Ask the Expert Tutor: Life of Pi
As part of our ‘Ask the Expert Tutor’ series, we will be discussing Yann Martel’s novel, Life of Pi. This text is commonly found on the IB syllabus.
An introduction to Life of Pi
Published in 2001, Yann Martel’s novel, Life of Pi, is a common text for IB students, both those studying Literature as well as Language & Literature. The book tells the story of an Indian boy nicknamed ‘Pi’ who, following a shipwreck, must survive adrift in the Pacific Ocean aboard a liferaft with a Bengal tiger for company.
Life of Pi is a suitable text for IB Literature and IB Language & Literature, fitting easily alongside works such as Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried. Martel’s writing investigates the very act of storytelling, questioning ideas of truth and fiction, while also discussing spirituality and the nature of belief.
Authorial context
Yann Martel is a Spanish-born Canadian writer whose work has received international praise over the last two decades. Life of Pi proved his breakout success, yet the book represents much more to the author. In a 2002 interview, Martel said of Life of Pi that he was ‘looking for a story … that would direct my life.’ He spoke of being lonely and needing direction, and he found that writing the novel met this need. Martel also credits Dante’s Divine Comedy as an influence on his writing around this time, which may have inspired the heavy religious themes Life of Pi.
An understanding of the author’s life and process is essential for IB students wishing to decode a text. Whether IB Literature or IB Language & Literature, knowledge of Yann Martel’s purpose and inspiration for the Life of Pi may prove invaluable to analysing the novel and composing a high scoring essay.
Historical context
As important for IB Literature and IB Language & Literature students as the authorial context is the historical context of Life of Pi.
Life of Pi is set across two decades, the 1960s and 1970s, and follows the experiences of Piscine ‘Pi’ Moliter. A significant event in the book is the ‘Emergency’, a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when the Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency throughout the country. This was prompted by calls for Gandhi’s resignation after she was found guilty of charges of electoral malpractice related to her 1971 election campaign. During the Emergency, Gandhi ruled by decree and civil liberties declined in India. In Life of Pi, Pi's father, a zookeeper, is discomforted by the political situation in India and decides to emigrate to Canada. It is this decision, in the wake of the Emergency, that sets in motion the plot of Life of Pi.
Genre and theme
Life of Pi is a rich text to delve into for those studying IB Literature and IB Language & Literature. The book navigates a variety of literary styles.
Magical realism
Magic realism is a style of fiction and literary genre that paints a realistic view of the modern world while also adding magical elements. Life of Pi can be easily called a work of magical realism, as it includes fantastical elements—such as animals with human personalities or an island with cannibalistic trees—in an otherwise realistic setting.
Postmodern Literature
Postmodernism is often characterised by the conscious deconstruction and reconstruction of historical artefacts and modes. Martel, in Life of Pi, borrows from, deconstructs, and combines many disparate genres, including bildungsroman (the coming of age novel), memoir, adventure story and nonfiction literature.
Postcolonial literature
Postcolonialism is the critical academic study of the cultural legacy of colonialism and imperialism, focusing on the human consequences of the control and exploitation of colonised people and their lands. With India having been a British colony, and considering the time period in which the novel is set, it seems only likely that Life of Pi could be considered a work of postcolonial fiction.
Where to go next with Life of Pi
Life of Pi is a rich and diverse text, ripe for thought provoking analysis by IB Literature and IB Language & Literature students. However, as much as it is readable, Life of Pi can present certain challenges for IB students, such as the literary context of the novel as well as the metafictional elements of the work.
BartyED’s expert tutors are well-versed in guiding those studying IB Literature and IB Language & Literature to the peak of academic achievement. Our tutors have helped to secure 7s for students in both Literature and Language & Literature, as well as the much coveted 45 in the overall IB examinations. If you think you or your child could benefit from a BartyED tutor’s help, reach out to us today at 2882 1017, or by email at enquiries@bartyed.com.