THIS AND NEXT WEEK we will be reading Life of Pi. Besides finishing a documentary on Islam on the day off, we will carefully read the novel as a metaphor for Pi's search for personal meaning and his process of understanding who he is and what his place is in the universe.

MONDAY

Starting class with a journal entry: What, if any, was your religious upbringing? Do you practice a religious faith, and if so, what and why? If not, why not? Do you believe in God? What are your religious beliefs? We will spend 15 minutes writing, and then will discuss, for at least 10-15 minutes, the nature of Pi's faith. What does Pi believe in? What does Pi seem to be seeking? Finally, we will use the last five minutes to begin the documentary on Islam. This is the third and final documentary in the world religions series.
Watch the entire documentary on Islam. I will collect your notes on this and the Christianity one in class on Wednesday.

TUESDAY

No class because of SAT testing for juniors; seniors have the day off.
Finish the documentary. Both the Islam and Christianity notes are due tomorrow. Tonight, read chapters 19-25.

WEDNESDAY

Collecting documentary notes. Reading quiz on chapters 19-25, and then large group discussion.
Reading chapters 26 through and including chapter 31.

THURSDAY

Why do Pi's parents insist that he cannot be faithful to several religions at once? And is this a fair world view for them to take for their son? In class discussion.
Read chapters 32 through 36, the end of part one.

FRIDAY

The explosion. What does a sinking at sea look like? We take for granted that this is Pi's literal experience...or do we?
Read from chapter 37 through and including 47 of Yann Martel's The Life of Pi.