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Question
Water is the elixir of life. Substantiate the statement with reference to the story of 'Life Of Pi'.
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Solution
The author calls it ‘liquid life’. For a thirsty man, a cup of water is more precious than gold. He had not drunk water for two and a half days after the shipwreck. Pi drank two liters of the most exquisite nectar (i.e.) water. Suddenly Pi’s forehead was wet with fresh perspiration. Everything in him right down to the pores of his skin was expressing joy. A sense of well-being quickly overcame him. His skin relaxed, his joints moved with greater ease.
His heart began to beat like a merry drum. Blood started flowing through his veins like cars from a wedding party honking their way through the town. Strength and suppleness came back to his muscles. His head became clearer. Truly he was returning to life from the world of the dead. After being thirsty for a while, to be drunk on the water is noble and ecstatic basked in bliss and plentitude for several minutes. These experiences of Pi highlight the indisputable fact that water is the elixir of life.
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Group Work
The play revolves around a ‘perceived threat’ and how Lord Weston and Lady Weston react to it. Let’s reverse their roles. Imagine a panic-stricken Lady Weston and a frivolous Lord Weston. Read the following piece of dialogue from the play and rewrite it to suit the changed roles.
| WESTON | My dear, your husband’s life is in grave danger. |
| LADY WESTON | The last time it was in danger you had been eating game pie. What is it this time? |
| WESTON (annihilating her flippancy with one broadside) | Assassination! |
| LADY WESTON | Well, well! You always wanted to be a great man and now you have got your wish! |
| WESTON | What do you mean? |
| LADY WESTON | They don’t assassinate anybody. |
