ENGLISH
YEAR 7 FILM ANALYSIS: WHALE RIDER
This term, Year 7 English students have been studying the Niki Caro film, Whale Rider. Set in New Zealand, the film follows the journey of young Maori girl Pai as she learns about her culture, challenging it along the way. Students have studied the key themes of the text, as well as film techniques used by Caro to convey meaning to viewers. Below is an example of the analytical writing students have completed, from 7Q student Devika Rajesh Gayathri. Nice work Devika!
Sam Florence
Head of English
Through Whale Rider, Caro demonstrates that there are a lot of people that can teach us valuable lessons. Throughout the movie, Nanny Flowers is one of the strongest characters and the one who always protects Pai.
Pai was born with the death of her twin brother. She was the child Koro wasn’t expecting and therefore hated her at the time. “Acknowledge your granddaughter,” was Nanny Flowers’ response. Throughout the film, Nanny Flowers talked back to Koro and supported Pai. She gave Pai strength and motivation to fight back.
From the start of the film, Pai knew she wasn’t the leader Koro wanted, nor was she Koro’s heir. Though she knew this, Pai still fought, secretly learning what Koro was teaching the boys, and she excelled at it. Many times, Pai proved to be the rightful leader but Koro didn’t acknowledge her. In the scene where Koro explains their family history using the rope, he breaks it.
The rope symbolises their culture and tradition, and it is Pai who mends it, proving her to be the one who changes everything, saving their society from destruction. Thus, through Whale Rider it is shown that there are a lot of people can teach us many different things.
Devika Rajesh Gayathri
Devika Rajesh Gayathri
Devika Rajesh Gayathri 7Q
YEAR 10 LITERATURE POETRY
Some People Worry by Mair Evans, 10D
Mair Evans
Mair Evans
Let’s not worry,
About bandaged people that have broken
Things that barely belong in their belts,
They bargain with better beggars,
They blame the better bodies.
Let’s not worry,
About swerving so severely
On roads squished side by side,
Served up as a spoiled playground,
Where self-centred, selfish souls seat themselves.
Let’s not worry,
About people who purse their lips,
At perfumed perfection for which they pay,
They parent panic and pause for parties
They pray for our permanent penalties.
Let’s not worry,
About laughter that lacerates the lonely,
We are lucky and lectured,
They loiter looking for a leak in the layout,
They lash out at our league with their sour lemon lips.
Let’s not worry,
About the haziness that follows a hug of humidity,
The night before, handsome faces haunting us,
Harm doesn’t come from hard habits,
They shake their heads, so healthy.
Let’s not worry,
About fear sinking its fangs
Into our foliage, forever flowerful,
They frame us as frauds,
They forecast us as felons.
Let’s not worry,
About greedy guests with guns
Governing our green and gold,
They guard greenhouses full of grief
They gladly grant us guilt.
I worry,
About barbarians barricading me away,
And releasing me belatedly.
About sayings becoming sentient,
And swapping me for someone subservient.
About prettier polish,
Appearing and perplexing the public.
About light illuminating the things,
That I lay in low lit locations.
About federal findings,
Finally finding me.
About gold giving out,
Glory doesn’t lend itself.
Engulf Me Young by Jade Jorgensen, 10G
Jade Jorgensen
Jade Jorgensen
They appear, not in thin air but air so foggy with a blink of an eye.
They’ve slipped away.
The youthful clouds hide the scars of the story that travels.
Somewhere someday.
In the dept of the stars, we may never know until we have reached our sea
It's blurred, it's grey. It's just how I remembered I used to be.
My skin holds warmth, heart beats light,
On the days it rains; my room still bright.
Flickers of blur, the droplets fall,
perfectly symmetric against my wall.
I need a ladder
You can crawl.
The mountain looks taller
Feels higher
Don't stall.
Reach the top. You won't fall.
The cliff looks steep, sparsely eager,
to rip my balance, my rope, me weaker.
Against my palms, the frostbite aches,
against my past, I recollect mistakes.
I listen to the trees; whispers in the wind.
They can take away my beauty but my eyes will never be dimmed.
One day…
Day One
You'll feel, You'll know.
Your purpose will come, The grass will grow.
Moment arrive.
not rushed one bit.
The paint will dry, blue not pink.
the vibrant peace, Handkerchief in hand.
Soul to sink, You'll know.
I'll know?... hello?