Life of Pi Literary Essay Assignment
Mrs. Davis
What is a literary analysis? A literary essay interprets the meaning of a novel or play
and analyzes how the author conveys this meaning. The essay focuses on an element
of literature and studies how this element contributes to the meaning of a work as a
whole. A good literary essay does more than merely describe the theme of the book.
Instead, the essay explores the symbolic depths of the book. Such an essay requires
intellectual risk-taking and creativity. It argues a position—it interprets the text. A
good literary essay is exciting to read and to write because it focuses on interesting
details and opens up new ideas.
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Objective:
To demonstrate reading comprehension of Life of Pi
To create meaning in the text by focusing on a single textual element and theme and its symbolic
depths
Assignment:
Write a literary essay of at least three paragraphs responding to one of the following paper topics. Your essay
should follow MLA format for heading, citations, and bibliography. (Please use
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01 if you are not acquainted with this format…or need help.)
The essay should be in 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, Garamond, or Ariel font, and one inch margins. It
should also be double-spaced without extra spacing between paragraphs.
Timeline:
* Fri., Nov. 15th
* Fri, Nov. 15th
* Mon, Nov. 19th
* Thanksgiving
break
* Fri., Nov. 30th
* Mon., Dec.3rd
-Choose your paper topic and come to class with
questions, observations, etc. related to your topic choice.
-Meet in topic groups to continue gathering information;
address topic groups’ questions as a whole class; discuss the
power outline, which is due: Monday, Nov. 19th
-Show outline for completion; discuss thesis statements and
introductions; work in computer lab to fine-tune thesis
statements, outline, arguments
-We will not be working on our papers in class; please come see me with questions.
-Extra credit turn-in date.
-Paper is due—final draft (please conference with me prior to
this date if you have questions, want feedback, etc.); TURN IN 2 COPIES (1 WITH
YOUR NAME ON IT; THE OTHER WITHOUT YOUR NAME.)
Paper Topics:
Topic #1: Pick one motif from the book. How does this motif affect the meaning of the book?
For this, begin listing motifs you see in the book. Then, ask yourself, what the reoccurrence shows? In Martel's
use of the object again and again, what does it reveal?
Topic #2: Provide an existentialist reading of Life of Pi. How can we use this philosophy to better
understand the text?
Think about our discussions, the songs we analyzed, the koans we discussed. First, make a list of existentialist
observations. Then, ask what do these absurditities, these bleak outlooks, these defining moments for Pi, reveal
to us?
Topic #3: Compare Life of Pi to Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. How can we use Beckett's play to
understand Martel's text?
For this, you will need to check out a book so that you can read this short and amusing (often described as
strange and disturbing) play. You also could watch the movie. First, write down similarities, things you
observed that have the same thinking involved.
Topic #4: Pick one of the major symbols in the book and interpret it. Explain how your interpretation of
the symbol changes or affects the meaning of the book.
Like the motif topic, think about a symbol, and object that is representing something else, that seems to have an
important influence on Pi, on the story, on our understanding of the text. List possible symbols, first. Then,
decide what this symbol changes or affects the meaning of the text.
Topic #5: Compare Life of Pi to the mythological hero's journey. Is Pi a hero by the novel's completion?
How is this comparison important to understanding the meaning of the story? Use your knowledge of the
journey archetype to make your decision.
First, go through each stage of the hero and list possible events that Pi goes through and how you see it
representing that stage. Then, as you look at the final stage, make an assertion whether Pi made it to the fourth
stage.
Topic #6: Compare Life of Pi to Beowulf, an archetypal hero. Using your understanding of Beowulf as a
quintessential hero, make an assertion whether Pi is a hero, discussing both.
First, check out the story from me; I will photocopy the pages from the textbook, so you can read the translated
version. It is a fantastical tale of a hero full of brawn and pride. After reading Beowulf, start making
comparisons between Beowulf and Pi deciding if Pi fits the archetypal hero.
Topic #7: Trace religion through Martel's text. What is Martel trying to say about religion and its
purpose? You may focus on one religion or follow all three.
Looking at Pi's study of religion, start listing what he studies, what he gains, what he notices about it, what he
likes about it, and lastly why he studies it. Then, you will be able to analyze his connection to religion and apply
it to the story.
Topic #8: Argue for each of the animals as a manifestation of Pi's psyche. What part of his
psyche/personality is represented in the zebra? The orangutan? The hyena? And, most importantly, in
the tiger? Consider what befalls each and by what means. Through the understanding, what does it then,
allow us to understand about Pi?
List your ideas on what you think each animal represents. Eric F. has already started this under the Existentialist
tab. You might want to copy and paste his ideas here. Do you agree/disagree? Have a slightly different
understanding? Then, after you feel you have exhausted yor understanding of psychology and these animals, try
to discern what the connection is to Pi and how it affects the understanding of the story.
Topic #9: What is Martel saying about what humans need to survive? Use Maslow's hierarchy of needs as
well as your knowledge of the text to reveal Martel's commentary.
Looking back at our notes on Maslow's hierarchy, list the stages and how Pi lets go of certain needs to focus on
others. Lastly you will look at the overall stages Pi went through to make an assumption about what Martel is
saying about human needs.
Topic #10: Argue for this story as a mental and spiritual journey rather than a physical one. In this
journey, what does he seek?
Start with a list of events that you feel are part of that mental and spiritual journey. Then, think about what Pi
seeks with each journey. Once you have these lists, apply these to make an assertion about this story as one that
takes place not on the ocean, but in his mind.
Topic #11: Which story do you believe? Why? If we understand Pi's passengers as humans, how does this
story change?
Pi challenges his interviewers to pick the story they like better. We know what they pick. Decide for yourself
which one you like and why. What will be difficult about this prompt is certainly not the discussion as it is
dependent on your own ideas, but rather, finding the proof to show why this makes it a better story.
Topic #12: A close-reading is a type of analysis in which the writer uses a single passage to discuss the
text as a whole. Choose a passage of no more than one page. Carefully dissect this passage, using this
passage to reveal the meaning of the text as a whole.
What is interesting to think about is a comment Martel himself said in an interview, that Chapters 21-22 are
crucial to the understanding of the text. Go back to these pages and you will notice that they are not obvious in
their poignancy. This might be a great place to use for a close reading. Certainly, you can choose your own
selection. List your ideas and what you understand about it, as it relates to the whole text.
Topic #13: Additional ideas? Make sure to get these approved prior to writing your essay.
I have already visited with one student about using a movie to make a connection with existentialism and Life of
Pi. I am not so worried about the beginning idea, although I certainly want you to run the idea by me. What I do
want you to discuss with me, is the formulation of an argument. This will be so important as you work through
your topic.
Those of you that won the Survivor challenge, here are our dates for meeting and discussing paper topics,
the grading rubric, etc.
Timeline:
* Fri, Nov. 16th
* Fri, Nov. 16th
* Mon, Nov. 19th
* Fri, Nov. 30th
(if we don’t have
student papers
turned in Fri.,
we will need to
meet briefly
after school on
Monday.
Notes, questions:
-Look over the AP grading rubric; come with questions, observations, etc.
-Meet as a group to discuss the grading rubric. Practice applying the rubric
to a student papers. Discuss results.
-Today we are going to be in the computer lab. I would like you to look at the topics,
look at the rubric, check out AP writing sites online, and make adjustments where
you see fit for the rubric your group will create. Create the rubric in class today.
-Meet with me after school today for a brief 5 minutes. You will need to find a
meeting date to discuss papers and rubrics; look at your schedule ahead of time and
have a date available to work with me. I have MWF 2nd & 5th off, or after school
until 3:30pm. TR I have 1st, 2nd, & 5th off, and after school until 3:30pm as well. You
will each score 2 papers using your rubric. We will come together as a group to
discuss the scores, similarities, differences, etc. as compared to each others’ grading
and mine.