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   mrs-campbell Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   The animal that survives is named Richard Parker, and he is a tiger.  He survives because Pi takes care of him; he "tames" him through some creative whistle blowing, catches fish for him, gives him water, and in the end, enjoys having him as company.  Pi even contributes his survival to that unlikely source, a fierce predator of a tiger. He states that having Richard Parker there helped him to perservere in some pretty trying circumstances, because at least he wasn't alone.  So, when they finally hit land, and Richard Parker takes off without any drama, semblence of goodbye, or fanfare, Pi is a bit sad.  They had been through so much together; he thought that there would have been some sort of acknowledgment.  But, Richard Parker was a tiger after all, and that they survived that long together in itself is a pretty awesome feat.

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   Posted by mrs-campbell on Wednesday January 7, 2009 at 9:06 PM