LITERARY CRITICISM / LESSON PLANS: LIFE OF PI BY YANN MARTEL

CHAPTERS 9, 10, 11

Summary

Pi shares insight into the art and science of zookeeping. In Chapter 9 he defines the concept of flight distance - the distance an animal wants to keep from an enemy. Flight distance can be diminished by providing food, shelter, and a stable environment. In Chapter 10, Pi gives examples of animals that might want to escape. Full grown animals caught in the wild that don’t adapt, or even zoo-bred animals may in a moment of “madness” seek escape. Pi makes it clear, however, that the animals are escaping from something not to somewhere. Often escaped animals are not found for some time, or even at all. In Chapter 11, Pi tells of a black leopard that survived unnoticed in Switzerland, in the winter, for over two months.

Notes

These three chapters detail the behaviors of animals and the connections between humans and animals that will be a fundamental part of the story later. He attributes uncharacteristic animal behaviors to “a measure of madness” that moves all living things toward survival. At the end of Chapter 11, Pi is laughing about some animal that could not be found in the Mexican jungle, but at this point, the reader does not know what he is laughing about. It is a clue that there is more to the story.

CHAPTER 12

Summary

The author observes that Pi gets distressed sometimes while telling his story because “Richard Parker still preys on his mind,” but Pi wants to go on. Pi cooks very spicy food each time the author visits and the author, though he foolishly told Pi he likes spicy food, suffers.

Notes

This is another teaser to make the reader curious about the rest of the story. It is also more realism to establish credibility.

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