Watership Down Essay, Research Paper

Hazel became the leader of the rabbits once they left their

original warren. He was a very smart and tricky rabbit who won the

respect and trust of the other rabbits by his courage and many great

deeds. He always handled problems calmly so others would also

remained calm. Whenever a plan was needed, Hazel would always

come up with one.

Fiver, the younger brother of Hazel, was unique because of his

small size and ability to foresee danger. He saved the rabbits from

death by warning some rabbits of the danger.

Bigwig, a great fighting and courageous rabbit, was essential for

the success of the traveling rabbits. He loved to fight and always did

his best to protect the others. He was also the bird Kehaar?s best friend

and enjoyed spending time with him. Blackberry was the most

intelligent rabbit in the group. For example, he made a boat to cross a

river although the others had never even seen or understood the

floating concept. Blackberry always helped Hazel to think of ideas

when problems arose. Dandelion, another smart rabbit, was known for

his speed and for his great story telling of El-ahrairah, the rabbit folk

hero. He could always tell stories which distracted and eased the

rabbits from problems. Pipkin, a good friend of Fiver, was small like

Fiver but acted as if he was as big as Bigwig. He always did what he

was told and never complained. PLOT One day Fiver, sensing danger,

convinced his brother Hazel that they must leave their warren. Hazel

tried to warn the Chief Rabbit of the danger, but he did not listen.

Hazel gathered a group and went along the brook until they reached

another warren of rabbits. These rabbits were very strange and acted

differently from other rabbits. Hazel and his group decided to leave

after Bigwig got caught in a wire. The man would feed the rabbits so

they would become big and healthy; then the man would kill them.

After many days of travel, Hazel and the others came to Watership

Down, which was an excellent place for a warren. The soil was perfect,

and enemies could be spotted from many miles away. Here they dug a

burrows where the rabbits were happy. Hazel made friends with

animals such as mice and even a bird named Kehaar. Hazel then

realized that the warren needed does to survive. He used Kehaar to

find some does. They made a raid on a farm and brought back two

does. Then three of four rabbits left to visit a big warren to ask for

more does. However, the party came back tired and injured because

the warren Efrafa did not agree to give up the does; the group had to

escape. Hazel decided that almost all of the rabbits must go and steal

some does. The rabbits came up with a great plan where Bigwig would

ask General Woundwort, the leader, if he could be in the military.

Bigwig was accepted and led ten does onto a boat in the river. Efrafa

tried to stop Bigwig, but they failed. After some time at Watership

Down, the Efrafa military and Woundwort came to take back the does

from Watership Down. Hazel thought of a unique plan to fill all the

holes with dirt. All crowded into one room with Bigwig guarding the

one entrance. Hazel and two others went to lure the dog from the farm

to the warren to kill the enemy. The plan worked, and Woundwort had

disappeared. The rest of the enemy left while some stayed to live at

Watership Down. Efrafa and Watership Down made peace and decided

to start another warren with some rabbits from each of the two

warrens. At last, after Hazel saw the warren prosper with new babies

and happy rabbits, he left his body to run with extraordinary strength

and speed over the fields.