Cover of the book Watership Down, by Richard Adams
This is my first blog using blogger.com, so I am still getting used to using this site. This book has 50 chapters and 478 pages.
Chapter 1: The Notice Board
This novel's plot is about a group of rabbits displaced from their original home looking for a new place to live. The main character/protagonist is Fiver, a 'runty' rabbit who has the ability to sense when danger will happen in the future. The rabbits are put in ranks, and the highest class are known as the 'Owsla'.
Fiver is collecting cowslip for the Owsla in the outside fields with his brother Hazel. He feels that there is some sort of danger that will impact everyone. The two rabbits come across a sign that they can't read. The sign actually says that the rabbit warren that they live in will be destroyed by the housing development for more houses. At this point, Fiver panics, as he sees the whole field as being covered in blood. Hazel calms him down and says it is only the reflection of the sun.
Chapter 2: The Chief Rabbit
Fiver has recurring nightmares of their home, Sandleford, being in grave danger, and tells Hazel about it. Fiver wants to tell the Chief Rabbit, Threarah, of his visions because he thinks that the colony is in danger. They first talk with Bigwig, one of Threarah's bodyguards, and convince him to speak with him. Apparently, Fiver has been correct with his prophecies in the past, and Hazel mentions them to the Threarah. In the end, Threarah is not amused, and tells them to leave his burrow.
This is the first instance of foreshadowing; Fiver senses danger from the sign he was unable to read. And he was correct to be worried; the sign was a symbol of things to come for Sandleford. Also, there is some backtracking here to an untold event, as Fiver is revealed to have been right about his prophecies in the past.
After this event, Fiver and Hazel decide they will leave the warren and will bring anyone else who wants to come. Two other rabbits, Blackberry and Dandelion, decide to go with them. Bigwig tells them that he will try to find more bucks because the Owlsa are becoming discontented. Hazel warns of Captain Holly of the Owlsa police. The group decides to leave at around moon-rise and try to get more rabbits to come with them.
The group convinces more rabbits to join: Pipkin, Hawkbit, Buckthorn, Acorn, and Speedwell. Bigwig brings along Silver, who recently became part of the Owlsa. When the group starts to head out, they are confronted by Captain Holly and his two guards. They announce that Bigwig and Silver are both under arrest because Holly thinks they are planning to overthrow Threarah. They fight for a little while, before Hazel tells Holly to back off, or he will die. Holly and the guards run off, but the group knows that they will be back. The group knows that they will be harshly punished if they are caught again, so they set out and leave.
The group heads out into the forest throughout the night. As the night goes on, the weaker rabbits are unable to keep up, so Hazel decides the group should take a break. While resting, Dandelion tells them a story of El-ahrairah, a rabbit folk hero that was known for performing many exploits by using a lot of trickery, skill and intelligence. The character of El-ahrairah becomes more important as the story progresses.
Chapter 3: Hazel's Decision
After this event, Fiver and Hazel decide they will leave the warren and will bring anyone else who wants to come. Two other rabbits, Blackberry and Dandelion, decide to go with them. Bigwig tells them that he will try to find more bucks because the Owlsa are becoming discontented. Hazel warns of Captain Holly of the Owlsa police. The group decides to leave at around moon-rise and try to get more rabbits to come with them.
Chapter 4: The Departure
The group convinces more rabbits to join: Pipkin, Hawkbit, Buckthorn, Acorn, and Speedwell. Bigwig brings along Silver, who recently became part of the Owlsa. When the group starts to head out, they are confronted by Captain Holly and his two guards. They announce that Bigwig and Silver are both under arrest because Holly thinks they are planning to overthrow Threarah. They fight for a little while, before Hazel tells Holly to back off, or he will die. Holly and the guards run off, but the group knows that they will be back. The group knows that they will be harshly punished if they are caught again, so they set out and leave.
Chapter 5: In the Woods
The group heads out into the forest throughout the night. As the night goes on, the weaker rabbits are unable to keep up, so Hazel decides the group should take a break. While resting, Dandelion tells them a story of El-ahrairah, a rabbit folk hero that was known for performing many exploits by using a lot of trickery, skill and intelligence. The character of El-ahrairah becomes more important as the story progresses.
Questions/Comments
I wonder what political system is run in Sandleford; to me it seems that the high-ranked members have total control over what everyone else does; maybe socialism? Not sure though.
I noticed that the characteristics of the main characters progresses through the first several chapters. Hazel shows good leadership skills leading the group and standing up to Captain Holly. Fiver is described as sort of a weakling and it shows in the beginning. Threarah is calm and understanding on the surface, but isn't afraid to get aggressive and doesn't show mercy when he orders the arrests of Silver and Bigwig.
That's all for chapters 1-5; I'll try and get 6-10 up tomorrow for post #2!
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