LITERARY ELEMENTS

SETTING

Watership Down takes place in central England, primarily in the Hampshire district. The landscape is one of high downs, long narrow valleys and sweeping meadows dotted with farms. Although the characters are all entirely fiction, the locations are real even to the shed at Nuthanger Farm where the rabbits hid from the cat. The shed is no longer there as it burned several years ago.

Since the writing of this best selling novel, several organizations have created walking tours that correspond with Hazel's journey. In traveling from Sandleford warren to Watership Down, the rabbits actually travel about 8 miles, but the zigzagging trail and the adventures along the way make it seem much further. Richard Adams, the author, still lives in the area.

CHARACTER LIST

Major Characters

Hazel
The main character. Leader of the group of rabbits who leave Sandleford warren looking for a safe home.

Fiver
Brother to Hazel. The rabbit gifted with supernatural, but not always very specific insights.

Captain Holly
The captain of the Sandleford Owsla. Escapes when the warren is gassed and later becomes indispensable to the Honeycomb.

Bigwig
Owsla member. Personal guard to the Chief Rabbit. Believes Fiver and joins the quest

Woundwort
The leader of Efrafa. Bigwig's enemy and equal

El-ahrairah
The rabbit folk hero and main character in all the story telling

Minor Characters

Speedwell
Sandleford rabbit

Buckthorn, Acorn, Hawkbit, Pipkin
Sandleford rabbits who follow Hazel

Bluebell
Sandleford rabbit who escapes the gassing with Holly

Silver
Member of the Owsla who joins Bigwig

Dandelion
The Sandleford story teller.

Threarah
(Chief Rabbit)

Strawberry
Member of Cowslip's warren who joins Hazel

Strawberry's doe
She was killed by a snare

Silverweed
The poet in Cowslip's warren

Cowslip
The leading rabbit in the strange warren

Kehaar
The black headed gull that Hazel befriends

Groundsel, Aven, Campion
Owsla members in Efrafa

Hyzenthlay and other does
Does of Efrafa who escape with Bigwig

Blackavar
A buck abused by Woundwort's council. Escapes with Bigwig and becomes a highly useful member of the Honeycomb warren