Allusions
Assigned Task:
1. Define Allusion.
2. Martel’s novel is rich with cultural, religious, historical and literary
allusions. Choose two of the allusions below to analyze and answer the
following questions:
a. Why does the author choose these specific allusions?
b. What significance is added to the story?
c. How do these allusions contribute to Pi’s characterization?
Choose two of the following allusions:
Literary References
 Edgar Allen Poe, "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket": Richard
Parker is the name of a sailor in the story.
 Dante, The Divine Comedy: The Comedy has three books and 100 cantos
including an introduction; Life of Pi has three parts and 100 chapters.
 Leo Tolstoy (Author's Note.1.8)
 Moacyr Scliar (Author's Note.1.38)
 Robert Louis Stevenson (1.26.26)
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1.26.29)
 R.K. Narayan (1.26.30)
 Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe (1.26.32)
 Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (2.63.1 and 2.84.2-5)
 Samuel Taylor Coleridge, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (2.84.8)
Jewish, Christian, and Islamic References
 Isaac Luria (1.1.2)
 Christ Renames the Disciples (1.5.4)
 Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane (1.7.21)
 Christ or Christ on the Cross (1.7.21 and numerous other times)
 Virgin Mary (1.15.2 and numerous other times)
 Parable of the Mustard Seed (1.16.1)
 Holy Spirit (1.17.21, 1.17.26-27)
 Christ and the Fig Tree (1.17.36, 2.90.20-27)
 Baptism and other Christian rituals (1.26.4 and numerous other times)
 St. Francis Xavier (1.27.17)
 Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (1.27.28-29)
 Noah (2.45.2 and numerous other times)
 Cain (2.61.26)
 Doubting Thomas (2.92.12)
 Mohammed (1.5.9 and numerous other times)
 Allah (1.15.6 and numerous other times)
 Call to Prayer and other Muslim rituals (1.18.12 and numerous other times)
 Qur'an (1.20.3, 1.23.10, 1.31.49)
 Abraham (1.26.15)
Allusions
 David (1.26.15)
 Moses (1.26.15)
Hindu References
 Ganesha (1.15.1, 1.15.3, 1.23.7)
 Shiva (1.15.2)
 Vishnu, Krishna, Rama (1.15.3 and numerous other times)
 Lakshmi (1.1.11, 1.15.3)
 Shakti as Parvati (1.15.3)
 Brahman (1.16.3, 1.17.21, 1.17.29)
 Atman (1.16.3)
 Ramayana (1.17.21, 1.23.7)
 Yashoda, Foster-Mother of Krishna (1.17.23)
 Hanuman (1.23.7, 2.66.7)
 Mahabharata (1.23.7)
 Darshan, Puja and other Hindu rituals (1.23.12 and numerous other times)
 Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita (2.73.1)
Historical Figures
 Søren Kierkegaard (Author's Note.1.10)
 Richard Parker: A sailor hanged for a 1797 mutiny
 Richard Parker: A seaman who was eaten by fellow survivors in an 1846
shipwreck
 Richard Parker: A cabin boy eaten by fellow survivors in an 1884 shipwreck
 Gregor Mendel (1.7.2)
 Charles Darwin (1.7.2, 3.99.56)
 Indira Gandhi (1.7.8, 1.27.10-12, 1.29.4-6)
 Heini Hediger (1.13.3)
 Gandhi (1.23.54-55, 1.26.45-46, 1.27.13-15, 2.92.71)
 Chief Minister Karunanidhi (1.29.4)
 Morarji Desai (1.29.6)
 Dougal Robertson and Family (2.63.1)
 William Bligh (2.63.1)
 Steven Callahan (2.63.1)
 Owen Chase (2.63.1)
 Poon Lim (2.63.1)
 Christopher Columbus (1.34.1, 3.99.50)
 Nicolaus Copernicus (3.99.56)
Pop Culture References
 Mr. Magoo (1.1.4)