Into the world of The Literary Macabre...

Use these links: the first is introductory; the second contains specific literature and characteristics of the Three Streams of the Macabre. A knowledge of this information will help you on the Turn of the Screw final test.


http://www.docstoc.com/docs/72461395/Literary-Macabre-PowerPoint


http://www.docstoc.com/docs/72460627/The-Literary-Macabre

The minds of humans and other animals in Pi

Notice carefully the training methods Pi uses to work with Richard Parker. Zoo owners and managers take classes and update their degrees so they can work effectively with their animals. Classes stress management (not total submission) through positive reinforcement (often using food), knowledge of the animal's diet and territorial needs, and the repeated use of use of sound cues. How did Pi employ these techniques? What additional knowledge did he use?

Pi needed knowledge of Richard Parker's brain, as well as his own, to survive. How did Pi consciously program himself for survival as his journey began? How long did his routine help him? What caused it to falter?

At this novel's heart is another part of the human brain: the subconscious. Many web sites discuss a subconscious brain function called memory repression, which can be viewed as a survival technique. Related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, memory repression occurs when the brain of a traumatized person compartmentalizes the trauma deep within the subconscious mind, allowing the person to continue to function. In some cases, memories return much later in the individual's life. The web site medicalnewstoday.com/memory repression supports the new theory that traumatized people should not be forced to "relive their trauma," but rather allowed to keep the memory repressed until it resurfaces at its own rate.

Pi's Richard Parker story begins after what traumatic events? As his voyage continues, what actions does Pi have to perform that are deeply repellant to him as a religious vegetarian? What evidence at the book's conclusion suggests repressed memories which Pi chooses to keep private?

Speaking of minds... have you seen "Induction"? The plot revolves around subconscious brain function.

Religion and Truth in Life of Pi

For better understanding of Pi's religious influences, religionfacts.com is a good web site.


In user-friendly terms, this site provides an overview of all religions; it will help you to understand the values and beliefs that helped Pi to survive. He says his story will make you (the reader) believe in God...but exactly what do Christianity, Hinduism and Islam say about God's relation to humans and their survival?







Be aware, as you read, that while much of Pi's story
could possibly be real, some details seem improbable,
such as the "floating island" where Pi spends a brief time. However, in nature there are...

Mangrove Islands (close-up view of one at right), which are similar. The mangrove grows huge roots (visible below the water line in photo), but the roots do not need soil or sunlight for growth. They grow in salt water, though they prefer brackish water, which is less salty.





The branches and roots commonly matt together, resulting
in a "floating island" (without soil, but with a surface of old decomposed mangrove leaves), which can form far away from shore. Commonly, at least some of the "island" roots will eventually extend so far under water that they will attach to an underwater geographical feature.

The picture at right shows a huge old mangrove island. Could this validate Pi's claim? Which other details seem improbable? If some details are not true, speculate about Pi's reasons for fabricating information.

APlangsters: Life of Pi: What's the equation?

Yes, every day we see the gulf-coast disaster on the news, so we are all aware of our earth's greatest resource and its fragility. Life of Pi might be the best AP Language summer-reading novel to start with if you love the ocean but can't handle the Gulf of Mexico news right now. Set in the Pacific, it harbors many dangers for our protagonist, but oil is not one of them.