Student Question

How can "Life of Pi" be compared to "Ender's Game"?

Quick answer:

"Life of Pi" and "Ender's Game" can be compared through their characters and themes rather than plot. Both feature young, male protagonists—Pi and Ender—who face immense challenges and depend on their own skills for survival. Despite Ender being surrounded by people, he remains emotionally isolated. Thematically, both stories explore survival against overwhelming odds and the internal conflicts each boy faces, such as Ender's moral struggle and Pi's daily fight for life.

Expert Answers

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Those are both two great books.  In order to compare the two, don't do a plot comparison.  That won't work well.  The best way to compare two seemingly very different books is to compare their characters and/or themes.  You could compare Ender to Pi.  Both are young.  Both are male.  Both boys are very much on their own and depending on their own skills.  I realize that Ender is surrounded by people, but he is emotionally separated from everybody, and he knows it.  

Thematically, both books are about struggling to survive in the face of insurmountable odds.  Both books highlight the internal conflicts raging within each boy.  Ender struggles to come to grips with the realization that he is being used to eradicate an entire species.  Pi struggles with the will to live day in and day out.  

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