Frame Story

Life of Pi

by Yann Martel

Life of Pi: Frame Story 1 key example

Author’s Note
Explanation and Analysis:

The entirety of Life of Pi is a frame story: even though the reader is told the account as if from Pi’s perspective, it is, of course, actually the author’s account of Pi’s story. A fictionalized version of the author serves as the interlocutor between Pi and the reader for the entire novel, which is made clear by the brief chapters told only from the author's point of view. In the Author's Note, the author even takes responsibility for any mistakes: "It seemed natural that Mr. Patel’s story should be told mostly in the first person—in his voice and through his eyes. But any inaccuracies or mistakes are mine."