Floating Definition of Terms

8 psychological impacts on being drifted on Pacific Ocean as seen in Pi, the main c haracter of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. The study is the analysis of Pi‟s experiences on the Pacific Ocean for 227 days using psychological approach. The other study is The messages revealed through the main c haracter’s way to survive in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi by Yoewono 2010. According to Yoewono 2008, Pi is intelligent, open-minded, religious, and has strong determination. Those characteristics are the intrinsic elements in the novel, he uses formalistic approach. The qualities of Pi‟s characteristics help him to survive in his catastrophe. In his undergraduate thesis, Yoewono 2008 describes that Pi can survive through several ways. The first way is by recognizing and using his strength, which is made possible by his intelligence. The second way is by being realistic about the situation, which is facilitated by his open-mindedness. The last way is by adopting a positive attitude, which is facilitated by his spirituality. Yoewono 2008 considers religion as the main point of the novel. The study is focused on the main plot of the story. Meanwhile, the researcher focuses on the metaphors as one of the symbols in the story. The study is suggested by Prabowo 2010 in his thesis to analyze symbols in the Life of Pi story. Then the researcher also uses Psychological approach to analyze the meaning of metaphor of symbol in the novel. By using some analyses from Yoewono 2008, the researcher can understand the characteristics of the main characters. The researcher chooses the mystical floating island which is based on the main character‟s faith and life background. 9 As a philosophical novel which tells a story about a journey full of miracles, Life of Pi contains some magical events and things. The mystical floating island is one of the magical things and also one of the symbols in the story. In order to find out the meaning of the floating island and to explain the relationship between the mystical floating island and Pi‟s catastrophe, the researcher is using some theories to support this study. The theories are the theory of psychological approach, the theory of metaphor, the theory of symbols, and the relationship among the myth, religion, and faith.

1. Theory of Psychological Approach

According to Guerin, Morgan, Labor, Reesman and Willingham 2005, the psychological approach is an excellent tool for reading beneath the lines. The psychological interpretation can solve many profound clues related to symbolic mysteries. Symbols are those which carry the same or similar meanings for certain symbols. Some examples of the symbols are associated with images and motifs. Motifs and images are called archetypes. Jung 1968 mentions the example of images is water which has meanings such as the mystery of creation, purification, fertility, and growth. Then, the sea has meanings as the mother of life, spiritual mystery and infinity, death and rebirth, and the unconscious according to. These examples represent common archetypal images that the reader encounters the examples in literary works such as novel, or any stories.