Life of Pi Part 1, Chapter 5 Summary

How It All Goes Down

  • We've arrived at The Chapter On Pi's Nickname. That's right: the story about his name isn't over.
  • So, Pi tells us he had a few problems as a child because his classmates took advantage of similarities between Piscine and pissing. Kids will be kids. Only the teachers make fun of poor Pi too.
  • Pi decides to take matters into his own hands. On the first day of secondary school (equivalent to high school in the United States) Pi, instead of simply saying his name during roll call, writes his full name and new nickname – "Pi" – on the board. For illustrative purposes, he also writes: "π = 3.14." The nickname sticks.