By Witi Ihimaera

By
Witi Ihimaera
The Writer
In 1986 the New Zealand writer, Witi
Ihimaera, was living in New York. He
saw a stranded whale up the Hudson
River. He was already feeling homesick
and it made him recall the legend of
Kahutia-te-Rangi. Ihimaera grew up
near Whangara, where the descendants
of Kahutia are said to live. He wrote the
novel in three weeks.
Background Information
The Legend of Kahutia-teRangi
Kahutia-te-Rangi travelled
from Hawaiiki but his
canoe capsized. A whale
saved him and he rode its
back to shore. To
commemorate this voyage
he was given the name
‘Paikea’ . His descendants
live at Whangara, on the
East Coast of the North
Island.
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS A NOVEL?
Select the 7 typical features of the novel genre from this list
and write them down.
LEAVE TWO LINES UNDER EACH.
text is organised into sections called chapters
a single, short, compressed incident is the story
single or multiple narrators may be used
lines are set out in stanzas
text is a combination of narrative, description, and dialogue
factual and informative text
may use first and/or third person point of view to tell the story
focus is on one or more main characters and their relationships
need not use punctuation as many lines are incomplete
a detailed physical and cultural and historical setting is often
established
 speakers’ names are listed down the margin next to what they say
 the main ideas are often universal themes every reader can identify
with
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DOES THE WHALE RIDER
FIT THE GENRE?
Indicate how this novel shows
each of your 7 features.
For example:
1. single or multiple narrators may be used
The Whale Rider uses two different narrators or
‘voices’ to tell the story. One narrator tells the
legend; and the other is Rawiri, Kahu’s uncle.
2. text is organised into sections called
chapters
The novel …………………………….
3. text is a combination of narrative,
description, and dialogue
Examples are …………………………….
4. text may use first and/or third person
point of view to tell the story
In the novel the points of view are ……………
5. focus is on one or more main characters
and their relationships
In the novel ……………….………………
6. a detailed physical and cultural and
historical setting is often established
In the novel ……………….………………
7. The main ideas are often universal
themes every reader can identify with
In the novel ……………….………………
MAIN IDEAS/ THEMES
What ideas in the novel do
you see reflected in each of
these images?
THE TITLE
Titles are often a key to a main
theme in the text.
Suggest two ways we can
interpret the title.
What are some key ideas or
themes presented in this
novel?
Use any of these words to
state what you think are two
key ideas in the story:
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•
•
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Culture …
Nature …
Faith in yourself …
Tradition …
Give evidence: an EVENT and a
QUOTATION from the novel to
support each of these 3 themes.
THEME 1
Your culture is
an important
part of your
sense of
identity.
EVIDENCE - EXAMPLE
Going to the wananga
classes to learn tribal
lore gives Rawiri and
the boys a sense of
mana and pride in their
ancestry.
“All of us felt the need to
understand more about
our roots.” p.50
THEME 2
Growing up is not easy and requires
a lot of personal courage.
Give evidence: an EVENT and a
QUOTATION from the novel to
support.
THEME 2
Growing up
is not easy
and requires
a lot of
personal
courage.
EVIDENCE - EXAMPLE
THEME 3
We need to
respect
nature and
the
environment
we live in.
Give evidence: an EVENT and a
QUOTATION from the novel to
support.
THEME 3
We need to
respect nature
and the
environment we
live in.
EVIDENCE - EXAMPLE