Ryan Conrad Socratic Circle – Life of Pi Literature Mrs. Crow Question 1: What theme statement would you write for Life of Pi? (Remember, a theme statement is NOT a topic or a question or a moral. It is a declarative statement that joins the topic with your judgment. ) Defend/explain your statement with evidence from the text. Answer 1: Throughout the book, religion was a major part of Pi's survival. The author uses a character that follows three religions in order to prove that all religions have positive and negatives aspects.

Religion was what kept Pi holding on for so long without giving up. The author uses Pi's three different faiths to represent different strengths that Pi possesses. It teaches the reader that it is possible for all religions to live together peacefully. Question 2: Early in the novel, we discover that the narrator majored in religious studies and zoology. In subsequent chapters, he explains the ways in which religions and zoos are both steeped in illusion (particularly regarding freedom). Discuss some of the ways in which these two fields find unlikely compatibility.

Answer 2: Question 3: If you don’t know what bildungsroman means, look it up and explain how Life of Pi can fit this genre. Also explain how this story follows the hero cycle we learned about earlier in the year. Which genre do you think the novel fits best and why? Answer 3: This genre fits Life of Pi because bildungsroman is a novel concerned with the development and education of a young protagonist. Pi is that protagonist, and we see him develop and learn throughout the story. Pi learns alot of things during his time on the lifeboat.