Watership Down Charachters
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Hazel
The leader of the rabbits who left the Sandleford warren, Hazel is a first
year rabbit. He is of at least slightly above average size, judging from Fiver's
remark that he will definitely make owsla next year. Hazel is not especially quick
thinking or eloquent, but rather has a sort of honest, fair quality that seems to
appeal to the other rabbits. He is more than willing to take advice from his
companions, even asking them openly for it, but also feels at times he has to
prove himself as Chief Rabbit after reaching the down leading to his adventure in
Nuthanger Farm.
Fiver
A brother to Hazel (the other members of the litter are not mentioned),
Fiver was the fifth rabbit born in the litter, and as such is the runt. He is
portrayed as slightly gangly and has a nervous air about him. Despite this (or
perhaps the cause of which), he has a link to Frith and El-ahrairah. He sees
visions of the future from time to time, a fact which is accepted by Hazel, but
viewed with some suspicion by the other rabbits.
Bigwig
A member of the Sandleford owlsa, and later head of the Watership
owsla, Bigwig is most likely a second year rabbit. He is a large fellow,
characterized by the mop of fur upon his head which gives him his name. Bigwig
is a pragmatic fellow who accepts what he can see and experience, but treats
the 'supernatural' with disregard; at least on the surface. In fact, he has a strong
link to his own mortality as shown by his sometimes frightening obsession with
the Black Rabbit . Bigwig is also a loyal sort, who
defends Hazel on several occassions, either verbally or physically.
Blackberry
Noted for the black tips upon his ears, Blackberry is the thinker of the
group. He has an aspect rare among rabbits; the ability to grasp abstract
concepts and put them into practical use. It is this ability that allows for the
rabbit's escape several times by Blackberry's ingenious thinking.
Dandelion
The fastest of the group, Dandelion also has a talent in telling stories.
It is he who continously raises the moral of his companions by relating the stories
of El-ahrairah, and while not openly mentioned it can be assumed that he is a
'spiritual' rabbit as well.
Pipkin
Practically a liability to the group, Pipkin is a small rabbit; even smaller
than Fiver. Still, he is loyal although one could almost assume this comes from his
unwillingness to take direction himself due to the lack of respect he's given by the
other rabbits.
Silver
Nephew to the Threarah, Silver is a large owsla rabbit. He is a companion
of Bigwig's, most likely due to their related experiences in the Sandleford owsla
before the defection. However, he is not mentioned as being especially
connected to the cause, but rather leaves the warren due to disatisfaction within
the warren. Nevertheless, he proves himself as a fighter several times
throughout the story.
Buckthorn
Although he rarely does anything of note throughout the story,
Buckthorn is mentioned in the beginning as being a large rabbit. He contributes
to several fights, but has little else to offer the group.
Acorn
An 'outsider' rabbit (a yearling who has yet to gain any respect within the
warren), Acorn plays a rather minor role within the story. He joins with Hawkbit
and Speedwell in an attempted dissention from the companions; a dissention
quickly quelled by Bigwig.
Hawkbit
An outsider as well, Hawkbit is a rather slow witted character. Upon
meeting him, Hazel remembers having to spend his first winter with Hawkbit,
and remembers the winter being quite dull and tedious. Hawkbit isn't particularly
loyal either, joining into the near-dissention after the troop's departure from
Sandleford.
Speedwell
The final of the 'rank and file' rabbits in the exodus from Sandleford,
Speedwell is a minor character.Speed well tells a silly story in 'Tales from Wateship Down
Holly
The captain of the Sandleford owsla, Holly is one of the sole survivors of the
warren after its destruction. Although he originally tried to stop the Sandleford
exodus, he remeets them after Sandleford's destruction and joins the group as a
loyal and dedicated follower. He leads the first troop from Watership Down to
Efrafa in a diplomatic mission.
Bluebell
Holly's companion after the destruction of Sandleford, Bluebell is
constantly making jokes. In fact, he seems to be unable to stop this trait even in
times of stress, a fact which annoys Hazel at least once. Still, he is good hearted
and loyal.
Threarah
Sandleford's chief rabbit, 'the' Threarah is an old, wily rabbit. Although
he had sucessfully led the warren for years, he is unwilling in the end to listen to
Fiver's warning of its destruction and chooses to keep the warren where it is; a
fact that leads to his death as well as that of the Sandleford Warren.
Toadflax A member of the Sandleford owsla, Toadflax is an example of what was
wrong with the warren. He is a large rabbit who uses his size and authority to
take advantage of smaller rabbits. He dies during the Sandleford leveling.
Warren of Shining Wires
Cowslip
The first rabbit to meet with the Sandleford refugees, Cowslip is a large
rabbit, obviously well fed and sleek. He is an eloquent speaker and convinces the
others to join him in his warren. Despite his size however, he is not much of a
fighter as Bigwig notes later after the refugees leave the Warren of Shining
Wires.
Silverweed
The prophet-poet of the warren, Silverweed is again described as a
large, healthy rabbit. Silverweed's spiritual links however are not to traditional
lapine mythology, but rather to the thread of mortality. He tells poems of the
warren's and his own existance, relating in them the need for rabbits to accept
their own eventual fate.
Strawberry
One of the rabbits Hazel meets within the warrens, Strawberry joins
the companions after they leave his warren. Although not immediately accepted,
Strawberry works hard at proving his worth and teaches the Sandleford
refugees much about warren digging and architecture.
Nildro-hain
Strawberry's doe. She dies in a snare at the Warren of Shining
Wires, and it is her death that provokes Strawberry to leave his warren.
Efrafa
Woundwort
Leader of the Efrafa rabbits, Woundwort is a massive creature
described as being nearly as large as a hare. Although capable of rational
planning, Woundwort is also an unstable vindictive character. He tolerates no
dissent within his warren and runs a tight hierarchy of power. He is particularly
fearless, having fought and killed several elil in his time including two stoats and
is last seen attacking the dog lead by Dandelion to rout the Efrafan seige.
Campion
One of the heads in the owslafa, Campion is a master tracker and very
capable rabbit. He remains loyal to Woundwort, although in retrospect he seems
to have some doubts as to whether Woundwort was correct in his actions or
not. This is shown by his more open leadership in Efrafa after Woundwort's
disappearance.
Groundsel
Another oswlafa rabbit, Groundsel is most noted for leading a new
warren between Efrafa and Watership Down at the conclusion of the book.
Vervain
One of the most vicious of the owslafa rabbits, Vervain seems to be a
sort of little Woundwort to those he can get away with. However, in classic bully
tradition, he is only as powerful as he is allowed to be, and after Woundwort
disappears, he eventually disappears himself; assumably taken by elil on the
return trip to Efrafa.
Blackavar
A sympathizer to the does in Efrafa, Blackavar is mauled for his lack
of loyalty and an attempt to escape. He is rescued from the warren during
Bigwig's raid and proves himself capable later after the shock of his
mistreatment wears off.
Hyzenthlay One of the does in Efrafa, Hyzenthlay plans the escape of the Efrafan
does so they may join Watership Down. Hyzenthlay later becomes Hazel's doe.
Thethuthinnang
Another doe defector, Thethuthinnang helps plan the doe escape
and is one of the more sharp witted Efrafan does.
Additions
Kehaar
No rabbit at all, Keehar is an injured black-headed gull found by Bigwig
outside of the down. Nursed back to health by the rabbits of the warren, he does
them several favors inculding reconnisance and eventually acting as a diversion
during the raid upon Efrafa.
Clover
One of the does rescued from Nuthanger Farm by Hazel and his
companions, Clover is the best adapted of the Nuthanger rabbits. Raised in a
hutch and domesticated, she manages to take to living in the wild with minimal
effort.
Boxwood
A Nuthanger buck, Boxwood is rarely mentioned afterwards and does
not take to warren life nearly as easily as Clover.
Haystack
A doe rescued from Nuthanger, Haystack is a minimal character.
Laurel
Last of the Nuthanger rabbits, Laurel doesn't make the escape and is not
mentioned after the Nuthanger raid.
Taken from www.watershipdown.org
