What are motifs in the whale rider?

In the story, the whale represents life and death. When Koro Apirana, Rawiri, and the guys are in the meeting house discussing what should be done, Koro Apirana states that if the whale dies, we die. If the whale lives, we live. So that shows that the whale is life and death to them. This was said by Koro when the ancient bull whale was washed up on Whangara probably because that was the bull whale that was rode by Kahutia Te Rangi. Also, the whale is the mammal which brought them to the land in the first place. If Paikea (ancestor) hadent rode the whale, they wouldn't be in New Zealand.

the rope is also a symbol in whale rider because it symbolises the ancestral line of the Maori community that they live in.when the rope is broken it symbolises the community falling apart. paikea then fixes the rope and this is as if she has rejoined the community.