Teaching Watership Down

Instructions for You

Objective: It's very clear upon reading this story that the rabbits of Watership Down have more in common with a band of soldiers than a group of fluffy bunnies. The world Richard Adams creates is chock full of violence and politics, and the rabbits deal with familiar human issues, especially considering that the book was written in the wake of World War II. By looking at friendships in a variety of settings, students will assess styles of leadership in Watership Down, debating about them and ultimately coming up with their very own super-warren.

You can expect this activity to take at least two class periods, and it's best saved for once you've finished reading the book.

Materials Needed: Access (via the Internet or printouts) to Shmoop's article on WWII, an interview with Adams in which he discusses the influence of WWII on Watership Down, this article on bonding through war, Shmoop's questions about politics in Watership Down, and Shmoop's article on power in Watership Down for ideas; copies of the text; pens and paper

Step 1: Despite not being an allegory, there's no doubt that the violence and bonding in the face of foes that Adams experienced as a soldier in the British army during WWII inspired many elements of Watership Down.

(Students not hip to this bloody and terrifying time? Kick this activity off by taking a few minutes to get them on the page by sharing our handy synopsis with your class.)

Significantly, the characters of Hazel and Bigwig are based on friends Adams made in the war. Share this article on Richard Adams (or sections of it) with your class, making sure to draw their attention to the fact that Major John Gifford and the "mad Irishman" Captain Paddy Kavanagh were the prototypes for Hazel and Bigwig.

Now see if students can come up with other friendships in literature that were outstanding in the face of a great foe. Here are some examples if they need a little nudge:

• Han Solo and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars
• Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit
• Prince Hal (a.k.a. Henry V) and Falstaff in Henry IV, Part 1
• Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games

Briefly discuss how friendship helps these various characters persevere. Would they have made it on their own? Why or why not? Were there instances where they parted and struggled without each other?

Step 2: Now let's take it down a notch and focus on the book. Have your students compare the leadership styles of Hazel, Cowslip, and General Woundwort. Obviously, Hazel's clan perseveres, but let's take a look at why. Get the conversation rolling by reading them this article about friendship and war. When you finish, challenge your students to answer the following questions:

• Would you say you have a best friend? What is it that makes her or him your best friend?
• What does this tell you about friendship and hardship?
• Have you ever befriended someone you were unsure about? Why did you do it?
• How do you define friendship? Sacrifice? Is friendship different from teamwork?
• Have you ever lost a friend, or grown apart? Why did it happen?

Now break your class into small groups to start thinking about what it is about friendship that really helps Hazel's warren succeed. Have them search for moments in the text that prove their claims, including moments where friendship helps and hinders the survival of Hazel's clan.

Step 3: Now that students have had a chance to evaluate the friendship element in Hazel's leadership style, take a look at the others. Have the same groups evaluate General Woundwort and Cowslip's leadership style. What were the advantages and disadvantages of both? If you need some guiding questions, check out our questions about politics in Watership Down.

Step 4: Once kids have had enough time to look at evidence of effectiveness (and not-so-effectiveness) in each fearsome Chief Rabbit's style, number them off into three groups and put on your fancy wig. It's debate time.

Each group will represent a warren—Cowslip's, Hazel's, or Efrafa. Give each group a chance to put together an argument for why their warren is the best warren. Each group should also pick a speaker to present this argument.

As judge and jury, you will be writing the pros and cons on the board as they come up. The first speakers from each group will have three minutes to argue why their warren (and their warren's leader) is the best. Then the groups will reconvene and create counter-arguments to their opponents' arguments. A second speaker from each group will then have three minutes to refute the other arguments and, in light of the counter-arguments, reassert the virtues of their particular warren.

Step 5: After the debate, each group will be assigned the task of creating the ultimate warren, incorporating the virtues (or pros) of all the warrens discussed. Each ultimate warren must include the following:

• A name
• Three or more characters with distinct powers (check out our article on power in Watership Down for ideas) 
• An ideal location for their warren that's realistic per the book
• One or two difficulties their warren might encounter in their bunny paradises and how they will deal with them

Give them a heads up that they'll be presenting these.

Step 6: When they are ready, give each group ten minutes to present their warren to the rest of the class. Have the students leave five minutes at the end of their presentation to field questions, and at the end of all three presentations, have the class vote as to which warren they would like to join. Give that group of smart bunnies some carrots along with their grade.

Instructions for Your Students

Objective: What do Star Wars and Watership Down have in common? Besides both Richard Adams and George Lucas sharing a mentor (who knew?), both works celebrate friendships in the face of foes. For this assignment, you're going to look at the power of friendship in Watership Down, how friendship intersects with leadership, and then enter into a bit of friendly debate. Stay sharp, stay kind—and if you win, maybe your teacher will even give you a carrot.

Step 1: There's no doubt that the violence and bonding in the face of foes that Adams experienced as a soldier in the British army during WWII inspired many elements of Watership Down. Read an article on this subject, then join in the conversation about friendship, enemies, and survival.

Step 2: Now let's take it down a notch and focus on the book by comparing the leadership styles of Hazel, Cowslip, and General Woundwort. Obviously, Hazel's clan perseveres, but let's take a look at why. Get the conversation rolling by reading this article about friendship and war. When you finish, challenge yourself to answer the following questions:

• Would you say you have a best friend? What is it that makes her or him your best friend?
• What does this tell you about friendship and hardship?
• Have you ever befriended someone you were unsure about? Why did you do it?
• How do you define friendship? Sacrifice? Is friendship different from teamwork?
• Have you ever lost a friend, or grown apart? Why did it happen?

Now break into small groups to start thinking about what it is about friendship that really helps Hazel's warren succeed. Search for moments in the text that prove your group's claims, including moments where friendship helps and hinders the survival of Hazel's clan.

Step 3: Got a firm grip on Hazel? Great—now evaluate General Woundwort's and Cowslip's leadership styles, too.

Step 4: It's debate time. You ready for this?

Your group will represent a warren—Cowslip's, Hazel's, or Efrafa—so take some time to put together an argument for why your warren is the best warren. You also need to pick a speaker to present this argument.

As judge and jury, your teacher will write pros and cons on the board as they come up. The first speakers from each group will have three minutes to argue why their warren (and their warren's leader) is the best. Then your group will reconvene and create counter-arguments to your opponents' arguments. A second speaker from your group will then have three minutes to refute the other arguments and, in light of the counter-arguments, reassert the virtues of your warren.

Step 5: Now it's time to really band together with your group, creating the ultimate warren by incorporating the virtues (or pros) of all the warrens. Your ultimate warren must include the following:

• A name
• Three or more characters with distinct powers (check out our article on power in Watership Down for ideas) 
• An ideal location for their warren that's realistic per the book
• One or two difficulties their warren might encounter in their bunny paradises and how they will deal with them

Oh and hey—just a heads up that you'll be presenting these. You'll have ten minutes.

Step 6: When it's your group's turn, give your finest presentation, making sure to leave some time to field questions. Your goal here is to recruit rabbits to your ultimate warren—and when presentations are finished, you'll all be voting on which warren you'd most like to join. May the wisest rabbits win!