Whale Rider Quotes (ALL)

Question 1

relationship between man and nature in the past

Answer 1

‘man had power over the creatures of land and sea’

Question 2

harmony of nature and humans

Answer 2

‘all could live in helpful partnership’

Question 3

communication with whales

Answer 3

‘man might talk with the beasts and creatures of the sea’

Question 4

damage to the environment

Answer 4

‘cracks in the ocean floor… indicating serious damage’

Question 5

Kahu talking to the dolphins

Answer 5

‘they were dolphins…seemed to be talking to her’

Question 6

death of whales

Answer 6

‘death was waiting’

Question 7

whales being beached

Answer 7

‘the end of the world’

Question 8

whaling

Answer 8

‘the men laugh… blood, laughing, pain, victory blood… scene of human butchery’

Question 9

Maori beliefs about whales

Answer 9

‘in Maori terms a stranded whale was traditionally a gift from the Gods’

Question 10

communication with whales

Answer 10

‘talk to the whales. they understand’

Question 11

meaning of the whales being beached

Answer 11

‘this is a sign to us’

Question 12

relationship that man once had with nature

Answer 12

‘a reminder of the oneness which the world once had’

Question 13

meaning of the whales being beached (2)

Answer 13

‘the whale is a sign’

Question 14

survival of the Maori people

Answer 14

‘if it lives, we live. if it dies, we die’

Question 15

future of Maori dependent on whales

Answer 15

‘if the whale lives, we live’

Question 16

birth cord

Answer 16

‘your birth cord is here. no matter where you may go, you will always return. you will never be lost to us’

Question 17

legend of the spear

Answer 17

‘i saw something flying through the air. it looked like a small spear’

Question 18

maori schools

Answer 18

a regular instruction period for the men so that we would be able to learn our history and customs…to keep the Maori language going, and to increase the strength of the tribe’

Question 19

language nests

Answer 19

‘the school sessions were proving to be very popular. all of us felt the need to understand more about our roots’

Question 20

maori dispora

Answer 20

‘so many other Maori’s over there… you could always count on bumping into a Maori cousin’

Question 21

Maori cousins abroad

Answer 21

‘a cous is a cous’

Question 22

ancient whale

Answer 22

‘a giant whale. on its head was a sacred sign, a gleaming tattoo’

Question 23

language schools

Answer 23

‘Koro had now begun a second series of schools’

Question 24

Kahu connection to maori culture

Answer 24

‘i was top of my class this year. and i’m the leader of the culture group. i love singing the Maori songs’

Question 25

ancient whale from the past

Answer 25

'no ordinary whale. this whale came from the past'

Question 26

Koro's reaction to Kahu when she is born

Answer 26

' "a girl," Koro Apirana, our grandfather, said, disgusted. "I will have nothing to do with her. she has broken the male line of descent in our tribe".'

Question 27

Maori traditional leadership

Answer 27

By Māori custom, leadership was hereditary and normally the mantle of prestige fell from the eldest son to the eldest son. Except that in this case, there was an eldest daughter.

Question 28

koro's traditional beliefs

Answer 28

Koro Apirana could not reconcile his traditional beliefs about Māori leadership

Question 29

Nani's ancestors

Answer 29

'I'm a descendant of old Muriwai, and she was the greatest chief of my tribe'

Question 30

Kahu's naming

Answer 30

the baby could be named Kahu, after Kahutia Te Rangi

Question 31

Kahu and Koro relationship

Answer 31

'she loved him and he didn't love her'

Question 32

Rawiri overhears racism

Answer 32

'you know what the natives are like, always drinking'

Question 33

Rawiri experiencing racism

Answer 33

'Jeff had told her i was Maori it was obvious that i was still too dark'

Question 34

racist comment made about rawiri

Answer 34

'jeff, always bringing home dogs and strays. but at least he's not a native'

Question 35

Kahu's dream of going to uni

Answer 35

'I want to go to university...Koro says it's a waste of time for a girl...I wish I wasn't a girl'

Question 36

women helping save the whales

Answer 36

'Rawiri, go tell your Nani it is time for the women to act the men'

Question 37

Koro realising Kahu is special

Answer 37

'I blame myself. It's all my fault … I should have known she was the one … ever since that time when she was a baby and bit my toe.'

Question 38

Kahu wishing she was a boy

Answer 38

'If I was a boy I would have held on tight. I'm sorry, Paka, I'm not a boy.'

Question 39

Koro's love for Kahu

Answer 39

'You're the best grandchild in the whole wide world. Boy or girl, it doesn't matter.'

Question 40

survival of the maori people

Answer 40

'The big chief of the tribe was perhaps more preoccupied with the many serious issues facing the survival of the Maori people and our land.'

Question 41

the boys description of Koro

Answer 41

'a good fighter for the Maori people...The Maori Man of Steel'

Question 42

Koro's knowledge

Answer 42

' he was one of the very few who could pass on the sacred knowledge'

Question 43

Koro like a whale

Answer 43

'Koro was like an old whael stranded in an alien present'

Question 44

bull whale moving past the past

Answer 44

'the bull whale began to lose his nostalgia for the past...put his thoughts to the present and the future'

Question 45

Kahu's destiny

Answer 45

'child your people await you...fulfil your destiny'