Setting

While Pi is growing up, he lives in the Pondicherry Zoo in his hometown, Pondicherry (part of being the son of a zookeeper). Pi develops a great interest in the animals in the zoo, specifically the three-toed sloth (the introduction of the novel is recalling Pi's knowledge of the three-toed sloth). The Pondicherry zoo is old and has many lowly animals; birds with their feathers plucked, a man who tried to steal a cobra, and many placid animals that have had rocks thrown at them.

Pondicherry Zoo
Pi learned to love animals
The first home of Pi

Full of animals
Featherless birds and old ruins
Nothing special here


After the tsimtsum sank, Pi spent sometime on a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Survival was tough; drinking the sea water, stuck with wild animals, and the hyena who killed the zebra and orangutan. The lifeboat really serves as an important test for Pi, physically and mentally, to test the importance of companionship. The lifeboat was the most important setting that began two things; Pi's adventure on the island and later to Mexico, and Pi's friendship with Richard Parker.



Lifeboat on the sea
Pi is stuck with animals
Danger lurks ahead

Stuck at sea alone
There is nothing to do or eat
What will happen next



After Pi washes up onto Mexico, Richard Parker runs away. The abrupt departure leaves Pi depressed and longing for a more meaningful way for the road to split for Pi and Richard Parker. While in Mexico, Pi is interrogated by two japanese officials. Pi tries to tell the story in complete detail and everything that had happened, but the japanese officials don't believe the story with the incorporation of animals instead of actual people. The journey is at an end for Pi and Richard Parker.

Richard runs away
Pi is interrogated
Pi tells his story

On Mexico shore
The journey is over for Pi
Still without parents