Topic outline

  • General

    v Watership Down

    This allegorical story follows a warren of adventurous rabbits who are forces from their home by real estate development. In the course of their journey, they have to learn how to handle new experiences, develop new methods for handling crises, and avoid numerous enemies. Richard Adams originally began telling the story of Watership Down to his two young daughters during long car trips. it took years to write, and when it was finally published, the book sold over a million copies in record time in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

    Watership Down     is not a sweet fable about bunnies; it's a tale in which characters die or become injured, and these facts of life are not sugar-coated. Adams said of his writing style, "I derived early the idea that one must at all costs tell the truth to children, not so much about mere physical pain and fear, but about the really unanswerable things—what [writer] Thomas Hardy called 'the essential grimness of the human situation."
    • Setting: the Hampshire district in central England, where the author still lives
    • Protagonist: Hazel, leader of the rabbits who looks for a safe home
    • Antagonist: enemies of the rabbits, including humans
    • Conflict: overcoming differences and developing a sense of trust that will enable the rabbits to create a successful civilization.
    • Themes touch upon loyalty, trust, friendship, courage, acceptance, brain vs. brawn, and the ideal society

  • Topic 1

    Chapter One r

    The chapter introduces the main characters of the story, including Fiver and Hazel. The reader also learns about the structure of the warren.


    rFor your Journal

    :     Create a Word Document to begin keeping track of Fiver's role throughout the novel. Save it, as you will be updating it periodically.
    • Can You Identify?
      Try the activity below.

  • Topic 2

    Chapters Two and Three

    We are introduced to Bigwig, one of the Owsla, as unseen dangers are explained.     Additional rabbits are introduced. The reader gets a sense of additional discontent in the Owsla.

  • Topic 3

    Chapters Four and Five tt

    Hazel's leadership qualities are developing very quickly along with the rabbits' trust in him. Hazel decides that it will help the rabbits to keep their spirits up if they hear a story of El-ahrairah. This begins a pattern of storytelling which provides tradition as well as cultural behaviors to emulate.
    • Create a PowerPoint that showcases the answers to the following:

      a. What do you consider to be the most important quality of a leader?
      b. What contemporary leader fits your definition?
      c. Who are some contemporary leaders that you do not like? Why?
      d. What are some of the different kinds of leaders? Describe.

    • The Face of a Leader

      This project involves continuous writing within the outline of the head of a character-leader from the novel. The written words will come from speeches he/she made or actions he/she took that indicated leadership. You will find yourself repeating the words many times to fill the space.

  • Topic 4

    Chapters Six and Seven

    Dandelion tells a creation/gift-giving story in order to help the rabbits continue in their endeavors.

    • Throughout the novel, there are several trickster tales that explain where the rabbits come from. Tales also motivate the rabbits when times are tough. Try writing your own trickster tale with this link.

      You have a choice of a final product: a Word Document or a recording using Audacity.

    • Determine your Leadership Style.

    • rr As a follow-up, write a set of rules for the classroom that represent the elements of the leadership style.

      Create a fancy Word Document, and print it for classroom use.

  • Topic 5

    Chapters Eight and Nine y , i

    Blackberry and Bigwig are feeling indispensable during this chapter as they help to solve a large obstacle the rabbits are facing. Blackberry becomes the "intellect" of the group, while Bigwig uses his strength. The relationship between Hazel and Bigwig continues to develop as they work together to attack a crow and drive it off.
    • Characterization and You I

      Quote an example of how you identify with a character in one of the areas below.

  • Topic 6

    Chapters Ten - Twelve y

    Bigwig is fully committed to Hazel's leadership and prevents the rebellion of others who aren't. Hazel is pronounced a definite Chief Rabbit. Now that a leader of their civilization is established, a home continues to be the next quest. The field is their first attempt, but there are obstacles in the way.
    • Leaders of Change: A Research Project

      In any great age, civilization has individuals whose labors literally change history and human knowledge. They might appear in any culture, and often their achievements have an influence that is felt well beyond their own group.

      The Assignment:
      Choose one notable historical leader, and research his or her life. Prepare a 3-5 minute presentation in which you, in character, describe how "you" have affected history. Your presentation must include a visual that demonstrates how the person's leadership affected history. An example might include Captain Cook presents maps to show how his discoveries changed human knowledge of geography.

      The Ten Commandments of a Good Leader:
      1. Believe in something other than yourself.
      2. Listen to others.
      3. Work in a team.
      4. Be considerate if different opinions.
      5. Stand for what you believe...even when criticized.
      6. Be a peacemaker.
      7. Be patient with other people even when they do not see your way.
      8. Stick to the promises you make.
      9. Work hard as a leader.
      10. Thank people for what they do for you even though you may not receive thanks.

  • Topic 7

    Chapters Thirteen - Seventeenss

    The Cowslip rabbits have been living in a state of denial. Rather than solve their problem, they have become a victim of it. They have also become hardened to the idea of death and no longer bother to protect each other.

  • Topic 8

    Chapters Eighteen -Twenty-two ff

    Part II begins. After passing through numerous difficulties, including fighting off a bunch of rats in a barn, the rabbits reach Watership Down. At last the rabbits have found safety, and in this new home, they are free to make their own rules and customs. They have learned that their lives depend on their ability to work together, taking full advantage of each other's special abilities.
    • Characterization and You II

      Quote an example of how you identify with a character in one of the areas below.

  • Topic 9

    Chapters Twenty-three to Twenty-sevenff

    The rabbits have advanced their willingness to communicate with other creatures. All of the rabbits at Watership Down are bucks. Hazel points out that all their work is for nothing and they are all doomed in the long run unless they find some does.

  • Topic 10

    Chapters Twenty-eight to Thirty-two

    Fiver's change in status is becoming quite apparent. Holly speaks of the cleverness of Blackberry and Fiver in the same sentence! Hazel no longer hesitates about giving orders or taking the leadership role, even when it involves scolding one of his companions.

  • Topic 11

    Chapters Thirty-three to Thirty-seven ee

    Bigwig is seen as not only a great fighter and leading partner, but also as an actor. The reader learns how General Woundwort grew to be such a vicious rabbit. Thunder symbolizes the fear and anxiety over "the plan".

  • Topic 12

    Chapters Thirty-eight to Forty-two g

    (You supply the summary on a Word Document.)

  • Topic 13

    Chapters Forty-three to the End! dd

    (Again, you supply the summary for these chapters!)

  • Topic 14

    And Now...
    • Readers are left with a "happy ever after" sense. At the very least, they have learned important "human" lessons, some of which are listed here.
      1. Old habits can and should be changed when they no longer serve.
      2. Freedom is a precious and fragile gift.
      3. An open-minded attitude sometimes brings unusual and beneficial friendships.
      4. Each member of a community has something to offer, such gifts should not be treated lightly.
      5. Trusting a timid character with a little responsibility will encourage him to take more.
      6. Stories are the heart of any society. The stories of the past provide lessons of the present.
      7. Intelligence is a greater asset than physical strength.

  • Topic 15

    h Leadership in Cinema
    • 12 Angry Men

      Basic Plot: The jury of twelve 'angry men,' entrusted with the power to send an uneducated, teenaged Puerto Rican, tenement-dwelling boy to the electric chair for killing his father with a switchblade knife, are literally locked into a small, claustrophobic rectangular room on a stifling hot summer day until they come up with a unanimous decision - either guilty or not guilty. The compelling, provocative film examines the twelve men's deep-seated personal prejudices, perceptual biases and weaknesses, indifference, anger, personalities, unreliable judgments, cultural differences, ignorance and fears, that threaten to taint their decision-making abilities, cause them to ignore the real issues in the case, and potentially lead them to a miscarriage of justice.

      12 Angry Men illustrates an abundance of leadership values and principles—especially an emphasis on teamwork, the decision making process, and Socratic leadership.

      Identify those leadership traits that correspond to the Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles below.
    • Glory

      Glory tells the story of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Regiment, the first regular army regiment of black soldiers commissioned during the Civil War.

  • Topic 16

    Character Match-up ff
    • Identify characters in the book, and match them to people involved with the civilizations of _______________________.
      1. Identify the type of leader your assigned character is, and then choose a leader with the same leadership style who helped create the civilization of ______________, ___________________, or _________________.
      2. Make a paper mache head of your character based on the author's description, and then cut a square in the back of its head to use as a storehouse of quotes and descriptions that reveal the common leadership styles.