Musical/Poetic Connection

The poetic language used in Life of Pi by Yann Martel creates a lot of connections to music.

Connotation- The types of animals selected to be on the life boat are chosen for the tones and attitudes commonly associated with those animals, and help to better shape the reader's image of the characters without extensive description. Connotations establish a lot of character development without a lot of words.

Metaphor- Martel most effectively uses metaphor to bring complicated or abstract ideas down to a more relatable level. At the end, when Pi suggests he may have actually been on the raft with people, the reporters decide they like the story with the animals and a powerful message about metaphors is established.

Shift in Attitude- If this book had a theme song it would take many different forms. The part of the story at the zoo would be a light hearted and content song, the sinking of the ship would be cataclysmic death metal and the lifeboat would be a long tired jam, briefly influenced by the events and emotions that are described in the book. Richard Parker, would go nicely with some funky beat or subdued smooth jazz (because he's a tiger)