Life of Pi: Chapters 26-36 ~ Notes and Images

From: shmoop.com

Part 1, Chapter 26

Pi goes to his father's office to ask for a prayer rug and permission to be baptized.
Pi's father is having none of it. His mother tries to redirect him to literature.


Part 1, Chapter 27

Pi overhears all this. His mother and father are having a little tiff over who gave Pi permission to buy a prayer rug, etc.
Pi's father underscores his belief in progress and the New India. (See "Setting" for more.)
Pi's mother defends him. As they enumerate Pi's religious devotions, they loosen up. They even have a good laugh about the boy in the end.

Part 1, Chapter 28

Pi has obviously gotten a prayer rug because he tells us about it forever. He also gets baptized.


Part 1, Chapter 29

The family decides to move. Indira Gandhi, the prime minister, basically takes over Pi's home state of Tamil Nadu. (See Literary Devices: Setting for more.)
At dinner, Pi's parents announce their destination to Pi and Ravi: Canada. It's like your family telling you that you're moving to Siberia.

Part 1, Chapter 30

The author interjects. He meets Pi's wife, Meena.
In this chapter, and in the other chapters where the author takes over, we learn more and more about Pi's home life.

Part 1, Chapter 31

Mr. Kumar the Muslim meets Mr. Kumar the biologist at the zoo. Oh snap.
It turns out fine. Quite well, actually. Both charm Pi with their curiosity and wonder.

Part 1, Chapter 32

Pi tells about some animal's curious living arrangements: it's called zoomorphism.
Well, since you asked, it's when one animal takes another to be its own kind. Like humans keeping dogs. Or, earlier, Pi talked about rhinos and goats living together. Pi gives us some more examples.
Keep this chapter in mind for the oddest of all odd living arrangements: Richard Parker and Pi.

Part 1, Chapter 33

The author interjects. He tells us about a visit to Pi's house. Pi shows the author memorabilia, but only has four photos of childhood: a photo of Mamaji, of Richard Parker, of the Aurobindo Ashram swimming pool, and a photo of Pi's secondary school.
Pi can barely remember what his mother looked like.

Part 1, Chapter 34

Pi informs us they have sold most of the zoo animals to other zoos.
A colossal amount of paperwork exchanges hands.
Some Americans show up in Pondicherry to inspect the animals. We mention this because the Americans have "bone-crushing handshakes." Martel doesn't know, as a Canadian, that the firm handshake is a national pastime.

Part 1, Chapter 35

The family leaves from Madras (now called Chennai) on June 21st, 1977.
Pi's mother considers buying Indian cigarettes even though she doesn't smoke. She's already homesick.

Part 1, Chapter 36

The author interjects. We meet more of Pi's family in Canada: his son Nikhil, his dog Tata, his daughter Usha, and his cat Moccasin. It's a warm domestic scene.
The author assures us that this story has a happy ending.