I think that the sentence has a surprising effect on the reader. Pi has been stranded and lost for days, but can still estimate when his mother's birthday would occur. Then he still makes sure to recognize her whether or not she is alive. This shows his devotion to his hope, faith and love for the things that he holds dear to him. -Iceberg
When i read that sentence about pi singing happy birthday to his mom, i felt many different emotions. it was one of the weird chapters that left me speechless and it also left me sad because he is doing that and knows that his mother is most likely dead. the reader sees that he still cares and holds on to things while being stuck in the middle of the ocean. just because he is alone he doesn't forget who is important to him.
I agree with Iceberg's response. I think that Martel wanted to create a strong effect by having this one sentence act as a whole chapter. I think that the sentence is surprising as well, because Pi said that he was not keeping track of days, but he estimates when his mother's birthday might be. It may have just been a day when he thought alot about her, and felt he should celebrate by singing. I think this also makes him hope that she is still alive somewhere, even though he knows it is unlikely. I think the effect on the reader is sad, because the reader realizes just how much he misses his family.
This chapter even though small was profound. It was really amazing to think that Pi, in the horrific state he was in still remembered to think about his mother's birthday and sing her the song. Most people in his situation would barely even be able to recall their name much less the birthday of their mother. So Pi although withering away still is in decent mental state. -Simster
This sentence has a deep effect on the reader because it has such a deep meaning from Pi's mouth. Here is a boy who has hope that he will one day meet with his family in the destination they set out for. In order to keep up this tradition he needs to honor the holidays he would be celebrating with the family members he is not with but knows, not wishes for, that they are alive. It is just another contribution to Pi's faith and hope within this terrible situation he is put in. The reader starts to feel maybe there might be some scenario where his family escaped from that ship.
This quote has a strong effect on the reader. Pi reveals how much he really missed his family, especially his mother. The fact that he remembers when his mother's birthday, shows how lost he is, and also his yearning for home again.
Piglet: Although Chapter 75 is rather short, the one lined sentence has much meaning behind it. When reading the first sentence, it was astounding that his mother was still within him. Although being stranded in the middle of the ocean, he was able to cope with the fact that his mother may be dead but also able to remember her birthday. Since he is traveling alone, many feelings and emotions may be running through his head, but nothing is getting in the way of his mental state to reach a safe destination. I believe Martel made Chapter 75 a turning point and left many readers thinking how Pi is really feeling inside on his own since he doesnt show much emotion to the situation.
I believe that this quote makes the reader feel sorry for Pi. He's stranded for who knows how long with limited supplies but when the approxiamte time of his mother's birthday comes he sing "Happy Birthday" to her. This shows that he loves his family very much, even Ravi, and thinks about them a lot. You see that he has a stong bond with his family and misses them so much and at times feels sad that he is not there with them and insted stuck in this isolation where he is bare surviving.
I believe that when Pi sings "Happy Birthday" to his mother, the reader is told that this event is important, but not significant. Pi's family is very important to him, and his estimating his mother's birthday shows just that. However, the reader also notices that the chapter is very, very short, for it is only one sentence in length. I believe that this was to show the reader that while this event was important to Pi, the chapters regarding his survial were more important. This shows that at this time, it is essential for Pi to concentrate on surviving. -Magnum
This chapter does seem to have a strange effect on the reader. Because it is only one sentence, it appears to be completely insignificant due to the fact that it is such a small part to an entire novel, especially since it is about his mother who clearly has passed away and will not live to be another age. This is very much like Pi himself. Pi is just one little speck apart of a vast ocean in the whole world. Both appear to have very little meaning in the whole of things, but somehow still seem to leave a lasting impression. - Blue Steel
When Pi decides to sing Happy Birthday to his mother, I believe that it has a shocking affect on the reader. As stated earlier in the book, Pi did not have any real memory of his mother but he did try to remember her birthday. I felt that this was ironic. This shows that he still hopes that his mother is alive and even if she is not, he shows that he has remebered her on her special day and thought about her.
Holding little hope for his chances of survival, this sentence has a surprising effect on the reader. Prior to this chapter, Pi stated earlier in the novel that "to look out with idle hope is tantamount to dreaming one's life away" (Martel 169). Yet singing happy birthday to his mother is a clear sign of hope and longing for his family. When readers finally begin to think that Pi has loss all hope in his family and even God, he proves them wrong by singing a sentimental song to his beloved mother.
I think that Pi singing happy birthday to his mom brings up questions about his mentality and knowlegde of his mother's situation. His mother had died in the ship as it sank and probably being lonely kind of drove him alittle crazy and his want for his mother's presence pushed him to do this. It seems weird but probably he doesn't want to accept the death of his mom. - Yukky
Although this chapter was only one sentence you can get a bunch of different emotions and views by reading it. By the author having Pi sing happy birthday you get a feeling of surprise and sadness. I also agree with most of those who commented this question Pi shows greatly that even though he knows his mother is dead she is still important to him. No matter what he will always hold his loved ones close. However it also may jump out to the reader that maybe Pi has lost his sanity.
This chapter was very short and when I read it, it made remember how he had lost his parents. This chapter expressed a different emotion that Pi really lost view of. He lost that love of another person and by singing "Happy Birthday" to his deceased mother; he kept that connection in his mind of his life before the shipwreck. This does show his faith and love for things that he holds dear to him like IceBerg commented and I think that this still shows humanity in Pi after all the experiences he has gone through.
This sentence could be interpreted many different ways. One part of my mind says that he is desperate for hope and another part of my mind says that he still took time to manage the calenders days. It shows he still has some hope that he will see his mother again and hasn't forgot about her.
20 comments:
I think that the sentence has a surprising effect on the reader. Pi has been stranded and lost for days, but can still estimate when his mother's birthday would occur. Then he still makes sure to recognize her whether or not she is alive. This shows his devotion to his hope, faith and love for the things that he holds dear to him. -Iceberg
When i read that sentence about pi singing happy birthday to his mom, i felt many different emotions. it was one of the weird chapters that left me speechless and it also left me sad because he is doing that and knows that his mother is most likely dead. the reader sees that he still cares and holds on to things while being stuck in the middle of the ocean. just because he is alone he doesn't forget who is important to him.
I agree with Iceberg's response. I think that Martel wanted to create a strong effect by having this one sentence act as a whole chapter. I think that the sentence is surprising as well, because Pi said that he was not keeping track of days, but he estimates when his mother's birthday might be. It may have just been a day when he thought alot about her, and felt he should celebrate by singing. I think this also makes him hope that she is still alive somewhere, even though he knows it is unlikely. I think the effect on the reader is sad, because the reader realizes just how much he misses his family.
whoops. the comment at January 14, 2008 6:47 AM was made by cinderella
This chapter even though small was profound. It was really amazing to think that Pi, in the horrific state he was in still remembered to think about his mother's birthday and sing her the song. Most people in his situation would barely even be able to recall their name much less the birthday of their mother. So Pi although withering away still is in decent mental state. -Simster
This sentence has a deep effect on the reader because it has such a deep meaning from Pi's mouth. Here is a boy who has hope that he will one day meet with his family in the destination they set out for. In order to keep up this tradition he needs to honor the holidays he would be celebrating with the family members he is not with but knows, not wishes for, that they are alive. It is just another contribution to Pi's faith and hope within this terrible situation he is put in. The reader starts to feel maybe there might be some scenario where his family escaped from that ship.
This quote has a strong effect on the reader. Pi reveals how much he really missed his family, especially his mother. The fact that he remembers when his mother's birthday, shows how lost he is, and also his yearning for home again.
Piglet:
Although Chapter 75 is rather short, the one lined sentence has much meaning behind it. When reading the first sentence, it was astounding that his mother was still within him. Although being stranded in the middle of the ocean, he was able to cope with the fact that his mother may be dead but also able to remember her birthday. Since he is traveling alone, many feelings and emotions may be running through his head, but nothing is getting in the way of his mental state to reach a safe destination. I believe Martel made Chapter 75 a turning point and left many readers thinking how Pi is really feeling inside on his own since he doesnt show much emotion to the situation.
I believe that this quote makes the reader feel sorry for Pi. He's stranded for who knows how long with limited supplies but when the approxiamte time of his mother's birthday comes he sing "Happy Birthday" to her. This shows that he loves his family very much, even Ravi, and thinks about them a lot. You see that he has a stong bond with his family and misses them so much and at times feels sad that he is not there with them and insted stuck in this isolation where he is bare surviving.
I believe that when Pi sings "Happy Birthday" to his mother, the reader is told that this event is important, but not significant. Pi's family is very important to him, and his estimating his mother's birthday shows just that. However, the reader also notices that the chapter is very, very short, for it is only one sentence in length. I believe that this was to show the reader that while this event was important to Pi, the chapters regarding his survial were more important. This shows that at this time, it is essential for Pi to concentrate on surviving. -Magnum
January 14, 2008 10:58 AM
By: Sporty Spice
January 14, 2008 10:57 AM
By: Scary Spice
This chapter does seem to have a strange effect on the reader. Because it is only one sentence, it appears to be completely insignificant due to the fact that it is such a small part to an entire novel, especially since it is about his mother who clearly has passed away and will not live to be another age. This is very much like Pi himself. Pi is just one little speck apart of a vast ocean in the whole world. Both appear to have very little meaning in the whole of things, but somehow still seem to leave a lasting impression. - Blue Steel
When Pi decides to sing Happy Birthday to his mother, I believe that it has a shocking affect on the reader. As stated earlier in the book, Pi did not have any real memory of his mother but he did try to remember her birthday. I felt that this was ironic. This shows that he still hopes that his mother is alive and even if she is not, he shows that he has remebered her on her special day and thought about her.
Holding little hope for his chances of survival, this sentence has a surprising effect on the reader. Prior to this chapter, Pi stated earlier in the novel that "to look out with idle hope is tantamount to dreaming one's life away" (Martel 169). Yet singing happy birthday to his mother is a clear sign of hope and longing for his family. When readers finally begin to think that Pi has loss all hope in his family and even God, he proves them wrong by singing a sentimental song to his beloved mother.
test
I think that Pi singing happy birthday to his mom brings up questions about his mentality and knowlegde of his mother's situation. His mother had died in the ship as it sank and probably being lonely kind of drove him alittle crazy and his want for his mother's presence pushed him to do this. It seems weird but probably he doesn't want to accept the death of his mom. - Yukky
Although this chapter was only one sentence you can get a bunch of different emotions and views by reading it. By the author having Pi sing happy birthday you get a feeling of surprise and sadness. I also agree with most of those who commented this question Pi shows greatly that even though he knows his mother is dead she is still important to him. No matter what he will always hold his loved ones close. However it also may jump out to the reader that maybe Pi has lost his sanity.
-barbie
This chapter was very short and when I read it, it made remember how he had lost his parents. This chapter expressed a different emotion that Pi really lost view of. He lost that love of another person and by singing "Happy Birthday" to his deceased mother; he kept that connection in his mind of his life before the shipwreck. This does show his faith and love for things that he holds dear to him like IceBerg commented and I think that this still shows humanity in Pi after all the experiences he has gone through.
This sentence could be interpreted many different ways. One part of my mind says that he is desperate for hope and another part of my mind says that he still took time to manage the calenders days. It shows he still has some hope that he will see his mother again and hasn't forgot about her.
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