (spoken about
religion and has been to India)
● Meets a man in coffee shop in Pondicherry (Francis Adirubasamy “Mamaji”) who tells author a story
that would make him believe in God
● Author took notes, listened to interview, gives credit where it is due and speaks to Pi himself
CHAPTER 1
● Adult Pi is reflecting on the events after the journey and his suffering is mentioned often
● He is explaining things that we don’t entirely understand yet - what nearly killed him?
● He studied a double Bachelors (zoology and religious studies) which shows the direct influence of the
Kumars
● 3-toed sloth “soothed his shattered self” - what happened?
● This sloth is introspective and this mirrors Pi’s time on the boat where he is forced to be introspective
● He mentions that the sloth is so slow - reference to Pi’s slow journey on the boat
● The sloth’s strongest sense is their smell - reference to Pi when he almost goes blind and he
hallucinates
● 3-toed sloth is harmonious in its environment, vegetarian and at peace - reference to Pi’s life before
the journey to Canada
● Pi mentions that he projects human emotions onto animals which is a strong theme in the novel
● The sloths look like upside-down yogis - reference to Pi’s religion and his imagination that kept him
alive
● Pi now loves Canada which is juxtaposed to his first reaction to his father before they left India
● He speaks about his journey to recovery in Mexico
CHAPTER 2
● The author is describing the older Pi
CHAPTER 3
● Pi describes how he got his name - named after Mamaji’s favourite swimming pool in Paris
● Pi loves Mamaji (teaches him to swim)
● Ravi, his 3-year older brother, teases him relentlessly, is cricket-mad
● Pi may be imaginative but is routine orientated, both in his swimming lessons and on the boat
CHAPTER 4
● Introduced to the zoo which is owned by his father, this upbringing triggers Pi’s interest and
knowledge on animals and saves his life
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