Brains at Work

Read the information below and respond in a comment to ONE of the questions. Be sure to restate the question.   Chapter 5: 1. Identify Villefort and explain his relationship to Noirtier. Why is this important to the plot? Explain why you do or do not think Villefort is justified in his feelings toward Noirtier?    2. Describe Villefort’s inquisition of Dantes. What is Villefort’s initial reaction to Dantes and why does he change? What is Villefort’s final decision?

The Count of Monte Cristo has a very complex plot with lots of twists and turns and it is worth discussing to be sure we understand all of the events and how they interact with each other. View the movie trailer above and post your thoughts about it. Then go on to the next post.

Read the information below and respond to the question. Be sure to restate the question. Chapter 35 The date of Pi’s family’s departure is given as June 21, 1977 (summer solstice) on the Japanese freighter, Tsimtsum along with the animals in their cages. He is incredibly excited to be leaving. This Chapter delivers the final beautiful descriptions of India and Pi’s mother country for the book. Pi reflects “Things didn’t turn out the way they were supposed to, but what can you do? You must take like the way it comes at you and make the best of it.” What might explain Pi’s acceptance of the chances of life? Once you've commented on this question, go back to the first three posts and respond to one classmate's comment in each post. 

Read the information below and respond in a comment to ONE of the questions. Be sure to restate the question. Chapter 16 Pi’s first visit to a Hindu temple as a child is full of wonderment and worship rituals. He describes the details of the rituals and what they stand for in the religion. He is a very religious man and enjoys it, but explains that fundamentalism is flawed with a story about Krishna disappearing before possessive milkmaids. He mentions both Christians 13 for their trust in love and Muslims for their awareness of God in everything. He makes a very circuitous description of how different the religions are and yet how with a different hat they are completely interchangeable.  1. Pi suggests that “many people seem to lose God along life’s way.” Why is this the case? Is this true of our community/ society?  2. Describe the significant rituals of each of the religious traditions that Pi embraces.  3. Pi says “the universe makes sense...

Read the information below and respond in a comment to ONE of the questions. Be sure to restate the question. Chapter 5 Pi was unhappy as a child with his name (Piscine), as it was often mispronounced as “pissing” when it is meant to be pronounced as “pea-seen” . For that reason as he grows up and enters the next level of school, he makes a show of jumping up during roll call and announcing to the class that his name is “Pi” even illustrating it with the mathematical symbol on the chalkboard. 1. Why is it, as Pi suggests, “a law of human nature that those who live by the sea are suspicious of swimmers”? (p 22) 2. Pi explains “in that elusive, irrational number with which scientists try to understand the universe, I found refuge.” (p 24) How does this explain Pi’s character and nature?

The Life of Pi is definitely an interesting book and one that is worth discussing! View the movie trailer above and post your thoughts about it. Then go on to the next post.