12th English : Life of Pi
Unit 2.3 > Life of Pi
Warm Up
Imagine you are going on a trek or an adventure. It requires grit and a strong will to survive the odds and emerge unscathed. Most importantly, you should carry an emergency kit.
| First – Aid Kit | Whistle | Candles | Lighter | Mobile Phone |
| Matches | Warm blanket | Slippers | Batteries | Water bottles |
Glossary
- belch – expel air noisily
- flotsam – debris floating in a river or sea
- tarpaulin – a heavy waterproof sheet
- incredible – unbelievable
- conundrum – a riddle
- asphyxiation – death due to lack of oxygen
- putrid – rotting
- guise – pretence
- cauldron – a large bowl or pot
- splinters – a long sharp fragment of material, often wood
- plausible – probable, likely,
- unambiguous – clear
- supplication – a humble request, prayer
- glistened – shone
- gunnel – upper edge of the side of a boat
- gurgling – a kind of sound when water is drunk fast
1. Answer the following questions in a sentence or two each, based on your understanding of the story.
a) Describe the pathetic condition of Pi in the middle of the ocean.
Pi became an orphan. He was hanging on an oar. He had a tiger in front of him and sharks beneath him. A violent storm was about him.
b) Who was Richard Parker?
Richard Parker was a tiger.
c) Richard Parker’s survival seemed incredible to Pi. Why?
Richard Parker was a 450 pound Bengal tiger. Pi thought such a huge animal could not withstand thirst and hunger.
d) Why was the great beast not behaving naturally?
The great beast was not behaving naturally because it must have been sedated or it suffered from sea sickness.
e) Why was Pi not afraid of the hyena?
Pi was not afraid of the hyena because he had the presence of a huge animal, the tiger.
f) Describe Pi’s struggle to find drinking water.
Pi was thirsty and his throat was parched. He was going from place to place in the life boat to find out water. Finally he saw many tins of water just below the tarpaulin. He slowly moved towards that and took three tins and quenched his thirst.
g) What was Pi’s reaction when he discovered drinking water?
When he saw the water tins they glittered like diamonds. His heart began to pound. He unrolled the tarpaulin further and took the tins.
h) Why did Pi want to tame Parker?
When the situation came to die, the animal because of its toughness may out live Pi.. He wanted to tame Parker to make it die if the situation came, before him.
i) What saved Pi’s life?
Richard Parker, the tiger saved Pi’s life.
j) How did Pi reunite with his family?
At the end he left the tiger in a jungle. A ship came to him and he reunited with his family
2. Answer the following questions in about 50 words.
a) How did the presence of Richard Parker help Pi?
Pi was not afraid of other animals because of the presence of Richard Parker. The tiger was not behaving in the usual way. It was because it might have been sedated or it suffered from sea sickness. He had the will to live because of the presence of Parker. He made him not to think too much about the tragic incidents and his family.
b) Describe the lifeboat.
The lifeboat was three and a half deep, eight feet wide and twenty six feet long. The lifeboat was designed to carry thirty two people. Everything in the lifeboat was painted orange. It had tarpaulin, life jackets, lifebuoy and oars. The words Tsimtsum and Panama were painted on either side of the bow in black Roman capital.
c) How did Pi feel after drinking water?
Pi was suffering from thirst. His throat was parched. He went from place to place to find out water. Finally he found tins of water under the tarpaulin. With some difficulty he opened the tins and drank water. He was delighted and it brought him hope, surprise, disbelief, thrill and gratitude.
d) Did Pi want Richard Parker to die? Answer, giving reasons.
First he wanted to tame Richard Parker so that if a situation to die came he would make Parker die first. Then he realised that a part of him was glad about Parker and that part did not want Parker to die because if it died he would be left alone.
3. Answer in a paragraph.
a) How did the presence of Richard Parker influence the attitude of Pi?
Pi on his way to Canada – ship wrecked – escaped in a life boat – tiger, orangutan, zebra, hyena – left only with tiger – a protection to him – seemed sedated – seasickness –other animals fear of bigger animal – brought Pi peace – wanted to tame him – tiger should die first – his love for tiger – wanted to live with tiger
‘Life of Pi’ is an abridged version of the famous novel titled ‘Life of Pi’ written by Yann Martel. Pi was on his way to Canada with his father, mother and animals of his zoo. But unfortunately the ship was wrecked and Pi escaped in a lifeboat. In the same lifeboat he had a tiger named Richard Parker, an orangutan, a zebra and a hyena. At the end he was left with the tiger. Parker’s presence was a protection for him from other animals. It behaved as if it was sedated and it suffered from seasickness. Other animals were silent because of the fear of the bigger animal. Pi accepted that Parker calmed him down. He says that one who scared him brought him peace. He wanted to tame him. His attitude was that he tiger should die first. But suddenly he realised that part of him loved the tiger. He did not want to be left alone. So he wanted to live with the tiger.
Adventures start where plans end.
b) Water is the elixir of life. Substantiate the statement with reference to the story of ‘Life of Pi’.
Pi on his way to Canada – animals of his zoo – ship wrecked – escaped with few animals – thirsty – moving from one end to other – he might die – discovered water cans – water enough for 124 days – opened the can – poured the water into his throat – he got back his life – liquid of life –
‘Life of Pi’ is an abridged version of the famous novel titled ‘Life of Pi’ written by Yann Martel. Pi was on his way to Canada with his father, mother and animals of his zoo. But unfortunately the ship was wrecked and Pi escaped in a lifeboat. He managed the fear of the animals but he could not manage the thirst. His throat was parched. He was moving from one end to other to find out water. He thought that if he could not drink water he would die. Finally he discovered that the life boat had enough water in the cans. His heart began to pound at the prospect of drinking water. He unrolled the tarpaulin and found out the water which was enough for him for 124 days. He took a can and opened it with difficulty and poured the water into his throat. He felt that he got back his life with the water. So he says it was the liquid of life. Water is the elixir which gives life to man.
Live your life by a compass, not a clock – Stephen Covey
c) If you were lost at sea for as long as Pi was, what is the one item you would want with you? Write a diary entry in which you identify the item and explain why it is the one thing you would want with you.
If I were lost in the sea like Pi I would like to carry enough water and food. I could have some other things which are needed for first aid if something happens during the struggle. It is always better to have covering over the head maybe with a tarpaulin. I would be happy if I have some system to call the passing ships to come to help me.
4. Sequence the following incidents logically to write the summary of the story ‘Life of Pi’.
- As he looked around, he was shocked to find Richard Parker on board.
- His search for water took him dangerously close to Richard Parker but nothing could stop him – neither Richard Parker nor the hyena.
- Pi left Richard Parker in a jungle and reunited with his family.
- Pi came back to life and his senses after drinking the elixir of life.
- He understood that it was Richard Parker who helped him survive for 227 days.
- He was pinned by weakness having had no food, water or even sleep for nearly three days.
- Strangely his thirst overpowered his fear of Richard Parker and he went about exploring for fresh water.
- A little later, he succeeded in his search, when he found stacks of cans of drinking water.
- Pi was stranded in the Pacific on a lifeboat.
- Then, he realized that Parker who scared him earlier brought him peace, purpose and wholeness.
Ans : 2, 4, 10, 7, 9, 3, 5, 6, 1, 8
Summary
Pi was stranded in the Pacific on a lifeboat. As he looked around, he was shocked to find Richard Parker on board. He was pinned by weakness having had no food, water or even sleep for nearly three days. His search for water took him dangerously close to Richard Parker but nothing could stop him – neither Richard Parker nor the hyena. Strangely his thirst overpowered his fear of Richard Parker and he went about exploring for fresh water. A little later, he succeeded in his search, when he found stacks of cans of drinking water. Pi came back to life and his senses after drinking the elixir of life. Then, he realized that Parker who scared him earlier brought him peace, purpose and wholeness. He understood that it was Richard Parker who helped him survive for 227 days. Pi left Richard Parker in a jungle and reunited with his family.
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