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FREE BOOK REVIEW WATERSHIP DOWN PLOT SUMMARY
CHAPTER 4 - The Departure
Summary
Shortly after moonrise--called "fu inle"--the departing rabbits
begin to gather. Pipkin, a timid friend of Fiver’s has been persuaded
to come along. Hawkbit, considered slow and stupid by Hazel, has been
brought in by Dandelion. Bigwig has managed to bring along Silver, a nephew
of the Threarah who has not yet established himself among the Owsla. They
are just about to leave when Captain Holly and two other guards show up
and announce that Silver and Bigwig are under arrest. Silver is to be
arrested for failing to report to Toadflax, and Bigwig is under arrest
for spreading dissension and inciting to mutiny. A brief struggle takes
place which is brought to a halt when Hazel confronts Holly and tells
him to leave or he will be killed. Holly and the two guards run off, but
the rabbits know that they will soon be back with an entire contingent
of the Owsla. Thus they are now forced to leave quickly to avoid severe
punishment and even death.
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Notes
The tyrannical nature of the Owsla is apparent, although in another sense
they are simply doing their job. However, the rabbits obviously do not
have the freedom to come and go as they choose or to leave the warren
for any reason. Most of them don’t want to, but even if they did, they
would be prevented from doing so unless the Owsla had thought of it first.
Holly is a sensible captain who has more brains than to take on a half
dozen or more rabbits all by himself. Hazel’s leadership qualities are
developing very quickly along with the other rabbits’ trust in him. It
is also worth noting that Hazel chooses NOT to harm Holly or the other
guards, but lets them go with a warning even thought it may bring additional
trouble. It is part of Hazel’s nature that he doesn’t kill even his enemies
unnecessarily.
CHAPTER 5 - In the Woods
Summary
The rabbits wander in the woods all night, straggling widely at times, but
trying to stay together and keep up a good pace. Finally realizing that
the smaller rabbits cannot keep the pace any longer and that all are tired,
Hazel decides that they should all rest awhile. The first mention is made
of El-ahrairah, the rabbit folk-hero who accomplished many his exploits
as much by trickery as by skill or intelligence. Hazel decides that it
will help the rabbits to keep their spirits up if they hear a story.
Notes
El-ahrairah is comparable to Daniel Boone, Davy Crocket or even Odysseus who, we are told, actually borrowed some of his strategies from the rabbit. This begins a pattern of story telling which provides tradition for the rabbits as well as a behavior pattern by which to validate their own behaviors.
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Watership Down by Richard Adams Free BookNotes Summary
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Ruff, Karen SC. "TheBestNotes on Watership Down".
TheBestNotes.com.
. 15 May 2008 |