Name _____________________________
Date_________
Life of Pi Study Guide
Directions: Complete the outline below with information from the book as you
read:
I.
Author’s note
A. wrote two books
B. traveled to India to write a third book
C. Met Francis Adirubasamy in Pondicherry
D. Interviewed Pi Patel
II.
Characters
A. Piscine “Pi” Patel
1. college majors
a.
b.
B. Ravi Patel
C. Mr. Patel
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D. Mrs. Patel
E. Mamaji
F. Mr. Satish Kumar
1. atheist:
2. Muslim Mystic
G. Blind Frenchman
H. Mr. Okamoto & Mr. Chiba
III.
Plot of the novel
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IV.
Pi’s Religions:
A. Hindu
1. leader
2. place of worship
3. person who introduces Pi
4. beliefs
a.
B. Islam
1. leader
2. place of worship
3. person who introduces Pi
4. beliefs
a.
C. Christianity
1. leader
2. place of worship
3. person who introduces Pi
4. beliefs
a.
V.
Terms and Phrases:
A. “dry yeast-less factuality”
1. facts that don’t inspire people
B. atheist
1.
3
C. agnostic
1.
VI.
Symbols:
A. Algae island =___________________________
1. parable: a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some
truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
B. Pi=______________________________________
1. mathematically: the ratio of the circumference (circular) of a circle
to its diameter (linear)
C. Orange=____________________________________
D. Richard Parker=_______________________________
E. Tsimtsum=___________________________________
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F. Meerkats=____________________________________
VII.
Themes:
A. reconciliation of science and religion as a way of understanding
universal truths
B. the importance of storytelling
C. union of seemingly opposing religions
D. the Will to Live
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VIII.
Pi’s Other Version of his Survival Story
A. The Cook
B. The Sailor
C. Mrs. Patel
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