Watership Down

Richard Adams

68 pages 2-hour read

Richard Adams

Watership Down

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1972

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Hazel is a yearling buck of the Sandleford warren. Though not exceptionally large, he possesses common sense and an ability to recognize the talents of others. He guides a small band of rabbits away from danger, focusing on their survival and cooperation over exerting physical dominance.

Key Relationships

Brother of Fiver

Ally of Bigwig

Friend of Blackberry

Protector of Pipkin

Friend of Kehaar

Former subordinate to Threarah

Fiver is the runt of his litter and physically smaller than most bucks. He possesses a unique ability to sense impending danger and unseen truths, acting as a prophetic voice for the group. While his eccentric behavior confuses traditional rabbits, his warnings consistently prove accurate.

Key Relationships

Brother of Hazel

Friend of Pipkin

Bullied by Toadflax

Bigwig is a physically imposing rabbit and a member of the Sandleford Owsla guard. Frustrated by the bureaucratic leadership of his home warren, he abandons his post to join the exodus. He provides necessary muscle and military experience for the travelers.

Key Relationships

Ally of Hazel

Friend of Fiver

Colleague of Silver

Former subordinate to Threarah

Friend of Kehaar

Adversary of Woundwort

General Woundwort is a massive, scarred rabbit who rules the secretive Efrafa warren. Driven by a traumatic past involving human and animal predators, he maintains absolute control over his subjects through rigid schedules and harsh punishments. He values total security over individual freedom.

Key Relationships

Adversary of Bigwig

Commander of Campion

Commander of Vervain

Persecutor of Blackavar

Supporting Characters

Hyzenthlay is a smart, clear-headed doe living under Woundwort's oppressive regime. She harbors a quiet desire for freedom and possesses foresight similar to that of Fiver. She acts as a sensible and courageous conspirator when an opportunity for escape arises.

Key Relationships

Secretly allied with Bigwig

Friend of Thethuthinnang

El-ahrairah is the mythical Prince of Rabbits in lapine folklore. Known as the rabbit with a thousand enemies, he uses trickery and quick thinking to survive against predators and rival authorities. His adventures serve as oral history and moral guidance for the characters.

Key Relationships

Captain of Rabscuttle

Blessed by Frith

Adversary of Prince Rainbow

Adversary of King Darzin

Kehaar is a black-headed gull recovering from a cat attack. He possesses a loud, impatient demeanor and speaks with a heavy accent. After receiving shelter from the rabbits, he repays their kindness by acting as an aerial scout.

Key Relationships

Rescued by Hazel

Friend of Bigwig

Captain Holly is a disciplined, dutiful member of the Sandleford Owsla. Following the destruction of his home, he survives a harrowing journey across the countryside. He eventually locates the traveling group and proves to be a reliable and resilient soldier.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Threarah

Former colleague of Bigwig

Companion of Bluebell

Blackberry is the most intellectually gifted rabbit in the traveling group. He consistently invents novel solutions to physical obstacles, such as conceptualizing the use of a wooden raft. His mechanical thinking sets him apart from traditional rabbit behavior.

Key Relationships

Advisor to Hazel

Friend of Fiver

Dandelion is a swift runner and the primary storyteller of the warren. He entertains and comforts the group with traditional tales of El-ahrairah. His speed makes him a crucial asset when drawing predators away from the group.

Key Relationships

Friend of Hazel

Friend of Hawkbit

Bluebell is a resilient rabbit who survives the destruction of Sandleford. He uses humor, jokes, and rhyming couplets to cope with trauma and lighten the mood of those around him. His constant chatter helps keep his companion moving during their desperate escape.

Key Relationships

Companion of Holly

Follower of Hazel

Strawberry is a large, well-fed buck who initially lives in a comfortable but sinister environment. After recognizing the fatal reality of his home, he requests to join the traveling group. He contributes by teaching them advanced architectural digging techniques.

Key Relationships

Mate of Nildro-hain

Former warren-mate of Cowslip

Follower of Hazel

Pipkin is a small, timid rabbit who struggles physically during the long journey. He relies heavily on the protection of the older bucks, particularly the leaders. His presence brings out the protective and compassionate qualities of the group.

Key Relationships

Friend of Fiver

Protected by Hazel

Blackavar is an Efrafan rabbit who was caught trying to run away. As punishment, he is kept alive as a mangled public example to deter others. Despite his brutal treatment, he retains the rugged spirit of a military soldier.

Key Relationships

Prisoner of Woundwort

Rescued by Bigwig

Silver is a large, white-coated rabbit and the nephew of the Sandleford Chief. He recently joined the guard but leaves because he dislikes the leadership style. He serves as a dependable, sturdy protector for the travelers.

Key Relationships

Nephew of Threarah

Colleague of Bigwig

Cowslip is a regal, handsome rabbit who leads a colony subsidized by a human farmer. He maintains a polite exterior while concealing the deadly reality of the snares that harvest his people. He actively avoids answering direct questions about missing rabbits.

Key Relationships

Leader of Strawberry

Host to Hazel

Threarah, also known as Lord Rowan Tree, is the aging Chief Rabbit of Sandleford. He governs through established bureaucracy and dismisses intuitive warnings as juvenile panic. His refusal to adapt places his warren in imminent danger.

Key Relationships

Uncle of Silver

Commander of Holly

Dismissive of Fiver

Hawkbit is a somewhat slow-witted young buck who joins the exodus from Sandleford. He occasionally questions leadership but ultimately falls in line when directed by the stronger bucks.

Key Relationships

Friend of Dandelion

Follower of Hazel

Buckthorn is a tough, sturdy young buck tired of the overcrowded conditions in his home warren. He provides steady, reliable muscle for the traveling group.

Key Relationships

Follower of Hazel

Clover is a domesticated hutch doe who has never experienced life in the wild. She is fascinated but intimidated by the prospect of living outdoors and relies heavily on the wild rabbits for instruction.

Key Relationships

Hutch-mate of Boxwood

Rescued by Hazel

Boxwood is a domesticated buck kept by humans at a local farm. Unaccustomed to the dangers of the natural world, he struggles initially to adapt to the reality of predators and foraging.

Key Relationships

Hutch-mate of Clover

Hutch-mate of Haystack

Hutch-mate of Laurel

Campion is a capable and disciplined officer in the Efrafan military structure. He commands patrols that scour the surrounding landscape for resources, lost rabbits, and threats.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Woundwort

Vervain is the largest and meanest officer in the Efrafan guard. He relies on physical intimidation to keep the warren's subjects in line but falters when faced with true opposition.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Woundwort

Rabscuttle is a prominent figure in rabbit folklore, serving as the trusted sidekick and captain to the legendary trickster El-ahrairah. He frequently assists in executing dangerous heists.

Key Relationships

Captain of El-ahrairah

Frith is the sun god in the rabbits' spiritual beliefs. He establishes the balance of nature by creating predators, but grants rabbits the speed and cunning necessary to survive them.

Key Relationships

Creator of El-ahrairah