Watership Down Lesson Plan

Poetry of Nature

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

How might the rabbits' biological drives inspire poetry?

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.4

Structure:

Other than folklore, the most frequently-showcased form of rabbit-produced art in Watership Down seems to be poetry. Have your students revisit the rabbit poems from the text. The first is Silverweed's, from the warren of the snares, and the second is Hyzenthlay's, from Efrafa. Have your students form small groups and attempt to analyze both poems. You may have them try to answer the following questions:

- What emotions are the poets trying to express?

- What circumstances are the poems...