Not until the film, whale rider, was released internationally in 2002, however, was the novel successful in securing overseas publishing interest in particular, an american edition 2003, in the very country in which it was written. The whale is a reminder of the oneness the world once had. 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. The whale rider is definitely in my top ten list of alltime favorite books. With remarkable grace, pai finds the strength to challenge her. Aug 23, 2010 the book behind the awardwinning movie opens with the tale of the original whale rider, immersing the listener in the sweep of maori culture at the heart of this remarkable story.
The mythology portions tell the story of the whale rider, who was a longago. Eightyearold kahu craves her greatgrandfathers love and attention. 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. Only 120 pages long, its a richly layered story dealing with several major social issues. Ihimaera lives in new zealand and is of maori descent and anglosaxon descent through his father, tom. Based on the novel of the same name by witi ihimaera, the film stars keisha. Maternity leave pay was granted and people were demanding that there be equal number of men and women in high positions in the. Whale rider is a magical tale of survival, stubbornness and destiny. 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. The whale rider was a book i was quite drawn to, as i am a kiwi, and i love new zealand. 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 world premiere was on september 2002, at the toronto international film festival. But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation, for the descendant of the whale rider. 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 rider s ancient gift of communicating with whales. The story follows a 12yearold maori girl named paikea apirana who struggles to earn her grandfathers. Whale rider can be enjoyed by adults, like myself, or with older children as well. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. It is the birth cord joining past and present, reality and fantasy. Jan 01, 1987 the whale rider was a book i was quite drawn to, as i am a kiwi, and i love new zealand. There are physical things that are described in the book the sweep of the bay, the island that looks. Eightyearold kahu, a member of the maori tribe of whangara, new zealand. In a small new zealand coastal village, maori claim descent from paikea, the whale rider. A good signed copy of the first edition of this popular book. Whale rider when talking about choosing the location to shoot whale rider, the films producer, john barnett says. 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.
Pai main character and the new whale rider born into a line of chiefs has all the qualities of a leader struggles against gender stereotypes and koro. The whale rider 2003 read online free book by witi. Her people claim descent from kahutia te rangi, the legendary whale rider. Ihimaera has written quite a long list of books and short stories but the whale. In every generation for over 1,000 years, a male heir born to the chief succeeds to the title. The rite of passage of the hero jonah mentioned in ihimaeras book, the whale rider who emerged a changed man from the whales belly is one example. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of whale rider. Most specifically, it makes you believe that a book thats basically about cultural rituals among the maori people of new zealand isnt only fascinating and entertaining, but. Students will read an informational text to summarize the book s plot and analyze key events before.
The whale rider by witi ihimaera read by jay lagaaia. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of whale rider by witi ihimaera. Blending legend with a reality thats both gritty and beautiful, this novel was made into a movie that was released in the united states just prior to the books publication here. The girl who plays pai is in my opinion the best though as she is absolutely believable in all her varied situations. Nov 27, 2008 eightyearold kahu craves her greatgrandfathers love and attention.
The indie film whale rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. The whale rider by witi ihimaera penguin books australia. 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. You are in for a bit of an emotional rollercoaster with whale rider.
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. I absolutely adore everything about it, and really do think theres something everyone can relate to in this story. As it turns out, whale rider is less an anthropological study of the maori people than a universal story of female empowerment. The music on the album is also included in the film. Signed byy author on title page with drawing of a whale.
Judy croome written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book. The rite of passage of the hero jonah mentioned in ihimaeras book, the whale rider who emerged a changed man from the whale s belly is one example. Ancestor of the people of te tai rawhiti, he travelled from hawaiki, the place of the ancients, to the east coast of new zealand. Whale rider is a 2002 new zealandgerman family drama film written and directed by niki caro. Everyone plays their part in an excellent and believable way. The novel is set in modern times and there are some references that link it into the late 1970s and early 1980s.
It is bothand if we have forgotten the communion then we have ceased to be maori. Now available in simultaneous hardcover and paperback. Jun 01, 2014 from the authors note to the book, we learn that ihimaera wrote this story as a story for his daughters, a story in which a girl is the hero, and not the male. The whale rider essays are academic essays for citation.
Jsa a longstanding tradition of the maori tribe of whangara, new zealand dictates that the chief be a. Kahu is his only greatgrandchildand maori tradition has no use for a girl. 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. Whale rider set in 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. My name is paikea apirana and i come from a long line of chiefs, stretching all the way back to the whale. Whale rider arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audiencegrabbers of recent years. 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. Can someone compare the whale rider book and movie to me i. Most specifically, it makes you believe that a book thats basically about cultural rituals among the maori people of new zealand isnt only fascinating and entertaining, but accessible. From the authors note to the book, we learn that ihimaera wrote this story as a story for his daughters, a story in which a girl is the hero, and not the male. Many books have been made into movies, and they are often not at all faithful to the original, other than the name, and usually the names of the characters.
Then, use the book excerpt and translate it into single frames. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the whale rider by witi ihimaera. The whale rider by witi ihimaera, jay lagaaia, audiobook. The whale rider is a 1987 novel by new zealander witi ihimaera. The whale rider by witi ihimaera penguin books new zealand. Maori novelist witi ihimaera the whale rider and australian aboriginal poet ali cobby eckermann ruby moonlight discuss how stories can bring us closer to reconciliation, and what its like to. The book behind the awardwinning movie opens with the tale of the original whale rider, immersing the listener in the sweep of maori culture at the heart of this remarkable story. Directed and written by niki caro, the film is based on witi ihimaeras novel the whale rider. Coupling a specific sense of place and culture with a. Tradition as a tool for oppressing women in witi ihimaera s the whale rider the influence of beliefs on individual life in witi ihimaeras the whale rider.
The whale rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. The whale rider study guide contains a biography of author witi ihimaera. Indeed, the books author, witi ihimaera, says he wrote whale. 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 children and the ambitions that children have for themselves. Its interesting because when witi ihimaera was asked why he wrote the book and the character his response was, his daughter had watched indiana jones and wanted a female hero so he drew on his own culture and mythologies and created the whale rider. Feb 22, 2005 written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book.
In the liner notes, gerrard describes the experience of recording music for whale rider as one of the most intimate of my artistic life. The novel was set in whangara and it would almost have been heresy to shoot anywhere else. The chiefs eldest son, porourangi, fathers twins a boy and a girl. Customers who viewed this item also viewed these digital items. In every generation since the whale rider, a male has inherited the title of chief. But he is focused on his duties as chief of a maori tribe in whangara, on the east coast of. If i was in english class, id write a long descript essay into the characters and the morals etc. Whale rider takes place in present day new zealand, where a 12yearold girl named pai keisha castlehughes is growing up in an allmaori community. Written in 1987, the whale rider is a deceptively short book. Witi ihimaeras the whale rider is one of those rare books that is so pure and so moving that it makes you believe anything is possible. Witi ihimaera is a novelist and short story writer from new zealand, perhaps the bestknown maori writer today. Before you start, have a look at the sample frame below.
Use this lesson plan to increase student comprehension for the whale rider by witi ihimaera. Similarly, the book is rather ordinary near the beginning, and the writing is too simple. The taniwha is the mythological whale or sea creature that paikea the ancestor rode on to lead the way to aeoteara new zealand originally. The whale rider 2002 summary and analysis uk essays. Create your own storyboard using the template on the next page. Setting whale rider whale rider is set in a small village called whangara, on the east coast of the north island of new zealand. The novel whale rider was written in a time of great change for women and the issues of the 1980s are still present today. The new young whale rider takes her rightful name, kahu. He writes it was my daughter jessica who, after wed seen many movies, said, daddy, why are the boys always heroes while the girls yell out, save me, save me, im so helpless. 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.
Whalerider is the soundtrack album to the film whale rider, by the australian singermusician lisa gerrard. Cover illustration by sally hollismcleod illustrator. If youve ever felt discriminated against because of your gender, this is the book for you. Although disregarded by her grandfather and shunned by the village people, twelveyearold pai remains certain of her calling and trains herself in the ways and customs of her people. May 01, 2003 the whale rider is definitely in my top ten list of alltime favorite books. The first greatgrandchild of the whanau, she was loved by all her relatives except the one whose love she needed mosther greatgrandfather. First published in 1987 in new zealandthe authors homeland as well as. Witi ihimaera author of the whale rider witi ihimaera is a novelist and short story writer from new zealand, perhaps the bestknown maori writer today. I really felt for kahu or pai especially, and now i will look up to her as a favoured character. It was written for secondary school students and presents one of his characteristic. Only kahu understands that she is the whale rider, and that she must guide the whales back to the safety of the sea. Whale rider mat no 10 storyboarding read the following excerpt from the book the whale rider. Like herman melvilles moby dick, the whale, philip hoares strange and wonderful new book, is an anatomy an exploded encyclopedia of all things cetacean. Pais mother died during childbirth and her artist father has left new zealand.
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