Instead of this task, you can type 180+ words on the 5th grade writings in Google Folder called "Island Project." Just enter into this blog task that you've selected helping the 5th graders as you option. Thanks.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Life of Pi Devices--blog task due March 9
Instead of this task, you can type 180+ words on the 5th grade writings in Google Folder called "Island Project." Just enter into this blog task that you've selected helping the 5th graders as you option. Thanks.
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97 comments:
3 Kueter M
Themes make this novel amazing. There are many themes: nature of truth, territorial dominance, relationship between man and beast, and the powers of the will to survive and so much more. The nature of truth is evident throughout part one. Pi expresses that the truth does not necessarily have to come from facts or science, but faith and belief can provide truths as well, for those willing to accept them. Territorial dominance is show more when Pi and Richard Parker are stranded at sea. An example is when Pi dumps him urine on the tarpaulin on the lifeboat to mark his territory. Relationship between man and beast is the moral of Pi’s story. It shows that when humankind respects the animal kingdom, the two can live together in relative harmony, just as Pi and Richard Parker did for 227 days. Lastly, there is the powers of the will to survive which is show during part two. Pi’s will to live gave him the power to do things that he never imagined himself doing. Even at those moments when Pi thought he would die tomorrow, his will to live overcame his thoughts of death and kept him alive even when his body and mind did not want to continue.
1 Kueter A
Allusions make this novel amazing, especially the religious ones. There are many connections between Life of Pi and the story of Noah’s Ark. The obvious similarity is the that fact they both end up on a ship with many animals aboard as well. Another similarity is that both depend on God for guidance at sea. Also both men were mocked for their adventure, either before or after. Noah was mocked by friends for believing a flood was coming and Pi was mocked by the Japanese officials for telling them a story that they could not believe. Lastly, both men were spared. Noah lived from the flood and Pi was saved in the end. Symbols also make this book amazing like the color orange. Orange represents hope and survival. Pi’s present family cat is orange, Richard Parker was orange, the survival gear on the lifeboat was orange, and one of the most humanly relatable animals on the lifeboat had orange in her name: Orange Juice. All of these things gave Pi a will to survive and hope. Also Pi’s name is a symbol for the mathematical number, pi, whose number patterns never repeat, which also symbolizes Pi’s long journey in which every event is different and never repeats.
Powell 1
Personally, I found Yann Martel’s use of symbolism to be the most impactful part of Life of Pi. Ranging from religious symbolism to animal psychology, every detail within the novel seemed to carry weight as something more than what it seems. Allusions to religious texts pervaded the novel, reinforcing the basic elements of the story as well as foreshadowing what is to come. However, the alternate story of Pi’s journey brought about a climax that flipped everything readers had assumed on its head. Martel masterfully places elements of the story that, when looked at through the lens of the alternate story, come to define Pi as more than just an intelligent boy with immense faith. Readers can reread the story, analyzing every act of Richard Parker as the subconscious of Pi himself as he tames the beast within himself. Richard Parker’s emergence after the death of the zebra show how Pi reverted to our species’s animal roots to survive the hostile environment of the sea, while Richard Parker’s flight at the end of the second act indicate Pi’s return to humanity. Even Martel’s choice of animals present further characterization of both the alternate story’s characters and Pi himself. Pi represents himself as a tiger, one of the most powerful alpha creatures on the planet. Does this mean Pi believes himself to be an alpha among humans? Or something else? Martel cleverly places symbolism that can be taken in various ways so readers attach part of themselves to the novel as they read. This vague symbolism that teaches people to look inside themselves for the answer is what truly makes Life of Pi a masterpiece.
9 March 2017
6 Smit
Yann Martel has proved himself time and time again throughout Life of Pi to be a master of imagery. Pi’s environments, from the untamed Pacific to his domestic home in Canada, are brought to vivid life. Martel’s descriptions are not so detailed as to lose focus on the story but enough to paint a clear mental picture for the reader to float along on and enjoy. Chapter 78 stands out as a beautifully written text depicting the relation of the sea and the sky to a castaway. Much will appear to change during anyone’s time on open water and here Martel gives the reader a delicious taste, though a little brackish, of how many possibilities and combinations can be created where Heaven and Earth meet. A few chapters in the novel are purposely left vague in detail. When Pi is first introduced to his new abode on the lifeboat, the reader is given little description to picture its size, shape, color, provisions, etc. Pi had been thrown into the lifeboat during the chaos of a storm and a sinking ship; there was to much confusion for Pi to fully take in where he would now reside. The boat is described a chapter or two later, when Pi has had time to acclimate to his new surroundings.
6 Bachman
In my opinion, one of the things Yann Martel does masterfully is use symbolism in his novel Life of Pi. One of the big symbols that I picked up on in this novel is the color orange. I noticed that the things that helped Pi survive on the life raft, were always orange. From the Orange whistle he used to tame Richard Parker, to the orange life jackets he used to make a raft, and even the bengal tiger Richard Parker himself. All of these things help Pi survive giving him a sense of comfort around the color orange, this is evident because his young daughter has a orange tabby cat. Even Pi’s name draws symbolism, the mathematical equation of pi represents the main character's enduring journey on the life raft, because the number is complex and never-ending. The theme of truth also comes into play, most people believe a truth has to be proven scientifically. Through Pi’s large religious beliefs, he believes that truth can come to him, if he puts his faith in god. Through a religious theme, Pi’s journey on the lifeboat can be compared to Noah’s journey on the ark. Both with animals and no end in sight managed to use their faith in god to get them to safety.
6 Zajicek
I think that the way Yann Martel uses imagery is bitter sweet. When investing so much imagery in a scene really engages the reader to keep reading. The reader can then picture that very scene being described to them. The author goes in depth to describe the feelings Pi is having thus creating an environment where the reader can then relate to the main character. Martel will also use his great ability of imagery to create an image of the scenery in the reader's mind. This allows the reader to feel as if they are right with Pi. On the other some scenes are so brutally described that reading it is almost impossible. When Yann Martel goes in depth about how the animals survive it is such a gruesome description that reading it is an unpleasant task. The event that I have stuck in my head is where the hyena starts to feed off the zebra and then goes after the orangutan. These events were described in such detail that I felt as if I was watching it happen and that is something I never want to watch happen.
Yann Martel’s novel, Life of Pi, is laden with literary devices, but the most prevalent device is imagery. Martel paints his story with many as hues of description as possible. The animals are the most detailed in the novel, showing their importance. It is evident in his descriptions that he spent hours devoted to examining animals, from how they move and eat to how they look and act, to give the readers a picture so clear, that they would be able to understand the animal without even hearing of the beast before. Martel is able to take a preconceived notion of an animal and change it to match his view with his imagery. For example, the most I had ever seen of a hyena was from Lion King, and even though I knew they were predatory creatures, I would never have seen them as the beasts Martel depicts. To paint a word picture with words such as “look[ing] rather like the symptoms of a skin disease, a virulent form of mange”, Martel leaves no question as to the grotesqueness that he is trying to show (116). Martel has exemplary word choice in all of his descriptions that truly capture the essence of the subject. His imagery is so captivating that you forget that you are reading a book and not living the story. He is able to bring his story to life with imagery that can be barely rivaled by other authors.
6 Beckman
Although I’m not all the way done with the novel, I do have to say that at this moment, it is not my favorite book. I think that the author does a phenomenal job at describing the setting in such great detail, that at times it gets quite boring. He does, however, produce some irony in some statements such as, “I don’t have just one fig. I have a whole figment” (243). There are some symbols in the story, however, they are buried and harder to find than in most books, which is not necessarily a bad thing, just an unconventional one. For example, I found at the beginning of the novel, when the hyena was eating the zebra alive, that Life of Pi vastly relates to The Road by Cormac McCarthy. In The Road, the cannibals do not just kill the people right away. Instead, they would chop off an arm and eat it for dinner as to keep the body functioning which would keep it from decaying. They kept the people alive so that they would have fresh meat, as I am sure the hyena unintentionally did, as well. It was when Mr. Christensen pointed it out as we were reading Chapter 91, that I connected it to the book again, which I found enlightening and very cool.
6 Meyer
After reading Life of Pi, I noticed Yann Martel’s exquisite use of many literary devices, but his imagery stood out to me the most. Martel vividly created images with his words to exact detail of what he imagined and easily made displayed it to me, the reader. A prime example is Martel’s description of the variety of animals in his novel. To great depth does Martel describe Richard Parker, as Pi examines him on the raft. He refers to the male tiger’s large size in body, teeth, and strides. Not to mention, Martel describes minor characters clearly as well, including the orangutan, hyena, zebra, and other animals at the zoo. However, Martel also clearly describes the scene of the sinking of the ship. He creates the scene by describing what Pi heard, saw, thought, and felt, a great combination in my opinion. If this novel were not to have as in depth imagery, the understanding and meaning would become more opaque. I believe the imagery created by Martel makes the story extraordinary. I felt as if I was in Pi’s position, and I can thank the imagery for that. A novel that does not describe the visual appearance for the characters may as well not be considered a novel, for I think that imagery is what makes most novels a novel.
Reindl 1
One literary device that makes Life of Pi amazing for me is the symbolism that the whole book contains. Many books thrive off of using symbolism to help show a deeper meaning to their story, but Life of Pi seems to take the symbolism to a whole new level. Every chapter, even going down to the smallest ones, have bits upon chunks of symbolism. My favorite symbol in the book so far is of Pi’s name and what comes along with it. Pi, in terms of math, is an infinite strand of numbers used to help formulate the circumference of a circle. There are plenty of numbers that go on to infinity, but pi’s sequence of numbers is irrational, meaning that none of its parts repeat; pi is forever different and non repeating. This is symbolic to Pi and his journeys. Nothing that Pi experienced was truly the same and did not repeat, and the experiences were different to what anybody else had experienced before. The symbols that Yann Martel put into this book were truly amazing and quite different from what I have normally experienced with other books.
3 Brandsrud
Yann Martel: before Life of Pi, I had never even heard of this man; however, after finishing the novel, I can easily see how he is one of the greatest authors. Life of Pi has been my favorite book that we have read thus far, and I can only expect more greatness in the next novel, Beatrice and Virgil. Back to Life of Pi for now, though. In this novel I was fascinated with the amount of detail expressed in the imagery. From the description of the weather to the various animals to the algae island, for nearly eighty percent of this novel I was sold on the idea that this was a true story, and Mr. Martel had actually met with this man, Piscine Molitor Patel, and wrote of his story, I had no impression that this was a hoax until we discussed it in class. Now, after finishing the entire novel, I do question which is true, the story with or without the animals? This idea brings back the whole, “just because it isn’t real doesn’t mean it isn’t true.” And to Pi, the story with Richard Parker is what happened, but I believe that the story without the animals is what really happened, and through the use of an active imagination and many metaphors (such as Richard Parker representing Pi’s id) are what makes the animal story to act as though it is true.
6 Presler
More so than many other books that I have read, it seems as though Yann Martel has agonized over every word, every sentence, and every paragraph in order to create the best story possible in a way that keep readers interested in what they are examining. Each chapter is a reflection of the tireless work he put into creating the novel and the criticism/editing that enhanced the quality of the book. With what I have read thus far, I have made note of the use that irony and metaphor have had on my reading experience. One of the most ironic statements that I noticed can be found in Chapter 49: “I [Pi] believe it was this that saved my life that morning, that I was quite literally dying of thirst.” This comment stood out simply because it’s strange that his dying allows him to survive. A metaphor soon after (found on Page 139) took on its own importance: “How true it is that necessity is the mother of invention, how very true.” The use of this remark pushes readers to think deeper and allows for a more in depth description of what Pi is going through on the life boat.
1 Wrightsman
Some literary devices can ruin a book or they can essentially make the book. Before reading Life of Pi, I had not necessarily focused on the literary devices that authors have included into their novels. Now, after finishing the book and really looking into them, I realized how much the literary devices impact the person reading the book and what kind of suspense they create. The irony of Pi being on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean with a bengal tiger gives the reader suspense. At any time Pi could be killed as his father had said the tiger would do if Pi and his brother Ravi ever got close to him at the zoo. The setting in Life of Pi is also a big influence on how the book plays out. Pi is on a large lifeboat in the middle of the ocean with a big bengal tiger. The journey he takes gets more and more interesting as the novel continues and the setting just gives it even more suspense. Yann Martel has used simple metaphors in this novel that not only make the reader think but compare Pi's journey to the real world but in a whole different way. Overall, literary devices can help show the reader a story rather than just tell them in words.
1 Sherron
I think Yann Martel uses many literary devices to enhance the message of the novel and make it more interesting for the readers. Because Pi is a deeply religious man, there are many religious symbols and themes present throughout. As part of his routine, he does not lose his faith--he prays at least three times a day. One part that really impressed me is how Pi said he was not mad at God for putting him here, but he was thankful that God was keeping him alive. I didn’t instantly notice it, but the book is also rife with little examples of comedic relief with puns and irony. In Chapter 90, he made many puns about his situation, trying to make light of it. At the very end, when he retells his story using people instead of animals, I think it brings about a confusing light and way to end the novel. Because of this ending, many question whether Pi did truly go crazy on the journey or if he simply made up the people because the Japanese Administration of Transport was not believing his current story. Nevertheless, just imagining how things played out with a tiger on board is exhilarating.
1 Vielmette
In Life of Pi some of the best literary devices would be his ability to use imagery to give the full picture to the reader or even let things seem ambiguous to let the reader fill in the detail on their own. One of the ways he uses imagery was the description of the turtle being butchered as quoted "There was no neck. The turtle had retracted into its shell; all that showed of its head was its eyes and its beak, surrounded by circles of skin" (Kesey 201). When using imagery like this it gives a whole new dimension to the novel and puts you in the shoes of Pi as he is stranded on the life boat. Another use of literary devices is his use of onomatopoeia while he is on the boat and training Richard Parker with the whistle and using "TREEEEEEEE TREEEEEE TREEEEEE" as a way to describe the sound of the whistle being blown. Yann Martel uses literary devices all through his book which gives more depth to the book and gives it new life when looking through a window instead of through a page in a novel.
Galbavy 1
In my opinion Life of Pi is a great novel. I think what elevates the whole story is the main theme of surviving against insurmountable odds, or what we believed would be. The odds of Pi surviving on the lifeboat for as long as he does seems impossible for someone that young especially with at first a hyena and then primarily with a tiger. I thought it was cool that an orangutan that symbolized peace in the story and a motherly figure ferociously fought against the hyena building up the main theme of survival by any means. Every animal or person is the same in the idea that they are afraid of death and will do anything to fight for survival. This is depicted as the zebra that was being eaten on its insides, but continued to fight to keep breathing. The hyena’s treachery and the frenchman's cannibalism show how far an animal or human will go in attempts to avoid extinction. I didn’t really like another human being introduced, but at the same time I liked it. What I didn’t like was that the novel brought another human in when throughout the novel Yann was mainly using animals to show how far livings things will go to survive and I thought that was cool. I did like that it brought a deeper meaning into the survival aspect. Also the use of religious symbolism was evident as he would pray three times a day even when God faced him with a daunting test. Those were the primary aspects of symbolism that I liked in this novel.
Van Kalsbeek 7
Throughout the novel of Life of Pi, Yann Martel does an excellent job of religious symbolism in important events. In chapter 47 the hyena gets a hold of Orange Juice’s throat and kills Orange Juice. He then compares Orange Juice as “her arms were spread wide open and her short legs were folded together and slightly turned to one side. She looked like a simian Christ on the Cross. Except for her head. She was beheaded”. It is a predominant theme throughout the novel of Pi being extremely religious since he does associate with three different religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, and Islamic. He just believes that love should conquer all and that no matter your religion everyone should just love God. Later in chapter 61 when Pi kills his first fish, he compares himself to the sage Markandeya, “who fell out out of Vishnu's mouth Vishnu was sleeping and so beheld the entire universe”. Which he is comparing the fish to the entire universe because this will be his savior in order to survive in the lifeboat. Overall the religious symbolism in the book helps mold Pi into the man he will later grow up to be and to show everyone that if you just believe in God that anything can come true if you just learn to Love and not criticize.
Corcoran 6
I think the amount of imagery and descriptiveness that Martel incorporates in the novel plays a very important role in how it impacts me. Though a majority of the meat and potatoes of the story takes place on the lifeboat, Martel still finds a way to capture the setting with such wonderful words it makes the pages double as a window to the unfortunate situation Pi finds himself in. Knowing that in Beatrice and Virgil he spends 3 pages describing a pear, it is evident how brilliant Yann is at using words to surround the reader and break down the barrier to allow the most lush, vivid, and filled out imagery to fill your head. He describes, in detail, without missing a beat everything from the smallest of elements to the most elaborate of scenes in the most beautiful and captivating manner. Yann ensures he fills any gap that would cause confusion and he is constantly explaining and extrapolating on things to add a personal level of insight to make Pi’s journey all the more intimate and wonderfully adventurous the entire ride.
Hauge 3
I think that the setting and irony makes this book as good as it is. The way Martel describes the setting and the colors and the image that come to my mind is blooming with color and texture. I feel that this is one of the reasons why this book has been my favorite of the three books we have read so far. It is easy to picture in mind what they started off with and in the end how Richard Parker and Pi look. The bright colors of the fish and the coat of Richard Parker are easy to picture because of Martel’s ability to describe in such detail. The irony is what gets me in the end. When Pi is telling his story to the two men who don’t believe his first story he tells them a different story without animals. Although the people in the second story acted as much as animals did in the first one. The possibility of the second story being what actually happened bothers me a lot. Believing that it was animals all along then saying it was actually three other people on the boat besides Pi was bizarre. It makes me horribly sad and a little unsettled.
Bogensberger 6
In my opinion, the literary device that Yann Martel is a master at would be imagery. Every page in Life of Pi is jam packed with details which really helps the reader visualize what is happening at that moment. Martel leaves nothing out when he is writing, he includes every emotion that the characters are feeling so then the reader can stand in their shoes and feel what they are feeling. Martel describes every person, animal, and setting with such great detail that the reader should have no problem painting a picture of what it looks like. The way Martel described Richard Parker was my favorite part, of course I already knew what a tiger looked like but he described RP in a whole different and more descriptive way - “He was incredibly muscular, yet his haunches were thin and his glossy coat hung loosely on his frame” , “ears shaped like perfect arches” , “carrot orange face”. He wrote about half a page just describing RP and it helped to visualize the tiger exactly as Pi saw it. The only time I did not appreciate the imagery was when he endlessly described the animals deaths and how they looked afterwards, he went so in depth with the details that it was hard to keep reading. Martel is so skilled at bringing a book to life. His imagery helps readers to not only read the words on the page but see them as well.
Dodge Waldera p.3
Throughout the book Life of Pi, Yan Martel uses an incredibly large amount of literary techniques to help make his writing vibrant and more interesting. One technique that he uses greatly throughout is imagery and allusions. He uses great detail when describing anything if it is the color or an object, the weather, or even Richard Parkers body throughout the story. Another part of the story that I thought contained a large amount of literary devices was when Pi was describing how the hyena kills the Zebra in the lifeboat. Another device that is used is irony. At the start of the book while he is still in India with his family he alludes to many things that will appear further in the book. Yann Martel also decides to write the book in a peculiar way, he provides many points of view. You can see the inside thoughts of both Pi Patel and Yann Martel. Another literary device that encloses the whole book is the allegory, Pi Patel and Richard Parker closely mirror one another. One main symbol presented in the book is the boat journey in its entirety, I believe it to symbolize faith as a whole.
6 Thompson
Before this class I have heard about Life of Pi from the previous seniors and how good of a book it was, but I did not think that it was going to be as wonderful as it actually is. I think that Martel makes this novel amazing by using the literary devices of imagery and allusion. The imagery of what Pi is experiencing is described so beautifully that I feel like I am there. Martel’s description of the boat and Richard Parker made me visualize and create a mental picture that made me feel like I was in the boat with them. Martel’s imagery with this line “He hissed and reared up on his hind legs, towering over me, his great paws ready to swat me down” (272) is so great that I can see this in my mind and I actually feel terrified of Richard Parker at this point. The amazing imagery at the beginning of the novel had me wondering and actually believing that this was a true story and this event did actually occur. Even while finishing the novel, I still finding it difficult to believe with all the details given and the author’s interview with Pi that this is a fictional story. Another literary device that makes this novel amazing is Martel’s excellent use of allusions and specifically alluding to the Bible. I found that Martel alluded to Christ on the Cross many times at the beginning of the novel. Martel said that the Zebra appealed to heaven, alluding to Christ yelling up at God while on the cross, he also alluded to the cross when he said that “Orange Juice had her arms spread wide open and her short legs together. She kinda looked like the simian Christ on the Cross” (132). I really enjoy reading books that allude to stories that I know and I feel like I can make that connection and have a joy for the novel easier that way. I do not think that he failed to use any literary devices because I can feel like he strategically wrote this novel and it definitely shows in the enjoyment I have had while reading this novel. I can not wait to read the second novel of his.
6 Mendoza
Symbols and irony make this book astonishing. Symbols are everywhere in the book. His practice of many religions contain symbols as well. His prayer rug, bible, and even his eating habits represent his belief in numerous religions. His own name, Pi, symbolizes a never ending number, which is quite impossible to understand, just like some realities are difficult to comprehend. Pi is in relation to a circle, thus representing the cycle of life. Pi was stuck out sea for 227 days, 22 divided by 7 is Pi. Irony makes the book very humorous. The fact that when he read the survival guide in the book and it cautions him not to drink urine, Pi says, “No one called Pissing in his childhood would be caught dead with a cup of pee at his lips, even alone in a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific"(167). In the beginning of the journey, Pi is terrified of Richard Parker and was sure that Richard Parker would end his life, but when they reached land, he was mournful of their departure from each other. I really did enjoy this book and I cannot wait to see what Yann Martel has in store for us in the next novel, Beatrice and Virgil.
1 Harvison
I chose to comment on the Island Projects, some of them sound like quite interesting spring break destinations!
1 Sjogren
I chose the option of commenting on the Island Projects! I wish I could actually visit some of them!
1 Konz
This novel is full of so many literary devices that I do not even know where to start. I think the combination of the many techniques to intrigue the reader is what makes this an exciting book. One of my favorite literary devices is the irony. Stranded with Richard Parker, Pi manages to survive over 100 days on a lifeboat with a live tiger. Not only that, but Pi also credits Richard Parker with being the only reason he survived. Another literary device that is crucial to make this a good novel is the imagery Yann Martel uses to explain everything on Pi’s journey. Uncommon, this story would be impossible to visual if it were not for the detailed descriptions. One of the times that Yann Martel offers the most description (that stuck in my mind) was when the hyena was eating the zebra while it was still alive. Pi describes: “When it was no longer satisfied with the reach it hard from behind the zebra, the hyena climbed onto its haunches. It started pulling out coils of intestines and other viscera.” This scene would not be so memorable without the intense description of what is taking place. Also, this scene ties back into one of the main motifs of the book: life survives even in the most painful and trying times. Martel’s ability to tie the whole book together like this is what makes it such a good book.
7 Hanson
The literary devices that I feel help make this novel readable are the use of irony and symbolism. The use of irony happens a lot throughout the novel, the most notable to me is his his nickname. While in school, students and teachers pronounced piscine as pissing, giving him the name Pissing Patel. When Pi is out in the pacific, he contemplates of drinking his own urine. Another example of irony was how in the lifeboat only Pi and Richard Parker survive the long excursion. The irony in this is that two of the most dangerous predators on earth were stuck the same lifeboat for 200 plus days, and yet both survive. Another great literary device used in the book is symbolism. One great example of symbolism used in the books is the second story Pi tells the the japanese men. Whether this is the true story or not is up to the reader, but just how pi connects animals to the different people on the boat is quite fascinating. Throughout the entire novel Martel uses great literary devices, but personally this book was not very interesting.
3 Hoffman
My personal favorite literary devices used in Life of Pi would without a doubt be allusion. Yann Martel obviously has done enough research to allude almost anything to religion in the story, and regardless of how I only understand half and must research the other half, it’s all very cleverly done and comes off even as charming oftentimes. It truly makes the reader become Pi himself, because Pi was interested in researching the religions through interest. He also took it one step further by not so much as converting himself to the religions, but rather adding it to his religious roster, if you will. As the reader, if you are driven enough, as I was, you will research all the allusions Pi makes in his thoughts and words because of the simple fact that they intrigue. The next idea I bring up is not my own, I must credit Clemenson in my class. The symbolism in the story is absolutely incredible, mostly so the tiger. During our Forum, we discussed opposites and why things are the way they are, such as why wouldn’t Pi be instead inside a swimming pool for 227 days with a shark? Questions with jocular tone, of course. I then asked why it’s a tiger and nothing like a bear or another predator. Clemenson says that the tiger consists of three colors: Black, white, and orange. Black could symbolize Islam, white to Christianity, and Orange to Hinduism. This left us all shocked, what a genius man.
7 Myers
I decided to help the fifth graders with their Island Projects. It was fun to help them because they all had very creative ideas!
3Bowman
Throughout the Life of Pi, numerous literary devices are utilized to enhance the complexity found within this novel. However, the one that I find most intriguing would be the use of symbolism as Pi’s story upon the Pacific unfolds. Martel’s vivid use of symbolism throughout Pi’s adventure only adds to the reader’s imagination, hence allowing for their own “individual” creativity. Some of my favorite symbolism used by Martel includes that of a religious overtone. For example, the meerkats are a direct reflection of followers of religion. They stick to their routine and do everything the way they are supposed to, therefore allowing them to live a fulfilling and carefree life (even at the hands of Richard Parker). Furthermore, Martel’s use of the sun in this novel is exquisite. Martel proposes the sun as everything against Pi and his religious affiliations/beliefs: the harsh realities of mortal life. The sun is always present, constantly destroying Pi’s strength, hope, and faith. Yet, he is resilient and rewarded upon his arrival at the Island (though it eventually fails him as well). The use of this symbolism simply helps readers achieve a deeper connection to the journey of young Pi Patel; thus, allowing them to truly regain one’s faith in religion such as Pi did. Which, in retrospect, is the essence of Martel’s motivation for concocting this novel.
1 Forster
I chose to help the fifth graders with their island projects. I enjoyed reading their stories - they were super creative and cute!
7 Runia
Yann Martel uses many literary devices throughout Life of Pi. He expertly uses irony to make the novel amazing. For example, Martel uses situational irony in Pi's relationship with Richard Parker. Richard Parker keeps Pi from losing his will to live as a result of loneliness or depression. Richard Parker's presence keeps Pi busy trying to survive, distracting him from his depressing situation. Pi would not have endured the journey without Richard Parker. At the same time, Richard Parker provides one of the biggest threats to Pi's life, thus creating situational irony. Martel also uses dramatic irony throughout the novel. Early in the story, the reader is told that Pi survives his ordeal. So, as the reader takes in the story of Pi's time on the lifeboat, he or she already knows what will happen in the end. Pi, on the other hand, retells the story the way he viewed his situation at the time, when he did not know he would survive. Therefore, dramatic irony exists. Martel makes his novel amazing by using different types of irony.
In addition, Martel uses symbols, especially religious symbols, to make the novel amazing. The Tsimtsum could symbolize the biblical Noah's ark. The Tsimtsum is filled with wild animals and Pi's family, just as Noah’s ark was filled with wild animals and Noah’s family. Additionally, Pi and Richard Parker's survival on almost exclusively bread and fish could symbolize the biblical story of one of Jesus's miracles. Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Similarly, Pi and Richard Parker's survival on mostly bread and fish is miraculous. The miracle of the flying fish feeding Pi and Richard Parker on the lifeboat may also symbolize the same miracle of Jesus. Once again, the fish provide a noticeable similarity between the two stories. Martel employs many other symbols throughout the novel, too, not all of which are religious. Thus, Martel makes great use of different forms of irony and of symbolism to make the novel amazing.
3 Scholten
I decided to help the fifth graders with their Island projects. They were really fun to read and convinced me to want to go to their islands!
1 Singh
In The Life of Pi Yann Martel makes full use of literary devices throughout the novel. In my opinion, Martel’s use of imagery elevates this book to a level higher than other most. His passages contain descriptive eye candy that allows me to truly feel connected to Pi. Usually in other novels I dislike imagery because I feel that it takes away from what is happening in the story. It drags on too long and really plays no purpose in the novel. Martel uses it to give the reader a deeper look into what Pi is going through on his journey. The imagery is so creative and enticing that I have a genuine reaction at some paragraphs in the novel. My favorite example of imagery was when he discovered the chest with the food inside. When he eats the biscuit and drinks the water for the first time, the imagery that Martel uses makes a plain biscuit and a can of water seem like a source of life and joyous discovery for Pi. Yann Martel has revived my love imagery in novels by using it so well in his.
6 Reinschmidt
I helped the 5th graders with their assignment. They are so entertaining to read!
6 Alex Waltner
I chose to help the 5th graders with their island projects. I found them to be very entertaining.
6 McGee
I am really enjoying this book, Life of Pie is very good. I love how Yann Martel is constantly alluding to religious symbols. Like how Zebra died in a way that almost seemed like a crucifixion. And the mouse may have been sent by good in order to protect Pi from Richard Parker. Martel has so many symbols in his book and it works very well for him, every sentence is well thought through and adds tremendously to the story. There is also a lot of Irony in Martel's story. Richard Parker is one of the biggest threats to Pi, and Pi is very afraid of Richard Parker throughout the story. But even though Richard Parker is a very large life threat he is the thing that keeps Pi alive. Richard Parker gives Pi a reason to live to keep pushing on, and a couple of times throughout the book Pi says that he wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for Richard Parker. This is very Ironic because usually the thing that scares your doesn’t inspire you to live. These are just a few of the many literary devices that Yann Martel uses in his book to enhance the meaning of the book.
3 Holter
In my opinion, Yann Martel’s best literary devices would have to be either his use of similes or his use of imagery. Throughout the novel Martel uses similes to compare everything. When he compares his struggles, happiness, and adventures to something we can relate to, it helps us as the readers know and feel what he is going through. For example on page 80 Pi says, “the dorado hit the gunnel like a cannonball.” Just by saying this simple sentence it shows how powerful and forceful the dorado’s were in the book, and it gave us an insight to how hard it was to capture and kill the fish. Even though his similes are fantastic, his use of imagery is even better. I have read many books throughout my high school years, and none of those books compare to the Life of Pi. When Yann Martel was writing this book you can clearly tell he put tons of thought not only into the whole book, but just the one sentence. His use of imagery makes the novel more interesting and compelling. The way he describes the smells, the colors, the weather, and the appearance of him and Richard Parker adds detail to the novel that will intrigue readers to read and finish it.
1 Koehn
I chose the option of commenting on the Island Projects! Some of them sound very interesting and I wish I could visit some myself!
3 Schroder
As I have continued reading Life of Pi, I believe that imagery makes this book outstandingly amazing! Yann Martel is terrific at placing a vivid image in the reader's mind. There is never a moment in this book in which it will bore you. I could read this book and never get tired of it. The images that Martel places in my mind are unbearable sometimes. When he goes in depth about the animals being shred to pieces and rotting of them on the lifeboat, it makes my mind go in circles. Sometimes I even have to stop reading the book for a minute just to take in the event that he just described. Martel’s imagery makes it easy for the reader to place a picture in their mind and relate to Pi and his surroundings. He makes you feel like you are actually in the story that is taking place. One part of the book that really made me almost want to cringe, was when Martel was describing how Pi was tempted to eat Richard Parker's feces. The details were so vivid, it almost made me want to puke! I felt as if I was in this moment myself with Pi, which is something I never want to witness. All in all Yann Martel does a brilliant job at describing each and every detail. A reader can tell that Martel put a lot of time, effort, and thought into his descriptions of the stories he tells and how he wanted to word them.
House 3
The literary device that has the greatest impact upon me as a reader is the imagery, this is so with Life of Pi too. While Yann Martel uses so much literary devices some if them get lost upon us, given that we are Westernized American Citizens. We understand most of the biblical allusions and most of the irony and humor is straight forward, we are still missing a major part of the book. Most of us have no exposure to Islam or Hinduism and the Indian culture. The blatant references made to these things have a tendency to go over our head or we just skim by them choosing not to pursue them deeper. Image how much we are missing that is engrained between the lines with allusion to these two major ways of life of Pi Patel. Imagery is the most effective to me. It is the author's word on your page yet your own vision of what it looks like in your head. Each word that the author uses holds a different meaning to each person. THe more vivid an author makes a book the more alive and unique it becomes to each person. While we might read the same book we each experience a different story. The complex vivid imagery he uses to describe a foreign landscape and seascape helps transform it into a magical yet quite real land.
7 Grode
I chose to do the island projects.
3 Moelter
I helped out a few of the 5th graders on their essays. They are so young and creative, I learned a lot! They were really convincing and I loved helping them out on minor details.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xn5zno7ed71YBX3n8IIFIC8Mtez63XNAstZ_BFVczn8/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YO7gNJOAaww5yICA8_gK8Evh2AoctI5Rnlhxh8UhPR8/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Md4LRJ1wzzpIpia888a6d0jSHblr6E22Ntpk5m-dQTk/edithttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1wTdiYlWOa8Pn_Dwiw-WQtfBfBqz7979EsiJoOdKEvPg/edit
3 WickershamYann Martel uses a large amount of literary devices, but I the ones that make his book among the greats is his use of ironic symbolism (I do not know if that is a real thing, but it makes sense). He makes the reader think one thing is important, when in reality it is nothing, while other seemingly insignificant parts turn out to be extremely significant. For example, on his “man-eating island”, at first the dead fish the meerkats bring up seem insignificant other than the fact it is a new source of food for him. Little does he know that these fish are there and die because the island traps the fish in their freshwater. The same thing with the meerkats--they seem insignificant other than the fact that there are a great number of them until he later shows that it is because all other life has been killed on the island. He does this all throughout the book, tying things in the beginning back into parts later in the book, usually when you least expect it. This keeps the reader on their toes, never knowing what can happen in the book next. This is also an example of my “TREEEEE” lens theory. The sound the whistle makes seems insignificant until he notices the islands through trees. His combination of all the literary devices makes the novel amazing, and I think his use of ironic symbolism is a large reason for this.
6 Clark
I decided to take the opportunity to help out the 5th graders with their Islands Projects. One of the boys I helped was Caden and it was very entertaining to read what they explained their island to be!
1 Jeanson
I helped the little 5th graders.
1 Beck
I believe that the literary device imagery helps to make this novel amazing. There is so much detail in the book that makes it possible for me to actually see all the different things going on. When Yann Martel gives the detail about the boat and what all is included I can really see what the boat looks like and what is in it. When Martel describes the action of the flying fish and Pi’s fishing attempts I feel like I am sitting on the lifeboat or the raft with him. In most novels you do not get this type of imagery, you get very vague ideas of what things look like, but in this novel you get a very vivid image of all thing Pi and his journey. I believe that it takes great imagery to make a book amazing, which this book has. You can not just throw some words together to make a book great, it takes a great mind, great writing, and a great spirit. Martel has this which is why he was able to create such a great book. The imagery that this book has makes it an easy read and makes me want to just keep reading.
1 Beck
I also helped the 5th grader.
1 Hoffmann
To me, on of the most amazing literary devices Marel uses are the ironies in Life of Pi. Perhaps the most obvious occurs at the beginning of Pi’s ordeal across the ocean. After exhausting every available option and deciding that the best way to kill Richard Parker is via a simple war of attrition, Pi realizes that a war of attrition would inevitably be won by the 450-pound Bengal Tiger, not by the scrawny 5’5’’ Indian boy. This realization is what drives Pi to keep Richard Parker alive, sacrificing food and water that he easily could have consumed himself so that the dangerous predator beside him might live. Another obvious irony is the island that Pi lands on towards the end of his voyage. This idyllic, food-rich floating disc of algae makes Pi think he might just stay there forever, until he realizes that the very algae that he is eating is predatory and will consume him at the slightest chance. The final most obvious irony comes at the very end of Pi’s voyage: Richard Parker’s disappearance. The reader expects a touching moment as Richard Parker stares back from the edge of the forest before turning and disappearing from Pi’s life forever. Instead, Richard Parker simply leaves. It is these kinds of ironies that make this book so amazing. We as readers have become so accustomed to romanticized literature and films that the animal actions taken in the book--Pi feeding Richard Parker so Richard Parker won’t eat him, an idyllic island that still needs nourishment from somewhere, a tiger that defies human expectation and simply leaves when it can--come across to us as surprising ironies. The combination of fantastic imagination and animal realism makes this book truly great.
6 Sorenson
I think that this novel is amazing. Yann Martel uses literary elements to give the book depth and make things interesting. The symbolism in the story adds an entirely new level to the plot. Looking for human characteristics in the animals and animal characteristics in the humans causes the reader to look for those same characteristics within him/herself. Having the animals symbolize different human characteristics help that process of inward soul searching. Yann Martel also uses some foreshadowing. In the first part of the story, Ravi tells Pi that one day he will be the goat being fed to the tiger after Ravi and Pi’s father show them a tiger attacking a goat. This comment foreshadows Pi being alone on a lifeboat with a tiger, and essentially, being the goat. The irony that Martel uses provides many comical relief moments. A story about a boy trapped on a lifeboat with a literal or figurative tiger (depending on which story the reader believes) is a very intense story. Martel employs irony to provide moments of laughter that help break up the intensity. I also really like the imagery. Martel paints descriptive and beautiful pictures of India, the sea, the sky, and the island. I have no problem imagining the setting in my head.
1 Reese
Life of Pi is one of my favorite books, not just because the book itself is good but the movie depicting the book is magnificent. Yann Martel uses literary devices masterfully. The imagery he uses to try and describe the setting and the events in the book accelerate the book beyond astronomical heights. The “main events” is this book are told with such detail that you almost feel like you are watching the movie instead of reading the book. On top of the imagery Martel’s best literary device in this novel would have to be his use of symbolism. The symbolism runs wild and is intertwined almost everywhere in the book. The religious symbolism is the strongest by far, taking a little less than ordinary situation and putting several religious spins on them, some being stated by Martel in the book or some for us, the readers, to figure out. All in all, Martel’s use of literary devices has made the book the enjoyable masterpiece that it is. Also, Life of Pi is by far, the best novel we have read and probably will not be surpassed by any other book that we read this year.
1 Klamm
I did the Island Project editing and I thought it was fun and I would like to visit them!
1 Ellis
I edited 5th graders essays in the Island Project, it was fun to see their creative ideas!
1 Talcott
The most prominent literary device used in Life of Pi, from my perspective, is imagery. The prolific use of imagery throughout the novel is something that really kept me engaged and on my toes. For a large part of the novel Pi is just stranded on a lifeboat. It seems there is not imagery to be found in a boat surrounded with water. But it seems Yann Martel has the exact opposite view, providing amazing descriptions of the sea beyond and the sky above. He provides stellar imagery in regards to the sea life. One of the best examples of this is found is the dying dorado scene, “The dorado did a most extraordinary thing as it died: it began to flash all kinds of colours in rapid succession. Blue, green, red, gold and violet flickered and shimmered neon-like on its surface as it struggled. I felt I was beating a rainbow to death. (I found out later that the dorado is famed for its death-knell iridescence.) At last it lay still and dull-coloured, and I could remove the hook.”. This is just one of the many “colorful” descriptions of the many sea creatures Pi Patel encounters. Mr. Martel also does a great job of the use of imagery in particularly gory scenes. It feels as if you(the reader) are encountering what the castaway is encountering in person.
6 Eigenberg
Most authors use imagery in a manner of necessity. Writers think it is necessary to use imagery in order to describe the setting of the story so as not to confuse a reader or to inform them. Yann Martel does not use imagery in this way. He manipulates the imagery in a way that makes the reader feel like Pi. Readers cringe at the part when Pi attempts to consume Richard Parker’s feces, because of the way Martel describes it. No ordinary author can use words to evoke a feeling of disgust in the same manner as Martel does. Imagery doesn’t have to be used to elicit only negative emotions either. We feel Pi’s joy when he lands on the island. We feel his joy when he is in the zoo getting to spend time with his God and with his animals. Martel may use imagery to describe the setting, but the way in which he puts words to paper forces the reader to imagine the surroundings that Pi and the other characters are in. Forcing the reader to imagine the surroundings causes them to feel the same emotions of desertion, hunger, and exhaustion that Pi feels throughout the novel.
3Roegiers
I chose to help out the fifth graders with their island stories. Lots of creative ideas!
3Else
I helped out a few fifth grades whilst making their islands sound very unique. One of the islands was called Brownie Island, and it sounded like a place I wanted to travel to!
7 Johnke
I opted to help the fifth graders. Percussion Island was my favorite and was well composed.
3 Roby
I helped the fifth graders with their island stories. They were very entertaining and fun to read!
7 Knutson
I chose to help the fifth graders. There are some very creative island ideas!
3 Kluin
In my personal opinion, some of the greatest literary devices that make Life of Pi such an incredible experience to read is the accomplished use of symbolism and imagery. Yann Martel manages to delve so into detail that not once was I confused of what something looked like, appeared as, or what its true significance was in terms of a life or death situation. The word choices were vivid and precise, painting clear pictures of what was to be interpreted from the text, all while maintaining that certain aspect that makes a book enjoyable to read. This novel also contains some impactful points that come across through certain plot moments or just with simple, one-sentence chapters. For instance, I found it fascinating how at the zoo back in India, a mirror was placed behind a sign advertising the most dangerous of animals. I feel this speaks about more than just the harm of animals other than humans. It speaks about human nature in general and our tendency to be animalistic, a theme that is repeated across the book in events such as the death of Orange Juice, where she appeared more human than ape in her last moments of life. Even the other castaway that tried to murder Pi for the sake of survival was turning to traits more beast than human. These are just a few of the features that make this novel such an adventure to read.
6 Bogesnberger
I decided to help the fifth graders on their interesting island essays.
3 Wheeler
There is definitely several literary devices that make this novel great. Even just the setting itself is really cool. He’s on a boat, in the middle of the ocean, with an actual tiger--it’s so preposterous that it’s believable. There’s also a good deal of irony. Pi gives himself the motivation to live by caring and providing for an animal that could easily kill him. He gives up food and water for an animal that could rip him apart with ease. There’s also the irony that he is trapped with the very animal that his father warned him about earlier in life.
Even things that aren’t necessarily a literary device make the novel awesome. The way that it is laid out and formatted is absolutely spectacular. There are chapters that are single pages, even just single paragraphs, and then there are chapters that are nine pages long. Some chapters are nearly all dialogue, and then other chapters have no dialogue at all. The way Yann Martel wrote this novel is entertaining and intriguing. The format appeals to me in a way that not many books do--I feel as though the book is intended just for me, and I wonder if the rest of the people reading this feel that way.
3 E Livingston
I found that imagery was used best in the novel. There are so many instances where you can literally see and feel what is going on because the writing is so descriptive. One of my favorite passages that I can vividly see in my mind is in chapter 60 when Pi is looking up at the sky. Because of the amount of descriptive language that was used, I can see the moon shining in the sky, bathing the ocean around the boat in light so it was almost as if it was day time. I think that imagery is what makes this novel amazing. I think that I would have had a hard time reading the book if it wasn’t so descriptive because the novel contains so many things that I am not familiar with. If the boat hadn’t been described like it was, I would have never known what it looked like. The same goes for the floating island that Pi stumbles upon and the vastness of the ocean that is the main setting of the novel. There is no way that the book would make sense without it. Because there are so many settings that are hard to relate to, it would be very hard to read the book and actually connect with it if there was no imagery. I think that imagery allows the reader to be invested in the book. When you can see and feel what the characters are going through, you can relate more to the book. You have a more personal connection with the characters and what is happening to them. The novel has a bigger impact on readers because you can see and feel what is happening throughout the plot.
3 Ch Headrick
I did the Island project... It was marvelous
3 Casey
A couple of literary devices that I am increasingly appreciative of would be the imagery and the symbolism that really stand out to me in this novel while Pi is speaking of his arduous journey. The symbolism is especially helpful when reading this because of the mere fact of, how would I know what it is like to be on a twenty-six foot lifeboat with a tiger after escaping a sinking cargo ship? It is highly unlikely that anyone would be able to relate to this situation. The symbolism that is used throughout the novel is mind blowingly spectacular because of the fact that if you think you fully understand something in all its depth, someone like Ben Clemenson will come along and take it to an entire new level. This class has taught me to read between the lines and look deeper into the meanings of sentences rather than just taking things at face value as if there is no hidden meaning behind it. The use of numbers throughout the book and how a lot of them somehow relate back to 3.14 or pi is clever. I’ve grown to appreciate the depth and incredulousness of this book more and more and I’m glad we were assigned this novel.
Blue 7
Life of Pi is masterfully created by Yann Martel. Personally, I love his writing style. His attention to detail and accurate descriptions of animals and environments make the story seem as though it is a real life situation. First off his imagery is probably my favorite literary device he uses. I have never been to India and I would quite like to go. However his descriptions of Pi’s homeland make me feel as though I am right there in person. Also, the symbols he creates out of the members of the lifeboat is super cool. Although I will admit the whole deal with Pi being Richard Parker and Richard Parker being Pi still does not make complete sense to me. Also, I believe my favorite chapter definitely has to be the one when all of Pi’s influencers on religion meet with him and his parents to discuss what Pi should really believe. Martel masterfully intertwines the Priest, the Baker, and the Hindu’s beliefs with each others. The argument is so accurate and goes on for so long that becomes comical. At the end they all get Ice Cream. In my mind this is a great use of comic relief in the book as you go into the argument believing Pi will be yelled at.
3 Munson
I think that symbolism is one of the most important things that makes Life of Pi such a great novel. One common and recurring symbol is that of the color orange. Many things that save Pi’s life are orange, as are things that are important to him. The life raft and the whistle that he uses to train Richard Parker are both orange. As are the orangutan and the lion itself. The orangutan’s name is even Orange Juice. This causes him to have an affinity with the color orange, resulting in him getting his daughter an orange cat. At the end of the book when he is retelling his story without animals, you can see that each character in the book is a symbol for the animals that were on the boat. The Taiwanese sailor is the zebra, the cook is the hyena, his mother is the orangutan, and he is the tiger. There was also a lot of religious symbolism, which makes sense because he follows three religions. One such example comes when orange juice is killed and her arms are spread and her feet are together, making her look like Jesus.
7 Loosbrock
I chose to help the 5th graders with their island projects.
6 Baldridge
I chose to help out the fifth graders!
7Huska
I chose to help the 5th graders with their island projects. A few of them had me sold on going to their island!
7 Haase
I chose to help the 5th graders instead. I read a paper called Pig Island. 10/10 would recommend. You get a free piglet, 5 wishes, and served by talking pigs. In the words of the author, you will have a "pigtastic vacation". For more information please visit www.PigIsland.com.
Also- I'm starting a food truck called that sells a variety of pork products, and would definitely hire this girl, very passionate about pigs.
Berg 6
I have found Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi to be very enjoyable, especially due to the brilliant and thoughtful language Martel uses to create the setting and enhance the emotions he elicits from readers. He uses vivid imagery, especially when describing the landscape and setting, such as while Pi is aboard the lifeboat with Richard Parker and when he finds the floating algae island. Also, he depicts the emotions of Pi Patel ingeniously, drawing the reader in while Pi is telling his story of growing up in India, in that beautiful zoo. Not only is Martel skilled in writing with imagery, he also intricately weaves symbolism, allusions, and key themes throughout the entire novel. Commonly found in Life of Pi are the religious themes and symbols, especially because Pi relies deeply on God and his three religions, even during his time stranded on a lifeboat in the ocean. Due to his situation, I have been shown many instances of irony and puns, allowing the readers, and perhaps Pi himself, to escape the seriousness of the situation for a few moments of comic relief, which also demonstrates Martel’s brilliance.
Tingle 6
I chose to help the fifth graders.
6 Barton
Hey Karter, my name is Anders; I am a senior in high school and I am here to help out with your essay. And dude, I love spies! Can't wait to help you out! Remember to put the space after the comma, not before. Remember that capitalization is used when starting a new sentence, not after commas. This appears to be a run-on sentence, I'd recommend and a "." after "school" and then capitalizing "it's". Capitalize proper nouns. Tempur-Pedic is the name of a company. Use "are" instead of "is" because you are speaking of "teachers", which is plural, and "are" is the plural form of "is". This is a very tough grading scale! I'm glad I don't go to school here, but paintball does sound fun... and painful! This might be another run-on sentence. Try using a semicolon to split the sentence, while also spicing things up a bit. Nice job Karter! You'll make a fine composer of words some day. Use "are" instead of "is" because you are speaking of "rules", which is plural, and "are" is the plural form of "is".
6 Braley
I choose to help out the fifth graders write about their islands. They are so creative, funny, and at times a little out there, but that just makes it all the more enjoyable.
Steffel 6
Yann Martel is a master of many literary devices but one I find to be exceedingly well done would be his use of imagery. From the building of ominous clouds to the lonely depth of the dark ocean Yann has brought forth an array of various settings and focal points while describing the ever changing moods throughout the book. And while most of the book resides atop the sea, bored with blue it is in such a circumstance that he has truly shows his talent. So easily could the depiction of such a novel be drawn out with boredom from hearing the same images described again and again but we find that all though an intention to bring about the feelings of Pi during those times is evident the vivid images manifest time and time again following the emotional forecast of the book. This to me shows not only and understanding of how to make a reader feel the stress, relief, vibrancy of joy, and pain of ever growing sorrow but also a path to opening up many interpretations of how each scene and movement throughout the book can be handled. But most intriguing is the symbolism he hides within his choice of imagery.
Mork 7
I chose to comment on the 5th graders projects. One student wrote about a hotel on a cloud! It is nice to see the improvements these students have made in their writing since the last time we commented on their stories. It was very pleasing that one 5th grader even thanked me for taking time to read and comment on his essay! The creativity of some of the 5th grade students is excellent!
7 Olthoff
I chose to help the 5th graders with their writing. They have very interesting ideas!
Symington 7
For the blog task, I chose to help the fifth graders write their stories. For one of them, I helped Brynn write about Candy Island filled with delicious attractions consisting of places like a white chocolate river, lollipop trees, and a jolly rancher volcano. Overall, I really enjoyed doing it and it was very cool to see how much their writings skills have improved since Christmas time.
7 Jensen
Personally, I found Yann Martel’s use of symbolism and imagery in this novel nothing short of spectacular. Ranging from just basic symbolism to more complex symbolism dealing with religion was mind blowing. I loved how much this novel went in depth with animal physiology and psychology. I also loved how much Yann knew about animals to compose this novel. He clearly knew what he was writing. The imagery was also amazing. The imagery he composed always kept my mind wandering and imagining what was going on. I had a constant picture in my head and then watching the movie was way easier to understand. Going back to symbolism I noticed how important the colors were, such as orange, green and white. The color orange was present in the tiger, the boat, the orange whistle, to even the orange life jackets. White was also another color that was present throughout the novel that I felt dealt with death and christianity. The boat was pure white and the clothes he wore were peer white. This whole novel has symbolism tied to Pi’s religious views, and the imagery just adds to understanding the symbolism. Yann Martel just did a profound job with these aspects in literature
7 Broekemeier
Helping the 5th graders, and aspiring to inspire.
3 Lindemann
My personal favorite literary device in Life Of Pi is definitely the imagery. I love the way Yann Martel makes me feel as if i am truly on the boat with Pi and Richard Parker. He knows exactly which parts of the story to go into great detail on, and which parts aren’t as important. He also knows that it’s important to be truthful, and not omit gross details such as the symptoms of their malnourishment or the way Richard Parker eats. The setting also makes this truly amazing to read; i don’t think the story would be nearly as poignant if it were placed in the middle of a forest or a desert. There is something about being truly trapped in your surroundings that makes one analyze their character like nothing else. There is nothing to stop Pi’s madness at sea but himself, and he recognizes this. If Pi and Richard Parker were in the desert, Richard Parker would have left long ago. It is Richard Parker’s presence that makes Pi’s journey what it is, and also what makes Pi question his own role in the world. I am not religious in any way, but the way Martel combines three religions into one so seamlessly and shows them as a guiding force in a troubling time is interesting and comforting to read nonetheless. I think that the imagery and the setting are what make this novel truly beautiful and I am glad that we are studying it so in-depth.
7 Dybdahl
Yann Martel used many different literary devices to make Life of Pi an amazing novel. Two devices that stuck out to me was how Yann Martel used imagery and metaphors. The novel is filled with imagery, but does not contain too much to distract the reader. Martel painted a very vivid picture for the readers when describing the lifeboat and the animals. He made sure to mention the color of the lifeboat and a lot of the equipment on the boat. They were all orange which is very important because the color orange signifies survival. The animals were described as if the reader had never seen a zebra, orangutan, tiger, or hyena before. Along with the imagery in the novel, Martel included a great amount of metaphors. I think having metaphors and similes in the novel worked well with the imagery Martel used, creating a very well picture for the reader. At the beginning of the novel, Pi says, “I have nothing to say of my working life, only that a tie is a noose, and inverted though it is, it will hang a man nonetheless if he's not careful.” This quote has a lot of meaning to the reader and could mean to someone that if you do not like your job or what you are doing, it may kill you while you are doing it. While reading this novel, I could easily tell that Martel did a lot of research while writing it and put a lot of effort into it. I enjoyed reading Life of Pi and will definitely read more novels written by Yann Martel.
Woessner 7
I helped 5th graders
3 Clemenson
The literary device that I believe Yann Martel uses best throughout Life of Pi is symbolism. Whether intentionally included by Martel or not, the book overflows with symbolism from the representation that Orange Juice is Pi’s mother or the fact that 22 divided by 7 comes out to be pi. Finding the intentions of authors while reading their books can be challenging but fun. For example, why would Martel elect to name the main character Piscine? Around the same time Pi takes it upon himself to create his nickname, he begins to go to the mosque and the church to become Christian and Muslim. When the three religious leaders found out his actions, they lecture him on how he must choose one religion. To them, claiming faith in multiple religions should not be done; they believe this to be irrational. Martel choose Pi’s name, an irrational number of math, to symbolize his irrational beliefs. Another idea we discussed in our group is why did Martel choose a tiger of all animals to live on this lifeboat with Pi. What if the tiger symbolizes the religions? A tiger is made up of three colors: orange, white, and black. White represents christianity, orange being hinduism, and black represents muslim. Each color has meaning to each religion that seems to perfect to be a mistake. While some symbols are obvious and others are a bit of a stretch, reading this book everyone will find plenty of symbolism within it.
7 Livingston
I helped 5th graders.
1 Mikkelsen
Life of Pi was full of numerous literary devices that made it more interesting to read, and additionally made it a book that made me think deeper than I have with any other book before. My favorite literary device that was used was imagery. It was easy to feel as if I was in the book and experience the moments with Pi. Because of this, it made some parts even hard for me to read. Martel does a fabulous job of describing the settings in which the book took place and made it easy for you to understand while also making it intriguing. I have been on a few cruises before and when Pi was explaining the waves and sea sickness of being in the lifeboat, I could relate-- although my experience was not even close to the extremity of his. If the book was not as descriptive as it was, I do not think you would feel as deep of a connection and feel empathy for Pi in the way that you do. One particular part that stuck out to me was when he was describing the hyena attacking the zebra and orangutan. Although these parts were gory and difficult to read, it made the book seem so much more real and as cliche as it may sound, it felt as if I was in the book. A great example of this was found on page 117. “In fifteen minutes flat, all that will be left of a zebra is the skull, which may yet be dragged away and gnawed down at leisure by young ones in the lair.” I think that the power of imagery separates a good book from a great book.
3 DeCurtins
I elected to help little Addisyn S. with her writing on "Waterfall Island." It was very cute and I enjoy these opportunities to help out Mr. Carroll's class.
3 Buteyn
Yann Martel did a great job in using imagery as a way to help the reader feel like he is on the lifeboat with Pi and Richard Parker. While reading Life of Pi, I felt like the amount of vivid detail this novel consists of is perfect because I stayed focused and was wondering what would happen later in the novel. I also liked how the detail also wasn’t to the point that I wouldn’t get confused or distracted and not be able to focus on other literary devices used. Martel also did a great job in using symbolism in this novel. The part that stuck out the most to me was when he compared losing his mother to losing the sun above you. This stuck out because the sun provides humans with warmth and comfort, but it also provides them with guidance. All three of these characteristics are ones that a mother would show for their children. Yann Martel knew exactly what to write and how to write it to create the best experience for any reader.
1 Campbell
Personally, the setting is what really played a huge role in this novel. I am the kind of reader that needs to be able to picture what is going on in the story to get enjoyment. The author did an amazing job of using imagery and details to provide that for readers. I think that his use of irony fits in as a perfect part of this novel as well. No one would think that a person would survive on a small boat with a tiger out of all animals that could have been used. Also, the fact that the tiger even made it from the boat is super strange, because you definitely would not think that. As I mentioned before, I think it is very important to set the scene/setting for the reader. One of the parts that I was really intrigued by was when he’s on the boat, as I’m sure many others were too. The descriptions and details of the animals on the boat and the different contraptions he has to make helped me to understand what it would be like to be deserted on a boat. Also, when he describes how he feels and the struggles he deals with internally it allows the reader to go through those struggles with Pi. I did enjoy reading this book. I found it interesting and well written. I am excited to read another book by the same author!
3 Coyle
I feel that the literary device of setting will help me most in determining the plot and storyline of the book. Had Pi Patel not been on a boat the entire time but wasting away in a zoo enclosure type prison where he is fed little to nothing and mainly left to starve, the book would have a completely different vibe than it does already have with him being placed on the boat with a vicious tiger. Another literary device that I particularly find to be helpful is the symbolism in this novel. Because Pi is on a boat, he is forced to alike things to objects, people, or places that he has seen, known, or been before in the past as he cannot go anywhere but on the lifeboat. He likens things to people such as Orange Juice the orang-utan, Richard Parker and the Meerkats all have been likened to people in the world. Orange Juice as she died at the hands of the hyena, Richard Parker as the friend and comrade of Pi Patel, and the Meerkats when he said they all look as though they are waiting for a bus. Because of these literary devices, I am able to better understand the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
3 Scherb
I really enjoyed Life of Pi, it has been a great story throughout the entire thing, minus the very beginning parts. This book is so filled with imagery though that it makes it very easy to visualize what you’re reading, even if you have seen the movie before. The amount of description that Yann Martel is able to put into his writing is amazing, and the symbolism that sits within every single sentence continues to be something that I can open up the book and read to discover something new. I especially loved the whole description of the Island. It’s a fascinating concept that an island like that could exist as a carnivorous being and free floating throughout the ocean. But throughout Pi’s time in the Pacific, he is always describing things in a vivid detail that give the reader a strong concept of what things look like and how different things affect him throughout the story. Having seen the movie a few years back before I saw the book, I’m glad that I took the time to read the book, as there is certainly another depth to what is being displayed there in contrast to what the movie is able to show viewers.
1 Long
I helped out the 5th graders for my blog task. I love reading about the ideas that they have!
6 Etrheim
I decided to help the 5th graders with their stories for my blog task.
Willard 6
Largely what makes this book ideal for analysis is the level of symbolism. Yann Martel has literally created the quintessential epitome of of latent but powerful symbolism. Three hundred pages existing in ambiguity. Three hundred pages spent anthropomorphizing a crew of castaway animals that may or may not actually exist. He leaves so very much of the novel to the perception of the reader. Yann Martel does a fantastic job of conveying imagery through simplistic devices. His brevity certainly doesn't take away from the power of his description. In simile and metaphor, his commentary on the environment, on Pi’s situation, on the symbolistic animals running amuck flow eloquently and effortlessly. Unlike say.. Lord of The Flies, while reading this book I had no difficulty developing a clear lucid picture of any and all things occurring. For an individual such as me who desperately enjoys being able to distance myself from the confines of reality, being able to derive a beautiful image is paramount in my personal enjoyment of a novel. Therefore, I feel this is an artful, lexical aesthetic that conveys a powerful message and begs the reader to really take into consideration the relativity of their situation.
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