Now, so many years after their separation, the nostalgia for their time spent together cuts away at the old bull whale. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of whale rider by witi ihimaera. The bull whale is an ancient whale, about 65 feet long. Then man arrived from the east, and the relationship between nature and man throve. Ihimaera was inspired to write the book in 1985 while living in an apartment in new york overlooking the hudson river. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis. The whale rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. 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. The biggest whale, the founder of maori culture, has a special relationship with the whale rider, a young man who sits upon its back. Now available in simultaneous hardcover and paperback. Jan 01, 1987 written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book. Eightyearold kahu craves her great grandfathers love and attention. In 2002 germany and new zealand coproduced a film based on the novel which went on to win several international awards.
Whale rider takes place in present day new zealand, where a 12yearold girl named pai keisha castlehughes is growing up in an allmaori community. The narrator of this time period is rawiri, her uncle. The epilogue begins focusing again on the whale herd, this time though in present times. Whale rider is an internationally successful new zealand film focusing on indigenous cultural issues. How characterisation builds up the story in the whale rider saturday october 28 2017 lucy kamau takes a look at koro apirana, kahu and nani flowers in witi ihamaeras book.
Niki caros 2002 kiwi classic, whale rider a feminist film if ever there was. The planet premiere was on september 2002, at the toronto international film celebration. Jun 10, 2011 kahu is the protagonist in the book the whale rider. When she is born, her greatgrandfather expresses great. In every generation since kahutia, a male heir has inherited the title of chief. The whale rider by witi ihimaera penguin books australia. Only 120 pages long, its a richly layered story dealing with several major social issues. 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. The whale rider is a 1987 novel by new zealander witi ihimaera. I heard helicopters whirling around and the ships in the river using all their sirens a whale had. The whale rider is a story about a maori girl named kahu, who dreams of being the chief of her tribe. Ancestor of the people of te tai rawhiti, he travelled from hawaiki, the place of the ancients, to the east coast of new zealand. Kahu is his only great grandchildand maori tradition has no use for a girl. Described by metro magazine as part oracle, part memoralist, and an inspired voice, weaving many stories together, ihimaera has also written for stage and screen, edited books on the arts and culture, as well.
But now there is no male heir, and the aging chief is desperate to find a successor. Characterization of kahu simon schug e2thewhalerider. In recent decades, maori have become increasingly urbanized and. Jun 20, 2003 whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. By tradition, the leader should be the firstborn son a. Can someone compare the whale rider book and movie to me i. Feb 22, 2005 written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book. Analysis of witi ihimaeras the whale rider on the basis of. After 12 seasons, the great depression hit the league hard and it practically fell apart, leaving the few remaining teams with only barnstorming for an option to make money for playing. The world premiere was on september 2002, at the toronto international film festival. 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. The movie begins with the birth of twins, the latest in that line.
Sep 30, 2017 the whale rider, by witi ihimaera, is rich in thematic concerns. Plenty of rich themes are found in ihimaeras the whale. The whale is of great importance to the people of whangara. Pomeranz said niki caro has directed this uplifting story with great sensitivity, eliciting affecting performances from a sterling cast, and a wonderful. Her people claim descent from kahutia te rangi, the legendary whale rider. Then, use the book excerpt and translate it into single frames. How characterisation builds up the story in the whale rider. The book of jonah says a great fish, chapter 1 verse 17 kjv, which over time people have assumed was a whale. Each part is named after one of the seasons and has a subtitle. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki caro. A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. Oct 28, 2017 how characterisation builds up the story in the whale rider saturday october 28 2017 lucy kamau takes a look at koro apirana, kahu and nani flowers in witi ihamaeras book. The whale rider abstract whale rider is a episode film of the 2002, predicated on the book of witi ihimaera, and directed by niki caro.
But he is focused on his duties as chief of a maori tribe in whangara, on the east coast of new zealand a tribe that claims descent from the legendary whale rider. That is why it appears to me worth analysing this text in the context of postcolonial literary studies which is the purpose of this term paper. The whale rider epilogue summary and analysis gradesaver. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Pai is being raised by her loving grandparents, koro and nanny flowers rawiri paratene and vicky haughton. Pais mother died during childbirth and her artist father has left new zealand.
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. The whale rider novel is a positive and sensitive representation of maori culture and several terms from the postcolonial theory can be determined within the novel. Before you start, have a look at the sample frame below. The glossary of terms makes it at times a challenge for one unfamiliar with the idea of history and myth operating within this culture. Comprehension and discussion activities for the film whale. The whale rider chapter 6 porourangi returns from south island to live in whangara porourangi brings kahu back to nani flowers from rehuas mother for the holidays porourangi brings kahu back to nani flowers from rehuas mother for the holidays kahu is back. After that kahu grew up with her mothers people, but she came over. It is about the struggles of a maori girl, paikea, to succeed her grandfather as leader of her tribe in spite of tradition dictating that the chief be male. Feminist themes in witi ihimaeras essay 1897 words. The taniwha is the mythological whale or sea creature that paikea the ancestor rode on to lead the way to aeoteara new zealand originally.
Niki caro based on the book by witi ihimaera prezi by. The novel was set in whangara and it would almost have been heresy to shoot anywhere else. The whale rider 2002 summary and analysis uk essays. But he is focused on his duties as chief ofa maori tribe in whangara, on the east coast of new zealand a tribe that claims descent from the legendary whale rider. The novel is divided into four parts, including a prologue, epilogue and glossary. Whale rider when talking about choosing the location to shoot whale rider, the films producer, john barnett says. Ever since, the maori have been led by the descendants of that leader.
With keisha castlehughes, rawiri paratene, vicky haughton, cliff curtis. For reference, in this comparisoncontrast, when i say paikea, ill be referring to the movie version girl, and kahu refers to the book version girl. This book alternated between ancient mythology and the modern struggle of a young girl trying to take her place in society. Whale rider is set in the maori community of new zealand. In every generation since the whale rider, a male has inherited the title of chief. Eightyearold kahu, a member of the maori tribe of whangara, new zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny. By tradition, the leader should be the firstborn son a direct patrilineal descendant of. Ending spoiler for whale rider 2002, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. We have her voice telling us the history of her people, overlaying the scenes of the great whale calling for its master paikea. The whale rider by witi ihimaera, jay lagaaia, audiobook. The whale rider the snail and the whale a whale of a tale all about porpoises, dolphins, and whales cat in the hats learning library who would win. The module consists of teachers notes and a handout with background information that you can copy and give to your students. She is the heir to the leadership, but her great grandfather, koro apirana, the leader of the tribe, does not like her very much, because he wished a boy to be the heir.
In the 2002 film, whale rider, the director, niki caro created a magnificently empowering movie that serves as an inspirational tool for females. 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. Similarly, the book is rather ordinary near the beginning, and the writing is too simple. Jun 01, 2014 for reference, in this comparisoncontrast, when i say paikea, ill be referring to the movie version girl, and kahu refers to the book version girl. Whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. Whale rider this module has been designed to accompany the film whale rider 2003. Create your own storyboard using the template on the next page.
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. Written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book. Plenty of rich themes are found in ihimaeras the whale rider. Author of the novel the whale rider witi ihimaera the film is based on the book the whale rider by witi ihimaera. The whale rider, by witi ihimaera, is rich in thematic concerns.
Based on the novel of the same name by witi ihimaera, the film stars keisha. Unfortunately her twin brother, who was supposed to be the chief of her village, died at birth and her grandfather did not want her because of her being a girl. The whale rider summary the story begins with a focus on the ancient days, when nature and all wildlife were excitedly waiting for the coming of man. The film is based on the whangara people from the east coast of new zealand, who believed.
Whale rider is a drama film of the 2002, based on the novel of witi ihimaera, and. Though rawiri and nanny flowers do their best to stop kahu hearing about the whales, she. Introduction the whale rider revolves around paikea. Witi ihimaera was the first maori to publish both a book of short stories and a novel, and has published many notable novels and collections of short stories. According to legend, the maori came to whangara when their great leader paikea led them by riding on a whale. Whale rider 155 lesson 1 social studies geographyworld history the maori gradually recovered from population decline and, through interaction and intermarriage with settlers and missionaries, adopted much of european culture. 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 quotes showing 18 of 8 he loved them deeply, but sometimes love becomes a power game between the ambitions that parents have for their. Comprehension and discussion activities for the film whale rider. Can someone give me a summary of the whale rider book. 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. Asked in whales are the whales in whale rider real. She could be the leader her tribe needs, but her greatgrandfather adheres strictly to. Whale rider is a 2002 film centred around pai apriana keisha castlehughes, a spirited elevenyearold born in tragic circumstances on the coastal village of whangara.
There are physical things that are described in the book the sweep of the bay, the island that looks. May 01, 2003 written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book. 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. Buy this book first published in 1987 in new zealandthe authors homeland as well as the storys setting. The first great grandchild of the whanau, she was loved by all her relatives except the one whose love she needed mosther great grandfather. The bull whale is leading his herd downward into the depths of the sea, and seven females closely flank him, singing for him out of happiness that he has rejoined them. But when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the maori tribe, it is kahu who saves the tribe when she reveals that she has the whale riders ancient gift of communicating with whales.
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