TTLV: Postmodern sensibility in The Life of Pi (Y. Martel)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Tran Thi Bach Tuyet

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: May 18, 1985.

4. Place of birth: Hanoi.

5. Decision on student admission No. 2998/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 30, 2013, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process:

7. Thesis title:Postmodern sensibility in The Life of Pi (Y. Martel)

8. Major: Foreign Literature Code: 60.22.01.45

9. Scientific supervisor: Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu Trang– Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This research paper aims to explain the postmodern sensibility expressed by the writer Yann Martel through his works.Life of PiIt is an awareness of the world's chaos, cognitive distrust, of the complexities of reality, of "multiple" elements, of skepticism towards reality...

Regarding religion, Yann Martel, through the character of Pi Patel, expresses a pluralistic viewpoint, respecting all religions and not considering any religion as exclusive, but rather viewing all as genuine religions. This is precisely the philosophy of decentralization, one of the characteristics of postmodern thought.

The work reflects reality in a somewhat "exaggerated" way, exceeding the human capacity to perceive objective reality, and presents a "skeptical" attitude towards the reality recounted by Pi. The ending is ambiguous; the narrator doesn't provide answers, and Yann Martel doesn't resolve all the questions raised, leaving it unclear which parts of the story are true and which are fictional. The truth is discovered depending on each individual, as everyone has different beliefs, attitudes, and interpretations of reality.

Postmodern sensibility is known for the overlapping existence of things or the chaotic nature of the world.Life of PiAccordingly, a way of thinking exists where opposing categories coexist harmoniously. There is a blend of rational and irrational thinking, reality and fantasy, the sacred and the profane, using the irrational and the fantastical to explain and guide the understanding of reality, reflecting an attitude of disbelief in reality.

11. Practical applications:

This thesis offers an approach to works belonging to the postmodern literary movement – ​​viewing postmodernism as a kind of sensory experience.

The research findings of this thesis can therefore be used in the study and teaching of foreign literature at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

12. Future research directions: None

13. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Tran Thi Bach Tuyet                2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: May 18, 1985 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 2998/2013/QD-XHNV-SĐH Dated December 30, 2013 by the Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: None

7. Official thesis title: Postmodernism perception in Life of Pi (Y. Martel)

8. Major: Foreign Literature Code: 60.22.01.45

9. Supervisors:Ph.D Nguyen Thi Nhu Trang – Faculty of Literature – University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University, Hanoi

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The Thesis researched and turned toward explaining the postmodernism perception which shown by the writer – Yann Martel through Life of Pi. There is aware of the chaos of the world, the epistemologiacal uncertainty, the hyper-reality, “multi-” elements, the doubt about reality…

In respect of religion, Yann Marrtel, adopts his novel character Pi Patel, shows his pluralism outlook, respects all religions, doesn't regard one as being the object of monolatry but regard all are genuine religions. That is philosophy of none-center, one of characteristics of postmodernism mentality.

The novel reflects the reality so excessive, over knowledgable degree about objective reality which incident to people, shows “suspect” attitude to the truth that Pi related. The equivocal ending was given, the story-teller didn't give any answer and wasn't reliable, Yann Martel also didn't answer all questions, which story's content is true, which is imaginary. The is found that depends on each reader because each reader has belief, truth and explanation to reality that is different.

The postmodernism perception is known with the existence of all things overlap or has chaos of the world. Life of pi has the way of thinking about opposite categories harmoniously. There is harmony of reasonable mentality and non-mentality, reality and fancy, holy and philistinism, uses groundlessness or fancy to explain and turn to knowledge about reality, to express attitude of epistemologiacal uncertainty.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

The Thesis exposes a way of approach to works that are belong to the postmodernism literary strain – that considers postmodernism as a kind of perception.

The research findings of this thesis can therefore be used in the study and teaching of foreign literature at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Thesis's result of research; Therefore, could use in research and study Foreign Literature at both Tertiary Education and Graduate Education.

12. Further research directions, if any: none

13. Thesis-related publications: none