The novel is set in modern times and there are some references that link it into the late 1970s and early 1980s. He attended church college of new zealand in temple view, hamilton, new zealand. Whale rider theme study expectations by grace johnson on prezi. She is a surviving twin, her brother and mother died during childbirth. Setting whale rider whale rider is set in a small village called whangara, on the east coast of the north island of new zealand. Pais mother died during childbirth and her artist father has left new zealand. Whale rider takes place in present day new zealand, where a 12yearold girl named pai keisha castlehughes is growing up in an allmaori community. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis. Whale rider is set in the maori community of new zealand. Students will read an informational text to summarize the books plot and analyze key events before. Now, so many years after their separation, the nostalgia for their time spent together cuts away at the old bull whale.
An international bestseller that was made into a multiple awardwinning film. The films plot follows the story of paikea apirana paiin the book, her name is kahu, short for kahutia te rangi, a 12yearold girl who is the only living child in. The indie film whale rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. You are in for a bit of an emotional rollercoaster with whale rider. The mythical story of the whales told alongside the story of kahu discusses various important issues. The plot whale rider follows the journey of eleven year old paikea apirana. The village leader should be the firstborn son, a direct patrilineal descendant of paikea, the whale rider, he who rode on top of a whale tohora from hawaiki. Only 120 pages long, its a richly layered story dealing with several major social issues. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis of. Whale rider mat no 10 storyboarding read the following excerpt from the book the whale rider. It would take some pretty powerful words to make something like that happen but those are exactly the kind of words that make up whale rider. The book is interesting and the audience will without a doubt have tears and also laugher through the pages of the story. Overcoming gender roles to unite the whangara the film whale rider tells the fictional story of pai, a twelveyearold girl living with her grandparents in the small community of whangara on the coast of new zealand.
Free download or read online the whale rider pdf epub book. According to legend, the maori came to whangara when their great leader paikea led them by riding on a whale. Everyone plays their part in an excellent and believable way. This whale rider casts spears as lifegiving objects to the islands, but one spear he casts years into the future, which is the time of the storys young heroine kahu. A rather dense prologue tells of the longago appearance of a gigantic whale with a swirling tattoo imprinted on the forehead and a spearthrowing man riding on its back. Since whale rider is set in new zealand and the story is about a maori tribe, a lot of the words used are traditional maori words, making it a little tricky to follow along. The world premiere was on september 2002, at the toronto international film festival. The whale rider abstract whale rider is a drama film of the 2002, based on the novel of witi ihimaera, and directed by niki caro. The whale rider by witi ihimaera penguin books australia.
Through the account of the maori individuals of new zealand and their legacytraditions, the reader will be acquainted with new another socially assorted gathering of individuals. This book alternated between ancient mythology and the modern struggle of a young girl trying to take her place in society. At age 12, she enlists the help of her grandmother vicky haughton and the training of her uncle grant roa. Pai is originally born a twin, but her twin brother and her mother died during childbirth. Comprehension and discussion activities for the film whale. It won the audience awards as the most popular film at both the toronto and sundance film festivals, played to standing ovations, left audiences in tears. Only males are allowed to ascend to chiefdom in a maori tribe in new zealand. The whale rider 2002 summary and analysis uk essays. However his twin sister, pai keisha castlehughes, survives. These two share many common themes such as sexism, discrimination, and loss. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of whale rider.
In chapter 1 i will give a short summary about the colonial and postcolonial. Sep 30, 2017 the whale rider, by witi ihimaera, is rich in thematic concerns. The whale rider, by witi ihimaera, is rich in thematic concerns. The whale in this context of whangara takes on the mythical origins of the taniwha but also serves as a lineage to.
Written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of whale rider by witi ihimaera. Ihimaera was born near gisborne, a town in the east of new zealands north island and is of maori descent te aitangaamahaki and anglosaxon descent. The films plot follows the story of paikea apirana paiin the book, her name is kahu, short for kahutia te rangi, a 12yearold girl who is the only living child in the line of the tribes chiefly succession following the death of her twin brother and mother when she was born. Witi ihimaera is a novelist and short story writer from new zealand, perhaps the bestknown maori writer today. The main characters of this fiction, young adult story are kahu. The girl who plays pai is in my opinion the best though as she is absolutely believable in all her varied situations. The books narrator, kahus uncle rawiri, then explains that the tribes first chief and ancestor, kahutia te rangi, who is also called paikea, came to their land on. The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. One relationship in particular that between the whale rider and his giant whale was exemplary of a symbiotic connection. These three techniques and others in the movie clearly gave it more rhythm and meaning, which helped the viewers go deeper into scenes than the third person events on the screen. The whale in this context of whangara takes on the mythical origins of the taniwha but also serves as a lineage to paikeas mythological escape story. Whale rider is an internationally successful new zealand film focusing on indigenous cultural issues. Eightyearold kahu craves her greatgrandfathers love and attention. The whale rider by witi ihimaera, jay lagaaia, audiobook. Plenty of rich themes are found in ihimaeras the whale rider. Its a story about a young maori girl, paikea apirana thats born into the chief line along with a twin brother.
Kahu she is a young girl with a strong and determined temperament and a soft and innocent heart. Whale rider follows the journey of eleven year old paikea apirana. The films plot follows the story of paikea apirana paiin the book, her name is kahu, short for kahutia te rangi, a 12yearold girl who is the only living child in the line of the tribes chiefly succession following the death of. Witi tame ihimaerasmiler dcnzm qsm born 7 february 1944, generally known as witi ihimaera. Koro, the leader of a community that was once dominated my ancient rules and laws passed down many generations, struggles to find a suitable leader who can improve the way of life and bring back the traditions and laws that were once obeyed by the people. Although it claimed to be a story of the history of the maorinew zealand tribe, many parts of the book were irrelevant to the main plot. The movie begins with the birth of twins, the latest in that line.
The bull whale is an ancient whale, about 65 feet long. The story follows a 12yearold maori girl named paikea apirana who struggles to. The classic book that inspired the awardwinning, internationally released film whale rider, winner of best film at the 2003 sundance film festival and 2004 academy awards best actress nomination for keisha castlehughes. Jan 01, 1987 written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book. Its fixation on myths indigenous to new zealand lends a bizarre, ethereal otherworldliness. The first greatgrandchild of the whanau, she was loved by all her relatives except the one whose love she needed mosther greatgrandfather. Whale rider is an expressive, cultural drama film by the award winning director nikola jean niki caro, that explores the ideas of love, rejection, tradition and gender roles.
The two main characters of each story share one major characteristic in common. The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 1987, and was written by witi ihimaera. Before you start, have a look at the sample frame below. The whale rider the films plot follows the story of paikea apirana paiin the book, her name is kahu, short for kahutia te rangi, a 12yearold girl who is the only living child in the line of the tribes chiefly succession following the death of her twin brother and mother when she was born. Plot summary for whale rider 2002, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more.
It is leading its herd in search of safer waters, but at the same time it struggles to come to terms with its deep love for the ancient whale rider, now long dead, who once had been its dearest companion. Niki caro based on the book by witi ihimaera prezi by. The module consists of teachers notes and a handout with background information that you can copy and give to your students. The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with the whale rider, a young man who sits upon its. The whale rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. The story follows a 12yearold maori girl named paikea apirana who struggles to earn her grandfathers. Whale rider is a magical tale of survival, stubbornness and destiny. Ancestor of the people of te tai rawhiti, he travelled from hawaiki, the place of the ancients, to the east coast of new zealand. Based on the novel of the same name by witi ihimaera, the film stars keisha castlehughes as kahu paikea apirana, a twelveyearold maori girl whose ambition is to become the chief of the tribe. Whale rider directed by niki caro notes english junior. Ihimaera lives in new zealand and is of maori descent and anglosaxon descent through his father, tom. Then, use the book excerpt and translate it into single frames. In particular, this story is about paikea, the first whale rider who uses spears to create life on the island. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 150 pages and is available in paperback format.
Expectations pourorangi is expected to lead the community as a wise chief pourorangi is expected to look after paikea expected to have a son who will become chief expects tradition to stay relevant expected to follow his fathers plan koro nanny flowers is expected. The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with. Use this lesson plan to increase student comprehension for the whale rider by witi ihimaera. The novel begins with a traditional legend of the maori tribe which tells of the arrival of man from the east, and his relationship with all the animals. And its characters speak in maori almost as much as they do in english. Her people claim descent from kahutia te rangi, the legendary whale rider. First published in 1987 in new zealandthe authors homeland as well as. The whale rider by witi ihimaera penguin books new zealand. Based on the novel of the same name by witi ihimaera, the film stars keisha. The films plot follows the story of paikea apirana pai. The whale mothers look over their young while the single leader whalethe bull whalereminisces about his own youth so long ago, and the precious time he spent with the whale rider. Expectations and disappointments generational differences 5. The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with the whale rider, a young man who sits upon its back.
Ever since, the maori have been led by the descendants of that leader. Whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. Whale rider can be enjoyed by adults, like myself, or with older children as well. The mythology portions tell the story of the whale rider, who was a longago ancestor who rode a giant ancient whale to the land where the maori tribe of whangara, new zealand live. Create your own storyboard using the template on the next page. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki caro. Show more set at the east coast town of whangara, whale rider tells the tale of a young maori girl, pai keisha castlehughes, who challenges tradition and embraces the past in order to find the strength to lead her people forward. The revered figure of whangaras maori people and kahus direct ancestor, the whale rider develops an extremely close bond with a whale.
She is a maori girl living with her grandparents in their small community. The movie whale rider, directed by niki caro, have many things in common with the book nervous conditions, written in 2002 by tsitsi dangarembga. In 1987 ihimaera wrote the novel the whale rider which was turned into a movie. The hidden meaning behind whale rider could not have been brought out in the acting, the screenplay, or the storyline without the narrative structure. The whale rider is a 1987 novel by new zealander witi ihimaera.
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