Uplan_duksta

For my UPLAN unit plan, I would really love to discuss the important elements in Richard Adams' novel, "Watership Down." This is a book that has been critically acclaimed and loved by many, and for good reason. It captures the art of storytelling through the use of so many valuable literary elements. It is an epic adventure tale that I would go so far as to compare to the likes of The Illiad or The Odyssey. This is because the rabbits must face many obstacles, challenges, and high stake tests of courage to survive. The reader follows them on their long journey to do so.

The story is told through the perspective of rabbits who have their own order of hierarchy and government. They also have their own language (called Lapine) which is clarified through terms used in a mini-dictionairy in the back of the book. This is one of the many tactics that encourages the reader to fully be captured into the world of these rabbits. These are rabbits who are by NO means cute, cuddly, kids-movie rabbits. They have complex thoughts, emotions, reasoning, and intuition to survive. It is not a child's book and at times can be quite violent. It is only violent, though, because of the major theme of the story: The instinct of survival. This is what I would center my unit theme around. These rabbits must fight every single day to survive. They are intuitive to instinct and will do almost anything to ensure the safety of themselves as a species. Human beings can relate to this...even if it is a story about rabbits. We all have instinct to survive, evolve, change, and adapt. This story also shows how each person in a group in valuable in their own way. As the story goes on, each individual's strengths become more and more valuable to the others. It brings to focus the theme of life and death, and how both must take place for others to have a future.

This book, whose plot circles around a group of rabbits who leave their warren because of inimite danger, resonates with the desire to build a new and brighter future for others who will come after us. This is also relatable to students...there is an unspoken desire for many people to improve the planet and the world we live in so that our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids can have a stable future.

Another fun bonus about this book is its use of stories within the story. One of the rabbits, Dandelion, happens to be an excellent story teller. Whenever the rabbits are going through rough times that test their willingness to keep moving, Dandelion will tell tales that have been passed down through ages and ages among rabbits. Most of them focus on a mythical prince rabbit named Elerairah and his ability to use wit, cunning, and swift tricks to save his people, who have been cursed by the lord of rabbits. They are mini epic tales that reminded me very much of Greek Myths, and they always teach the rabbits a lesson or bit of wisdom to carry with them throughout their lives. This also helps to add the feeling of an epic novel.

Overall, I think that students will be pleasantly suprised at what a thrilling, engaging and meangingful book this story unfolds in front of its readers. I also strongly believe that there will be a lot to be learned that is valuable as a reader of English Language Arts. Although the main element I would focus on is the theme of instinct and survival, I would also touch upon things such as :

-The impact that the telling through the perspective of animals has on the story -Characterization -Cause and Effect -The universal theme of life and death...and how that affects the future of others -the value of individuals in a group -use of detail -how animals and humans look at nature differently

I highly reccomend this book to anyone, and think it has all elements of a good story. It is honestly my favorite book i've ever read, and i'll probably re read it many times again. I want to share what I found so amazing in this book to others...not just because I think it's great but because it represnts what is good about literature as a whole.