Watership Down study guide?

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  • October 18, 2010 at 4:20 pm
    Betty Dickerson
    Participant

    Hi There,

    I would like my 14yod to read Watership Down.  I’ve seen it recommended in many places, though I’ve never read it.  Is there anything of concern in this book?

    In order for me to have good discussions with her about this book and keeping in mind that I’m short on time, is there a reading/teaching guide for Watership Down that you have found helpful? The study guide would be for me.  I found the Sparknotes but it’s only digital and I’d like to have something to keep with me. 

    I know the best scenario would be to read it along side her, but I just can’t keep up!  Any help/suggestions would be appreciated!

    Blessings,

    Betty

    October 18, 2010 at 4:26 pm
    Betty Dickerson
    Participant

    Would it be better to read this book while studying Gov/Economics?  I have heard that Watership Down was written prior to WW2 and that it has alot of “pictures” of different types of government.  Is this true? 

    Sorry for all the questions.  I’m just picking out the next classic I’m having my daughter read.  Thanks!

    October 18, 2010 at 5:39 pm
    Rene
    Participant

    I would read the Wikipedia summary about it and see if that helps you. 

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watership_Down

    October 18, 2010 at 6:29 pm
    suzukimom
    Participant

    I have read it a LOT of times. 

    Basically, it is a story of a group of rabbits that leave a warren that is in danger, and starts their own warren.  They come to realize that they have no females, and goes to get some from another warren.  There does end up being a war.

    I read the story when I was 9.  There is a touch of violence during the battle, and the one evil general is a bit scary, but I wouldn’t think it would be a problem with a 14 yo.

    It does show various government types…. so what you want to do depends on what you want the book to be used for.  It is a great literature book…. but you can learn a lot about governments if you want to analyze it.  (Obviously I didn’t when I was 9!)

    I’d say the original warren would probably be a bit like a monarchy with an aristocracy – although the positions aren’t completely heriditary.

    A warren that they go past and stay at for a short time might be hard to classify…. I’d say it was either an anarchy…. or total slavery!   The rabbits didn’t have a government, and each rabbit did what they thought best….. but they lived pretty peacefully.  On the other hand, they were in total control of the human farmer that lived nearby and fed them and snared them….

    The warren that they get the female rabbits from is a brutal dictatorship with absolutely no freedoms whatsoever.  (There is a schedule on what time of the day each rabbit is allowed above ground even!)

    And the warren they establish might be considered sort-of a democracy maybe….  Again there is one leader and he is the leader for life….  but he was picked by the other rabbits…. not really from a vote though, but more because of his leadership abilities.

    Anyway – as you can tell, I’ve never formally analyzed it for a class!

     

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