Chapters 2-7

Chapter 2

This chapter is a very short description of the man supposedly telling Yann Martel the story which we're reading. This section was likely added in an attempt to add credibility to the story. Yann Martel wants the reader to be unsure if it is fiction or non-fiction.

Chapter 3

This chapter describes how Pi came to love swimming and how he got his name, Piscine Molitor Patel. While this chapter may seem insignificant and pointless at first, one look at the cover may suggest it is actually very significant. On the cover, Pi is standing on a boat with a tiger. This chapter describes his loves for swimming, and thus it can be assumed his love for water. It can be assumed this chapter is laying the groundwork for something bigger later, especially considering the topic of the next chapter.

Chapter 4

This chapter describes Pi's love for animals and zoos. While this chapter may also seem insignificant, its significance can also be gathered from the cover.Pi's love of animals likely contributes to getting him in a situation where he is on a boat with a tiger.

We know from chapter one that Pi's majors in university were religious studies and zoology, but this chapter demonstrates just how closely Pi relates the two. Pi acknowledges that zoos have a bad reputation and compares it to that of religion. He says "I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both." (Martel 21) This shows how closely connected zoos and religion are in his mind.

Chapter 5

This chapter describes Pi's struggles with his name. This chapter contrasts greatly to the previous two chapters, in which Pi describes all the positive aspects of his childhood. In this chapter, Pi discusses the negative aspects. The ridicule he faced for his name affected him greatly, "the sound would disappear, but the hurt would linger" (Martel 22) When he mentions teachers calling him "Pissing" it makes the reader sympathize with him. Ridicule from other students is almost expected in school, ridicule from teachers, however, is not.

We gain more insight into Patel's family and childhood when he mentions his brother. He describes his brother as "the captain of the cricket team, that local god" (Martel 26). By using that wording, Pi comes off as almost envious of his older brother. Even though he said nothing about himself, the reader assumes Pi is not the captain of any cricket team, nor very athletic for that matter. Pi comes off as a timid person just from the way he describes his older brother. This timid persona is essentially confirmed once Pi begins speaking with his brother, "I kept silent. Because whatever mocking was to come, it was to come. There was no avoiding it." (Martel 27) This quote supports the idea of Pi as a timid boy. He is afraid to stand up to his older brother, instead choosing to just accept the mocking. It is not only his brother whose judgement he worried about, "I looked around. No one must hear what he has to say, especially not one of his lackeys." (Martel 27)

This chapter introduces Pi almost as a trope often found in children's books, movies, and television shows: the quiet, younger brother of the local star athlete, who is often picked on by his brother and his friends (see TV Tropes: Aloof Big Brother).

Chapter 6

This chapter continues the description of present-day Pi from chapter 2. It focuses on Pi's cooking ability and the fact that he has a very large reserve of food. This makes me connect it to my prior knowledge of the book, which is essentially that it revolves around a ship wreck and lifeboat. It would make sense for someone who had to go a long time with little food to have a large supply in case disaster strikes again.

Chapter 7

This chapter focuses on Pi's biology teacher challenging his religion. What I found interesting was Pi's unwavering beliefs. Even when someone he respects a great deal challenges that belief system, he doesn't really question it, "Darkness is the last thing religion is. Religion is light." (Martel 29-30)

The connection between zoology and religion is further developed in this chapter. Mr. Kumar, Pi's biology teacher, sees the zoo as his temple.

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A lot of foreshadowing happened in this section. The reader still does not know who Richard Parker is or what the story to come is really all about, but from Pi's focus on freedom in chapter 4, it is inferred freedom is a main theme of the story. It can also be assumed religion will play a major role in the novel and will likely being interconnected with the zoology theme of the novel.