Retelling a Story - How Matariki Came to Be

 The Story of Tanemahuta, Papatuanuku, and Ranginui is a beautiful one - rich with opportunities to use descriptive, and emotive language. 

 

Art: “Triumph” by Jane Crisp

 

Your task today is to retell this story - based on what you learnt yesterday from the 

video we watched, and the story you read today 

you will retell the story from a different perspective.

 

Perspective is the point of view of a character. Instead of telling the story like you are a ”fly on the wall” you are telling the story as if you were that character.

 

Choose one of these characters to write from the perspective of;

 

• Ranginui, or Papatuanuku

• Tanemahuta

• Tawhirimatea

 

What was the word like for me before the separation? uncomfortable

 

How did I feel once the separation happened? Devastated to see.

 

What kind of emotive, or descriptive words can I use to show how I felt?               Miserable, My heart, shattered, unhappy

 

BEGIN YOUR WRITING HERE: In the beginning there were two great gods called Ranginui the Sky Father and Papatuanuku Earth Mother /me in this story . Ranginui and I were attached to each other. We  had 6 daughters that we did not let see or be in the light.  That was when one day as Ranginui stirred a single bit of light onto my armpit onto my  children. So then as they were surprised to see light they yearned themself and entered the world of light. Freeing themselves they started to embrace that they had been in the darkness for so long. But Me and  Ranginui's  love was too strong and their efforts were fruitless. Then Tane Mahuta, God of the forest, lay on his back and started to dig his shoulder deep into his mothers body. With his legs Tane pushed against his father with all his strength he could summon, attempting light into the world. Ignoring his mothers cries telling him to stop, Tane pushed harder and his relationship between his parents was beginning to tear apart. Making a start on his very last reserves Tane fully extended his powerful legs forcing ranginui to the heavens flooding the whole world with shining and bright light. Today, after Ranginui’s tears fall from the bright sky as rain onto his beloved papatuanuku’s pain, it was a reminder of his grief and longing for her. Papatuanuku’s pain is visible in the red ochre clays of the earth still stained by the blood made during the seperation. This angered his brother Tawhirimatea/The god of the winds/Me also in this story. So I was with rage and anger that I sent violent storms and raging winds. I was unable to stand the pain anymore so I tore out my eyes, crushing them to pieces and my winds carried these pieces into the heavens creating the cluster of stars we know today as matariki.