Free Study Guide for Watership Down by Richard Adams|
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FREE CHAPTER SUMMARY FOR WATERSHIP DOWN ONLINE NOTES
The chapter introduces the main characters of the story, especially Hazel
and Fiver. We receive a little explanation of some of the rabbit terms
(their language is called Lapine) and learn something about the structure
of the warren. The Owsla is a dictatorial ruling body who make the decisions,
guard the warren and mete out punishment to those who break rules. The
sign in this chapter is a notice of a high class housing development that
will be built in the area, destroying the wildlife habitat. Hazel seems
to be the only one who pays much attention to Fiver who is described as
an undersized rabbit with an oversized imagination.
Fiver wakes Hazel in the night by kicking him during a bad dream. Fiver insists
that the entire warren is in danger and must leave immediately. In the
morning Hazel takes Fiver to see the Chief Rabbit and explain the unseen
danger as best he can. Bigwig, one of the Owsla is on duty but Hazel talks
him in to letting them into the burrow of the Chief Rabbit. The Threarah
listens tolerantly to Fiverís warnings of doom, and Hazel reminds the
Chief Rabbit of past predictions Fiver had made that were always true.
Nevertheless, Threarah is not going to take Fiver or Hazel seriously.
As they leave, Threarah tells Bigwig to remain behind. They soon hear
the Chief Rabbit giving Bigwig a lecture for allowing Hazel and Fiver
to bother him.
We are introduced to Bigwig and given a foreshadowing of Bigwigís coming desertion
of the Owsla. The Chief Rabbit is characterized as tolerant, but condescending
to the other rabbits. He also doesnít like anything he hasnít thought
of himself, not unlike a ruling monarch. Fiver is seen as a rather overactive
mystic whose information is threatening but not very specific. Hazel,
however, has had enough experience with Fiverís predictions in that past
that he takes him more seriously.
Hazel decides that he and Fiver will leave the warren along with any rabbits
who want to go with them. Blackberry and Dandelion appear and volunteer
to join up, partly because "there are too many bucks in the warren"
and those not in the Owsla have a rather poor existence. Bigwig shows
up and announces that he is going and that he thinks he can locate a couple
additional bucks in the Owsla who are becoming increasingly discontented.
Hazel warns Bigwig to steer clear of Captain Holly, the commander of the
Owsla police and to be careful whom he talks to.
Additional rabbits are introduced. We also get a sense of additional discontent in the Owsla. Captain Holly presents a possible threat or obstacle.
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Ruff, Karen SC. "TheBestNotes on Watership Down".
. 09 May 2017