Watership Down Chapters 1-11 Discussion

Hello everyone! Since it is September 8, it is time to go ahead and get our first discussion going. Sorry it's a bit late, but there were real life things I needed to get taken care of.

Anyway, I'll just post my own thoughts, then I'll let everyone else take it away.

I really loved the way setting plays a large part in the story. Richard Adams does a very good job describing a place, and then putting the rabbits within it. You get the impression that these were the types of things that he himself grew up with, and that what he's really describing is his own home.

The level of anthropomorphism is also something I find particularly interesting in this book. He gives the rabbits (as well as other animals) a culture, as well as a language, but at the same time, the rabbits aren't running around in clothing or trying to establish themselves as different or rebellious. Indeed, the rebellion that happens in the story (Hazel, Fiver, et. al running from the Sandleford Warren) is done only out of necessity, and not out of a mere desire for something more. They have human qualities, but very rabbit-like ones as well.

One thing's for certain: it's a somewhat darker book than you'd expect, considering it's about rabbits. It's not the Wind in the Willows--it's more a tale of survival and courage than anything else.

Mmkay, that's all I got for now. Have fun!