Watership Down by Richard Adams (1972)
July 14, 2015
1. Welcome everyone!
2. Control panel – chat, raise hand, muting, audio
3. Recording and notes at www.centerforlit.com
4. Register for the fall session at www.centerforlit.com/Academy/home.aspx
5. Teaching the Classics method – we’ll show you as we go.
Anthropomorphism – animals behaving/acting like humans
Watership Down by Richard Adams: Story Chart
Climax:
Clash of armies at Watership Down:
Bigwig fights Woundwort in the tunnel;
Hazel’s plan to loose the dog;
Fiver, under the horrors, predicts
Efrafa’s defeat (and WD’s victory)
SETTING
Downs of England (rolling
hills). Modern age – in
summer. Various warrens
(Efrafa, Sandleford,
Watership Down, the
warren of “shining wires”)
Rising Action:
Crossing the river in flight/saving Pipkin;
Cowslip’s warren/saving Bigwig; the
Hrududu; Holly and Bluebell join
them/Hazel risks himself/Fiver was right.
Watership Down/doe raids on Nuthanger
Farm; Kehaar the gull/the mouse
contribute to the group; the raid on Efrafa
(does) – Bigwig infiltrates, steals does (and
Blakavar. Woundwort finds them, leads an
army to Watership Down
Exposition:
Fiver and Hazel warn Sandleford of
coming disaster – they flee with a group
of misfit friends in search of a new
warren where they can live in freedom
and safety.
Denouement:
The unleashing of the dog; safety,
freedom and prosperity for WD. Hazel
comes home, does are fertile, Campion
goes back to Efrafa and reforms it – even
start a third warren in between
CHARACTERS
Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig,
Blackberry, Holly,
Strawberry, Pipkin, and
others.
Cowslip, Woundwort and
others.
Kehaar, the mouse and others.
THEME:
Freedom and safety as the result of
democratic cooperation, service and
self-sacrifice;
Conclusion:
What’s a good society?
Hazel
gets
the
call from the black rabbit
What’s a good leader?
(or is it El-ahrairah?) in a vision; he dies.
Their future is secure – “thousands like
them” will be safe and free.
PLOT
CONFLICT
Will the group find lasting freedom and safety
in a new warren?
Discussion Notes
Setting in Watership Down
Sandleford – ruled by Threarah (chief rabbit). No–nonsense leader, they follow him.
Somewhat autocratic. The big guys (the Owsla) pick on the little guys (everyone else).
Nobody believes the warnings of Fiver and Bigwig – it would be too much trouble to
move everyone. They are fairly comfortable and satisfied, especially those in positions
of power. Similar to a monarchy in some ways.
“Shining Wires” – rabbits are very comfortable, plenty of food, no elil, time to pursue
art and luxury and poetry. But Fiver doesn’t trust them – not “rabbit-like.” They are
protected by men, but the men are snaring them for food! The very people who are
providing for them so bountifully are also their main enemies. They pay for their
luxury with loss of life.
Efrafa – led by General Woundwort. A totalitarian dictatorship, where the government
has total control of every aspect of your life. Rules by fear, doesn’t allow anyone to
oppose his rule. He has a secret police force. No freedom of speech or movement.
Blakavar’s humiliation as an example to the other rabbits, to keep them from running
away. The warren is overcrowded, forcing the does to absorb their litters (more death
imagery)
Watership Down – a contrast to the other warrens. A “democracy,” you could say.
Hazel is the leader. Different from the other chief rabbits (woundwort, threarah,
cowslip, etc) – he listens to (asks) advice from others, rules by common consent. He is
smaller than the other leaders, not as physically impressive – but chosen by his peers
for leadership. Life on Watership Down is free of oppression – you can do what you
want, follow whom you want, leave if you want. No external coercion.
What does the protagonist want?
Safety and Freedom
Why can’t they have it?
Elil (dogs, predators, etc)
Man
Lack of Does
Woundwort (and Threarah)
The Sandleford horror
Unbelief of Fiver
Difficult terrain
Going “tharn”