Now that you are almost finished with your book, choose three themes that run through your novel's plot. Explain them using examples from the novel. Also create on essay question that you would pose to a class reading this book.
I am now on page 215 of Life of Pi. Three themes that I think run through the plot, at least as far as I am are religion, survival and animal behavior. Religion is a big part of the novel from the beginning, when Pi decides that he wants to be Hindu, Christian and Muslim. Form here foreword Pi is always praying and worshiping all of the different gods. Survival is an important theme in this book because, for most of the book, Pi is stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a tiger and has to do everything he can just to stay alive. Animal behavior too is very important; it is discussed in the beginning of the book and then later on becomes and significant part of this novel’s plot. This is especially important when Pi is training the tiger not to kill him or go in his area of the boat. An essay question that I would pose to a class reading this book would be: How do you think Pi changes and grows mentally over the course of the novel? What do you think it would be like to be living life normally in society after you had an experience such as Pi’s?
PG 217---In my opinion, one of the main themes in Water for Elephants is emotional turmoil. The younger Jacob looses both of his parents and drops out of Cornell. He was so emotionally distraught that it consumed his personality for the majority of the first 8 chapters. Camel craves alcohol, but he drinks a toxic substitute. The older Jacob feels disregarded in a nursing home. Marlena is dependent upon a malevolent man and even Rosie’s life is dependent upon a brutal master. Overall, every character goes through emotional turmoil at some point in the novel.
Another one of the themes, which is hard to describe, is that each of the characters always wants more. The younger Jacob gets close to Marlena, instead of a life with her. Marlena receives a misused version of love with August instead of a real marriage. Walter is downgraded to his pornographic “eight pagers” and the loyalty of a circus dog instead of real relationships. In my opinion, in the absence of freedom each character has poor substitutions for fulfillment.
Lastly is just circus life during the Depression. The crew and performers are constantly seeing circuses collapsing because of the tough economic times which acts strongly on their emotions. Plus, they are constantly compared with the infamous Ringling Circus. So, each person has to stand up for themselves and be strong, or Uncle Al will simply kick their behinds off the train, leaving them in a foreign town of a different state.
Essay Question: What are the major symbols in Water for Elephants? Relate them to a specific character in the novel.
I am now on page 215 of Life of Pi. Three themes that I think run through the plot, at least as far as I am are religion, survival and animal behavior. Religion is a big part of the novel from the beginning, when Pi decides that he wants to be Hindu, Christian and Muslim. Form here foreword Pi is always praying and worshiping all of the different gods. Survival is an important theme in this book because, for most of the book, Pi is stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a tiger and has to do everything he can just to stay alive. Animal behavior too is very important; it is discussed in the beginning of the book and then later on becomes and significant part of this novel’s plot. This is especially important when Pi is training the tiger not to kill him or go in his area of the boat.
ReplyDeleteAn essay question that I would pose to a class reading this book would be: How do you think Pi changes and grows mentally over the course of the novel? What do you think it would be like to be living life normally in society after you had an experience such as Pi’s?
PG 217---In my opinion, one of the main themes in Water for Elephants is emotional turmoil. The younger Jacob looses both of his parents and drops out of Cornell. He was so emotionally distraught that it consumed his personality for the majority of the first 8 chapters. Camel craves alcohol, but he drinks a toxic substitute. The older Jacob feels disregarded in a nursing home. Marlena is dependent upon a malevolent man and even Rosie’s life is dependent upon a brutal master. Overall, every character goes through emotional turmoil at some point in the novel.
ReplyDeleteAnother one of the themes, which is hard to describe, is that each of the characters always wants more. The younger Jacob gets close to Marlena, instead of a life with her. Marlena receives a misused version of love with August instead of a real marriage. Walter is downgraded to his pornographic “eight pagers” and the loyalty of a circus dog instead of real relationships. In my opinion, in the absence of freedom each character has poor substitutions for fulfillment.
Lastly is just circus life during the Depression. The crew and performers are constantly seeing circuses collapsing because of the tough economic times which acts strongly on their emotions. Plus, they are constantly compared with the infamous Ringling Circus. So, each person has to stand up for themselves and be strong, or Uncle Al will simply kick their behinds off the train, leaving them in a foreign town of a different state.
Essay Question:
What are the major symbols in Water for Elephants? Relate them to a specific character in the novel.