1. Whale Rider – Themes
Year 8 English

2. What is a Theme?
The important ideas common in many text. Love/Justice/Family
There are multiple themes in a film/novel.
Some will be shared by many other texts, some are shared by only a few texts.

3. Theme VS Message or Ideas
Issue/ideas
Love
Love can be painful.
Loyalty
Loyalty is honorable, but blinded loyalty can be harmful.
Friendship
Friendship can be toxic.
Explain how ‘theme’ is different to ‘message’ in your own words.

4. How are themes presented to us?
Through characters
What they do
What they say
How they change
Through the plot
What happens in the film
Through objects (‘that matter’),they represent ideas related to the theme (We call these things ‘symbols and ‘motifs’: we will learn about this later)

5. What are the possible themes?
Draw a table like the one you have seen previously . In groups of 3, come up with a list of possible themes and ideas for Whale Rider.
Please allow 10 minutes for this, and get each group to feed back to the class. You may like to write their ideas on the board.
Theme
Issue/Idea

6. Themes we’re going to focus on:
Leadership
Tradition and change
Gender roles

7. Quotes
Download the document of Whale Rider quotes. Sort them into theme categories:
Leadership
Tradition and change
Gender roles

8. What is the author’s message?
For each of the three themes, write down what you think the filmmaker’s ideas/message is. What does Niki Caro (director and writer) want us to think about each of these themes?
Leadership
Tradition and change
Gender roles

9. Leadership Write your responses in your English workbook:
Which characters in Whale Rider show leadership qualities?
How do they show their leadership?

10. Leadership
Individual Work: Draw a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting Koro and Pai.

11. Leadership
Find four people and share the responses in your Venn diagram. Add any new information from the others in your group to your Venn diagram.
Please allow minutes for this. After this, get 1-2 students to feed back to the class.

12. Leadership
'I needed to understand what leadership is, and as the leader of this film, as the director, I understand that leadership is not about shouting and screaming. It's about being the person that serves the rest and creates an environment in which people feel encouraged to do their best work.'
Niki Caro, director of the film Whale Rider

13. Leadership Write your responses in your English workbook:
What does the director (Niki Caro) mean when she says that leadership is about serving others?
Pai’s grandmother, Nanny Flower, says to Koro ‘He has a lot of rules he has to live by.’ Pai says later, ‘He is the boss.’ Why does Pai support Koro eventhough he does not recognise that she has leadership qualities?
Please allow 5 minutes for students to write their responses. Then get them to share their answers with friends.

14. Tradition and Change
How can you define ‘tradition’? Write down how you would explain the word ‘tradition’ to someone else (for example your parents, friends, brothers and sisters, etc.)
Is change ‘good’? Are you supportive of ‘changes’? Why/Why not?

15. Tradition and Change
What do we know about Maori culture and tradition?
Please run this slide as a class discussion and write their responses on the board.

16. Tradition and Change Write your responses in your English workbook:
Why did Koro so desperately want a male leader to succeed him?
How does he feel when he realises there is no male that can take on the role of chief? (Give examples)
Eventually he accepts Pai as a leader? What makes him change his view/mind?
Please allow 10 minutes for students to write their responses. Then get them to share their answers with friends.

17. Your traditions
Paikea's speech was a personal achievement. Discuss the kinds of achievements that have made you feel good about yourself.
Pai's speech was about her ancestry. Write a speech introducing yourself and the culture that you come from. Are there any ancestors in your history that you could include in your speech? (250 words in draft form in your work book.)

18. Gender Roles Write your responses in your English workbook:
What is the role of ‘male’ in our society?
Traditionally
Modern society
What is the role of ‘female’ in our society?
Role = what are they expected to do/achieve.

19. Changing Role of Women
As a class, create a list of movies that you have seen recently. Create a separate list of the strong female characters that featured in these movies. Were any of the female characters on the list what you would call a 'hero'? Why?
This list should be written in your English workbook.

20. Gender Roles Write your responses in your English workbook:
What is the role of ‘males’ in Whale Rider?
What is the role of ‘females’ in Whale Rider?

21. Gender Roles Write your responses in your English workbook:
What are your views on Koro and his expectations?
Why isn't Koro proud of his son Porourangi's achievements as an artist in Europe?
Explain why you think Koro excluded Pai from the lessons he gave to the boys about how to be a Chief? How do you think this made Pai feel?

22. Writing Task Write your letter in your English workbook:
Write a letter to Koro to try and persuade him to change his views about women. Include examples of women around the world who have proved themselves as successful leaders.