Download
1 / 28
280 likes | 386 Views
Life of Pi by Yann Martel. ENG 4UA Seminar by Jennifer Goulden. Close Reading Passage.
E N D
Life of Pi by Yann Martel ENG 4UA Seminar by Jennifer Goulden
Close Reading Passage “I considered jumping overboard and swimming away, but my body refused to move. I was hundreds of miles from landfall, if not over a thousand miles. I couldn’t swim such a distance, even with a lifebuoy. What would I eat? What would I drink? How would I keep the sharks away? How would I keep warm? How would I know which way to go? There was not a shadow of doubt about the matter: to leave the lifeboat meant certain death. But what was staying aboard? He would come at me like a typical cat, without a sound. Before I knew it he would seize the back of my neck or my throat and I would be pierced by fang-holes. I wouldn’t be able to speak. The lifeblood would flow out of me unmarked by a final utterance. Or he would kill me by clubbing me with one of his great paws, breaking my neck.” “Oncoming death is terrible enough, but worse still is oncoming death with time to spare, time in which all the happiness that was yours and all the happiness that might have been yours becomes clear to you. You see with utter lucidity all that you are losing. The sight brings on an oppressive sadness that no car about to hit you or water about to drown you can match. The feeling is truly unbearable. The words Father, Mother, Ravi, India, Winnipeg stuck me with searing poignancy.” “I was giving up. I would have given up-if a voice hadn’t made itself in my heart. The voice said, ‘I will not die. I refuse it. I will make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds, as great as they are. I have survived so far, miraculously. Now I will turn miracle into routine. The amazing will be seen every day. I will put in all the hard work necessary. Yes so long as God is with me, I will not die. Amen’ ” (Martel 163-164)
Lead Your typical novel involves a hero, who faces many challenges on “a search or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something” (Dictionary.com), more often known as a quest.
Thesis Statement Many authors use what is called the “quest pattern” created by Joseph Campbell (Jolly), as a structure for their story, including Yann Martel, in Life of Pi.
Three Supporting Arguments Life of Pi follows the quest pattern as Pi encounters the stages of call to adventure, the road of trials, and the return, on his search for enlightenment.
Argument #1: Topic Sentence Pi is separated from the real world, or “his” world by a call to adventure, at two points during the novel, which contributes to the first stage of the quest pattern.
Point and Proof #1 When Pi’s family decides to move from India to Canada, Pi is removed from his ordinary world and introduced to a new stage in his life. “It was announced to us one evening during dinner…Canada!” (88).
Explanation Pi’s family decides to make the transition from India to Canada, due to political reasons and to improve the quality of life. This is a drastic change for Pi, as he is leaving behind all of his past life and starting new. However, this is his call to adventure and it is essential for him to begin his quest for enlightenment. This foreshadows the journey ahead of him. Without this call to adventure, Pi would not have encountered his quest.
Point and Proof #2 Pi is also separated from the ordinary world when he is thrown off the boat, into a lifeboat, with an unknown journey ahead of him. “I was alone and orphaned, in the middle of the Pacific” (Martel 118).
Explanation This is another instance where Pi is being called to his adventure. In this case, Pi becomes truly removed from the rest of society; however, this is the beginning of his adventures. Pi is thrown off the boat and into a lifeboat, in which, at first he believes he is alone. Immediately Pi realizes that he is responsible now for his own survival, without the help of anyone else. Without this disguised call to adventure, Pi would not have embarked on his miraculous quest.
Argument #1:Concluding Sentence All in all, Pi follows the quest pattern, which is evident when his family moves from India to Canada and when he is thrown off the ship into a lifeboat, both call to adventures.
Argument #2:Topic Sentence Pi’s next stage in the quest for enlightenment, is the road of trials stage, where he must overcome challenges that begin his transformation as a person.
Point and Proof #1 Pi uses his internal strength to overcome the mental setbacks he is faced with, in order to survive. “The voice said, “I will not die. I refuse it. I will make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds, as great as they are.” (163) *Excerpt from close reading passage*
Explanation Pi realizes that he has survived up until this point and that he will not take the past for granted. He is determined to survive and will do whatever it takes, despite the challenges that may arise. The voice in Pi’s head, presumably his conscience, helps him to overcome his inner battle and to move forward with perseverance. This is an important stage for Pi, as this is the point of his journey that he conquers his mental challenges, with the mindset of survival.
Point and Proof #2 Pi learns the importance of survival when he is forced to care for himself. “I built a raft. The oars…floated. And I had life jackets and a sturdy lifebuoy.” (164)
Explanation When Pi is faced with the hardships of isolation and the struggle of survival in the Pacific Ocean, Pi learns to adapt to his situations and be resourceful. He is forced to care for himself by learning to acquire the necessary food, fresh water, and shelter. Pi becomes far more independent and self-sufficient, as he realizes it is his only means of survival. At this point it becomes evident for Pi that survival trumps morality, despite his religious views and vegetarian lifestyle. He has now developed a survival instinct that drives him to act in ways he never thought he would.
Argument #2:Concluding Sentence In summary, the road of trials stage is the vital stage in the quest pattern where Pi learns the primacy of survival and overcomes mental apprehension.
Argument #3:Topic Sentence Pi’s final stage in the quest pattern is the return stage, when he has completed his quest and returns back to society.
Point and Proof #1 As Pi’s first step to the return stage, Pi moves back to Canada instead of returning to India. “I guess I’ll go to Canada...” “Not back to India?” “No. There’s nothing there for me now. Only sad memories.” (352-353)
Explanation Instead of moving back to India, Pi decides to move to Canada, like his family had intended. Pi finishes high school and commences his studies at the University of Toronto. Pi returning to Canada symbolizes that he is looking to start a new life, not forget about what brought him here, but just have a new beginning. In order for Pi to be able to do this, the return stage is essential.
Point and Proof #2 Upon his return, Pi’s story is not believed by the interviewers. “Come on Mr. Patel, it’s just too hard to believe!” (329)
Explanation When Pi is interviewed about the possibilities of how the ship sank, he decides to tell his story of survival along with it. As much as Pi insists, the interviewers do not believe his story. This frustrates Pi because when he tells the same story using people they prefer the one with animals, despite them not believing it’s true. People choose what they want to hear, because we never know if a story is true or not. Pi’s return into society is difficult for him, as no one credits his story and he must carry on with the rest of his life.
Argument #3:Concluding Sentence To conclude, upon Pi’s return to Canada and his interview, he has endeavored his last stage of his quest, in which he reflects on his past journey.
Restatement of Thesis In conclusion, it is evident through Pi’s call to adventure, the road of trials and his return back into society, that Pi has overcome the stages of a quest, in his search for enlightenment.
Key Point Yann Martel has effectively used the “quest pattern”, as like many other authors, to engage the readers and develop a captivating plot.
Clincher As mentioned, Martel has employed the three stages of a quest: separation, transition and integration, which happen to be similar to the three stages of a “rite of passage”, typically a religious transition in an individual’s life (Berry). Perhaps the author intended a deeper meaning to this connection as it reinforces the theme of religion and how Pi truly is religiously motivated on his quest.
Works Cited Berry, Edward. “Rites of Passage” (1984) Web. <https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/ documents/Rites_of_Passage.pdf>. 19 July. 2014. Dictionary.com. "quest." “The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.” Houghton Mifflin Company. <Dictionary.com http:// dictionary.reference.com/browse/quest>. 19 July. 2014. Jolly, David R. “Joseph Campbell’s 17 Stages of the hero’s Journey”. <http:// davidrjolly.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/joseph-campbells-17-stages-of-the- heros-journey/>. 23 July. 2014. Martel, Yann. Life of Pi. Toronto: Random House, 2012. Print.
