What stories are similar Watership Down?
Watership Down has inspired plenty of animal fantasy books, including Tailchaser's Song and Fire Bringer, as well as The Sight and Fell (sequels to Fire Bringer). Tailchaser's Song tells of a stray tomcat named Fritti Tailchaser who searches for a molly cat named Hushpad, joined by friends and assisted by cat gods (including a god named Firefoot disguised as a crazy old cat named Eatbugs).
What is an appropriate age to read Watership Down?
What age should read Watership Down? All of which makes it about right that the BBC has said that the version is not appropriate for very young children. Its recommended age range of 8 and above feels sensible.
Who are the characters in Watership Down?
Here are some of the most prominent characters from the television adaptation. Hazel is the main character in the story and will be voiced by James McAvoy. He is the only rabbit that trusts Fiver's vision and becomes the leader of the rabbits when they reach Watership Down. Fiver is Hazel's younger brother who is a seer, in other words, a prophet.
Is Watership Down a good book?
Watership Down, which I would feel comfortable describing as one of the finest and most interesting books of the 20 th century, is most accessible to older children and adults, despite having...
Why is it called Watership?
It's not a fictitious name invented for the book; it's an area near where Richard Adams lived as a child: The title refers to the rabbits' destination, Watership Down, a hill in the north of Hampshire, England, near the area where Adams grew up.
What is the real meaning of Watership Down?
Watership Down has been described as an allegory, with the labours of Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and Silver "mirror[ing] the timeless struggles between tyranny and freedom, reason and blind emotion, and the individual and the corporate state."
Is Watership Down a true story?
For those who still shiver at the mention of Watership Down, it may come as a surprise to know that Richard Adams' novel, later made into a film and TV series, was actually based on his own real life experiences.
How did fiverr get his name Watership Down?
His lapine name, "little thousand" (Hrairoo) comes from the fact that he was the smallest rabbit of at least five in his litter, since rabbits cannot count above four. He becomes the mate of Vilthuril, and eventually has a litter with her.
What is the Black rabbit of death?
The Black Rabbit of Inlé is the grim reaper of the rabbit world who takes rabbits away at their predestined times of death. He lives in a warren of stone on earth, inhabited by dead rabbits and filled with disease, death, and sadness beyond imagining.
What is the moral of the story of Watership Down?
It's what happens when a writer decides to give his young readers an obvious, but invaluable lesson: loss, obstacles and chaos, whether we choose them or not, are part of life. Adams, who died on Tuesday at the age of 96, has recounted the birth of Watership Down many times.
Is Watership Down disturbing?
Seemingly everyone who's seen the animated 1978 adaptation of “Watership Down” has a horror story about how disturbingly brutal and violent it was. This is understandable and ridiculous. It's understandable, because the story is about rabbits, which we're conditioned to associate with Thumper and Peter Cottontail.
What is a group of rabbits called?
colonyA group of wild rabbits is called a fluffle A warren is the name given to the place where a fluffle lives. Some people also call a group of rabbits a colony.
How old can a rabbit live?
European rabbit: 9 yearsRabbit / LifespanRabbits, just like other domesticated animals, have an average lifespan which can help an owner keep their bunny in optimum health in every stage of life. Unlike their wild relatives, who live for an average of one to two years, domesticated rabbits can live between eight to 12 years.
What is the power and strength of Watership Down?
Its power and strength come from being a story told in the car.”. It's hard to ignore that there are echoes of military life in the story. Aside from the dictatorship that appears towards the end of Watership Down, a Guardian critic believes the book was inspired by Adams' war experiences in the Middle East.
When will Watership Down air on BBC One?
It's an epic beautiful story but it's filled with tragedy as well.". Watership Down will air on BBC One on Saturday December 22 at 7 p.m.
What is the story of the rabbits in Watership Down?
An animated TV programme about rabbits doesn't sound like it could be in any way horrifying, but Richard Adams' tale of a group of rabbits trying to find refuge scarred a generation of children in the ' 70s. Notable for its graphic violence against the cuddly animals, many critics viewed Watership Down as a tale with a hidden message.
What language do the rabbits speak in Watership Down?
After all, the language that the rabbits speak, Lapine, does appear to have references to Arabic speech.
Who wrote this way up?
By Sam Ramsden. The 'This Way Up' Cast Are Hoping For A S3, Too. By Sam Ramsden. As the Guardian reports, the idea for the book came to Adams when his two daughters asked him to entertain them during a long car journey.
Where is the story Watership Down set?
Watership Down is an adventure novel by English author Richard Adams, published by Rex Collings Ltd of London in 1972. Set in southern England, around Hampshire, the story features a small group of rabbits.
How many times was Watership Down rejected?
Lane, 1982). Watership Down was rejected seven times before it was accepted by Rex Collings.
How many rabbits are in the Watership Down Warren movie?
Although the essentials of the plot remained relatively unchanged, the film omitted several side plots. Though the Watership Down warren eventually grew to seventeen rabbits, with the additions of Strawberry, Holly, Bluebell, and three hutch rabbits liberated from the farm, the movie includes a band of only eight. Rosen's adaptation was praised for "cutting through Adams' book ... to get to the beating heart".
When was Tales from Watership Down made?
Adams completed a sequel almost 25 years later, in 1996 , Tales from Watership Down, constructed as a collection of 19 short stories about El-ahrairah and the rabbits of the Watership Down warren.
Did the rabbits in Watership Down worship?
He said the rabbits in Watership Down did not worship; however, "they believed passionately in El-ahrairah.".
Is Watership Down on Netflix?
The novel was adapted into an animated feature film in 1978 and, from 1999 to 2001, an animated children's television series. In 2018, a drama of the story was made, which both aired in the UK and was made available on Netflix .
Does Watership Down have a does?
Although Watership Down is a peaceful habitat, Hazel realizes there are no does, making the future of the new warren certain to end with the inevitable deaths of the buck rabbits present. With the help of their useful new friend, a black-headed gull named Kehaar, they locate a nearby warren called Efrafa, which is overcrowded. Hazel sends a small embassy, led by Holly, to Efrafa to present their request for does.
Where is Watership Down?
Watership Down starts in Sandleford Warren, a real place in rural (ish) Berkshire, England , which is quite likely home to many rabbits. But perhaps not for much longer: In February 2012, the West Berkshire council approved a plan to bulldoze and pave over what was Sandleford Warren to make way for 2000 new homes, despite protests from Adams and others. As of this writing, however, the proposed development, Sandleford Park, was still in its early planning stages.
What was the original name of the book Watership Down?
The original title was Hazel and Fiver, after the quiet leader Hazel and his seer brother, Fiver, whose visions of the destruction of their home inspires ...
How many copies of Watership Down have been sold?
The book went on to win the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children’s Prize, to sell more than 50 million copies worldwide, and to launch Adams’ second career. Though Watership Down was far and away Adams’ most successful book (which he acknowledged, telling an interviewer in 2007, “You can't expect another miracle like Watership Down.
Did Watership Down make it to print?
Watership Down. Like a lot of classic books, Watership Down almost didn’t make it to print. After at least seven rejections, author Richard Adams, then 54 and a civil servant, was on the verge of self-publishing the novel when it was finally picked up by Rex Collings, a one-man publishing outfit in London.
What is the meaning of Watership Down?
It has been endlessly picked apart and analysed and described as an allegory for both communism and Christianity but the daughters of Richard Adams have revealed the true meaning of Watership Down. “It’s just a story about rabbits.”
Who came up with the story of Watership Down?
The new version of Watership Down. The original book’s author Richard Adams came up with the story to keep his daughters happy on a long car journey. Photograph: BBC. The new version of Watership Down. The original book’s author Richard Adams ...
Who wrote the book Watership Down?
Photograph: BBC. The new version of Watership Down. The original book’s author Richard Adams came up with the story to keep his daughters happy on a long car journey. Photograph: BBC.
When was the Watership Down animated?
The 1978 animated version of Watership Down holds a particular place in the cultural psyche of an entire generation.
Chapter 18: Watership Down
By the evening of the next day, the rabbits have traveled over three miles. They trust each other more after their experience in the last warren, and Fiver's intuitions are no longer questioned. They rest in a barn where they are attacked by rats, but Silver and Buckthorn fight them off under Bigwig's guidance.
Chapter 19: Fear in the Dark
The rabbits sleep well that night. The next day, Blackberry suggests to Hazel that they build a warren for themselves. Although this is normally a task for does, not bucks, they decide that it is a good idea anyway and begin working. Later, Hazel, Bigwig, Dandelion, and Speedwell go down the hill to find some good grass.
Chapter 20: A Honeycomb and a Mouse
Hazel realizes that they are in danger, as the injured Holly smells of blood and will attract predators. Soon, another rabbit appears—Holly's friend Bluebell. Hazel manages to get Holly and Bluebell up to the top of the down without any trouble, although it takes a while and he is very worried.
Overview
Reception
The Economist heralded the book's publication, saying "If there is no place for Watership Down in children's bookshops, then children's literature is dead." Peter Prescott, senior book reviewer at Newsweek, gave the novel a glowing review: "Adams handles his suspenseful narrative more dextrously than most authors who claim to write adventure novels, but his true achievement lies in the consistent, comprehensible and altogether enchanting civilisation that he has created." Kathl…
Origin and publication history
The story began as tales that Richard Adams told his young daughters Juliet and Rosamund during long car journeys. He recounted in 2007 that he "began telling the story of the rabbits ... improvised off the top of [his] head, as [they] were driving along". The daughters insisted he write it down—"they were very, very persistent". After some delay he began writing in the evenings and completed it 18 months later. The book is dedicated to the two girls.
Plot summary
In the Sandleford warren, Fiver, a runty buck rabbit who is a seer, receives a frightening vision of his warren's imminent destruction. He and his brother Hazel fail to convince the Threarah, their Chief Rabbit, of the need to evacuate; they then try to convince the other rabbits, but only succeed in gaining nine followers, all bucks. Captain Holly of the Sandleford Owsla (the warren's military caste) a…
Characters
• Hazel: Fiver's elder brother, he is the novel's main protagonist. Though Hazel is not particularly large or powerful, he is loyal, brave, affectionate and a quick thinker. He sees the good in each individual, and what they bring to the table; in so doing, he makes sure no one gets left behind, thus earning the respect and loyalty of his warren. He becomes their Chief Rabbit in the process, with his na…
Lapine language
"Lapine" is a fictional language created by author Richard Adams for the novel, where it is spoken by the rabbit characters. The language was again used in Adams' 1996 sequel, Tales from Watership Down, and has appeared in both the film and television adaptations. The language fragments in the books consist of a few dozen distinct words, used mainly for the naming of rabbits, their mythological characters, and objects in their world. The name "Lapine" comes from the French w…
Themes
Watership Down has been described as an allegory, with the labours of Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and Silver "mirror[ing] the timeless struggles between tyranny and freedom, reason and blind emotion, and the individual and the corporate state." Adams draws on classical heroic and quest themes from Homer and Virgil, creating a story with epic motifs.
The book explores the themes of exile, survival, heroism, leadership, political responsibility, and t…
Adaptations
In the early 70's Bo Hansson was introduced to the book by his then girlfriend. This gave him an idea to a new album in the same style as his Lord of the Rings album. In 1977 he released the all instrumental El-Ahrairah. The title was taken directly from the pages of Watership Down, with El-Ahrairah being the name of a trickster, folk-hero/deity rabbit, known as The Prince with a Thousand Enemies. In other countries the album was released as Music Inspired by Watership D…