Dichotomy, symbols and motifs, style and imagery

Life of Pi: Part 2Dichotomy, symbols and motifs, style and

imagery.

Richard Parker “Thirsty”Prusten

Tiger = 8ft.

Solar Still

DichotomyDichotomy: division into two parts or

classifications, especially when they are sharply distinguished or opposed.

Work at table to find as many examples as possible.

Examples and Ch. 56Pi’s double major (Theology and Zoology)

Pi’s name: Heaven and Earth

Ravi and Pi

Canada and India

The pool and the sea

Pi’s mom and dad

Pi and Richard Parker

The Tsimtsum and the LifeboatReason vs. Imagination Science vs. ReligionTruth vs. Fiction

Religious Tolerance vs. Religious AntipathyCaptivity vs. FreedomHeaven vs. EarthAtheists vs. AgnosticsMan vs. AnimalPast vs. PresentBoredom and Terror*Fear and life*

Symbol GameIn groups:

For each symbol: What does it symbolize? Find a specific example. Why use this symbol in this book?

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Lifeboat

Water

Zebra, Hyena, and Orange Juice

Pi’s Makeshift Raft

Richard Parker

Motif: Macro/MicroWe have covered (by default) several motifs. Can you

remember some?This motif in Pi is the same as one in LOF: Macro/Micro

literally means large and smallEcology – macrocosms and microcosmsPhysics – the universe level and subatomic levelSociology – a small group of people representing all of

humankind

1. Find one piece of textual evidence in Pi that demonstrates one of these macro/micro ideas

2. Answer the question: what big idea is the motif supporting?

Micro/Macro

Let’s Review…Take a look at Ch. 16 (page 47), the

sentence beginning, “I am Hindu…” and ending with the, “the same word – faith.”

What literary devices do you notice and what would you say about them?How does the author use literary devices to help

us understand how Pi feels about his Hindu faith?

What about…

Syntax

I am Hindu because of sculptured cones of red kumkum powder and baskets of yellow turmeric nuggets, because of garlands of flowers and pieces of broken coconut, because of the clanging of bells to announce one’s arrival to God, because of the whine of the reedy nadaswaram and the beating of the drums, because of the patter of bare feet against stone floors down dark corridors pierced by shafts of sunlight, because of the fragrance of incense, because of flames of arati lamps circling in the darkness, because of bhajans being sweetly sung, because of elephants standing around to bless, because of colourful murals telling colourful stories, because of foreheads carrying, variously signified, the same word – faith.”

Syntax…Did you notice it was all one sentence?

What can we say about the fact Pi strings all of the reasons about why he is Hindu into one sentence?

What could you say this suggests about his feelings towards this particular faith?

What about…

Diction (Word Choice)High or Low?

I am Hindu because of sculptured cones of red kumkum powder and baskets of yellow turmeric nuggets, because of garlands of flowers and pieces of broken coconut, because of the clanging of bells to announce one’s arrival to God, because of the whine of the reedy nadaswaram and the beating of the drums, because of the patter of bare feet against stone floors down dark corridors pierced by shafts of sunlight, because of the fragrance of incense, because of flames of arati lamps circling in the darkness, because of bhajans being sweetly sung, because of elephants standing around to bless, because of colourful murals telling colourful stories, because of foreheads carrying, variously signified, the same word – faith.”

Diction…Did you notice the repetition of the word

“because”?

What can we say about the fact Pi begins every reason he gives with the word “because”?

What could you say this suggests about his feelings towards this particular faith?

What about…

Imagery

I am Hindu because of sculptured cones of red kumkum powder and baskets of yellow turmeric nuggets, because of garlands of flowers and pieces of broken coconut, because of the clanging of bells to announce one’s arrival to God, because of the whine of the reedy nadaswaram and the beating of the drums, because of the patter of bare feet against stone floors down dark corridors pierced by shafts of sunlight, because of the fragrance of incense, because of flames of arati lamps circling in the darkness, because of bhajans being sweetly sung, because of elephants standing around to bless, because of colourful murals telling colourful stories, because of foreheads carrying, variously signified, the same word – faith.”

Imagery…Did you notice the sensory references?What can we say about the fact invokes

nearly all of our senses?What could you say this suggests about his

feelings towards this particular faith?

“A Sunrise on the Veld”1. Underline examples of specific

details/imagery as we read.2. Underline examples of figurative language

of any kind as we read.3. I will ask you to relate these two devices to

the development of mood and setting and the overall theme of the story.

Steps to dealing with thesis:1. What is a/the theme?

a) Hints: It is going to be similar to one in Pi. Or, man’s relationship to nature. Or, coming of age statement.

b) How do I know this?

2. How does the establishment of a) mood/setting and imagery contribute to this

theme?b) Examples you highlighted

3. How to approach imagery well:

Writing About Imagery Well“My mother was making dinner, pulling black veins out of the backs of fleshy prawns. Next to her was a plate of squid, their backs crisscrossed with knife markings. My father leaned back and belched loudly…”

The imagery in these sentences give a visual and aural description of a truly disgusting dinner. The author describes “black veins” in the fish her mother prepares, as well as the “crisscrossed” marks in its “fleshy” back, followed by the unpleasant sound of her father’s belch. The sights and sounds of the dinner are horribly unappealing, and help the author to establish her disgust with her family’s behavior and eating habits.

Imagery = literary device in which the author appeals to any of the five senses

What is the purpose of imagery?Boot Camp review: to establish mood, tone,

theme, setting, etc.

NEVER WRITE:“To paint a picture in the reader’s head”“To help the reader see the scene more clearly”

Imagery Prompt #2Thesis: In “Life of Pi,” Yann Martel reveals a message about survival through imagery. (ch. 61, when the first fish is finished off).