Why the Book Was Banned Watership Down was not banned in all schools, but in some, and is reported to have been banned in China because the animals and humans are seen as being on the same level.

What is the Owsla in Watership Down?

The Owsla is a group of rabbits which consists of captains and officers, who are the primary “policemen” of the warren. The Owsla are comprised of strong, intelligent and clever rabbits, but sometimes a talented storyteller or a seer can become a member of the Owsla.

Who plays the bird in Watership Down?

Kehaar – Peter Capaldi One of the main non-rabbit characters is Kehaar, a bird who befriends Bigwig and helps explain the world to the animals.

Why is Watership Down Controversial?

THE violent scenes in the 1978 Watership Down film traumatised children – and the new toned-down adaptation still warns it should not be watched by under eights. The original had a U-certificate and fooled parents into thinking it would be suitable for their little ones.

Is Watership Down dark?

Prior to watching the BBC and Netflix’s highly anticipated, bizarrely star-studded adaptation of Watership Down, the two main things I knew about Richard Adams’s beloved 1972 children’s novel were: 1) it was extremely dark (which turned me off from reading it a long time ago), and 2) it was, I’d heard on good authority …

What happened to clover in Watership Down?

Clover, along with the rest of the hutch rabbits, are recaptured back in their cage after being let out by Hazel and his friends, resulting in them never being seen again.

What age should you read Watership Down?

Its recommended age range of 8 and above feels sensible.

Are there any female rabbits in Watership Down?

Adams’ 1996 sequel, Tales from Watership Down includes stories where the female rabbits play a more prominent role in the Watership Down warren.

What is a Homba?

Homba: A fox. ( plural: hombil) Lendri: A badger. ( plural: lendril) Marli: A doe (female rabbit); also means “mother”.

Is Watership Down about communism?

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. … The 1978 animated version of Watership Down holds a particular place in the cultural psyche of an entire generation.

Article first time published on

Does Watership Down have a deeper meaning?

For years, many have believed that Watership Down had a secondary, and much deeper, meaning. The dictatorial elements have been described as a metaphor for communism while some viewers have even likened the entire story to a take on Christianity. … ‘It’s just a story about rabbits.

Is Watership Down Kid friendly?

Watership Down never really has been a story that’s appropriate for young kids, particularly when its ruthless battles and Fiver’s blood-soaked dreams are brought to the screen. This interpretation is no exception, although it’s slightly less graphic than the animated 1978 version.

What kind of bird was Keehar?

Adaptations. Kehaar is a black-headed seagull with an Eastern European accent, that Hazel and the others helped nurse back to health after he was injured by the Nuthanger Farm cat, Tab.

How was Kehaar injured?

Chapter 23: Kehaar The bird is a black- headed gull, something the rabbits have never seen before. … Bigwig tells the others that a cat injured the bird’s wing, and that the bird comes from a place far away where the earth stops and is followed by so much water that no land can be seen.

Is Watership Down a real place?

Watership Down is a hill or a down at Ecchinswell in the civil parish of Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green in the English county of Hampshire, as part of the Hampshire Downs. … The Down is best known as the setting for Richard Adams’ 1972 novel about rabbits, also called Watership Down.

Why is Watership Down Rated U?

The film – which features the voices of Sir John Hurt and the late Richard Briers – received a U rating on its initial release for its “very mild language, mild violence and threat”.

Does Watership Down have a happy ending?

The Watership Down book ending is happy, but with a hell of a lot of darkness and sadness thrown in for good measure. So the whole story is about a rabbit called Hazel trying to lead a load of other rabbits to a new warren after his younger brother Fiver predicts something dangerous is going to happen.

Is Watership Down based on ww2?

And many of the gruesome stories in Watership Down also came straight from real life, and specifically the Battle of Arnhem, fought over nine days in September 1944 and in which nearly 2,000 Allied soldiers were killed, including in Adams’ company.

Is Watership Down for kids or adults?

Watership Down, which I would feel comfortable describing as one of the finest and most interesting books of the 20th century, is most accessible to older children and adults, despite having originated from gentle tales Adams told to his children on long car rides.

Is Watership Down for adults?

WATERSHIP DOWN was written for adults, but adolescents often find it more irresistible than their elders do.

Is Watership Down 1978 a children's movie?

Watership Down is a 1978 British animated adventure-drama film, written, produced and directed by Martin Rosen and based on the 1972 novel by Richard Adams.

What happened to Strawberry in Watership Down?

In season 3, Strawberry’s color has changed to dark-pink and he has a much larger role. He has joined Bigwig’s Owsla and is a skilled fighter and digger. He eventually becomes stuck under a tree during a training exercise, and is freed by Dandelion and Hawkbit.

Who is the smartest rabbit in Watership Down?

• “Chief rabbit” among those that find their way to the Down. …
• Considered to be the smartest rabbit among Hazel’s gang. …
• This rabbit was the fastest AND the best story teller. …
• He brought the does out of Efrafa. …
• This rabbit was the only one to join the travelers en route to Watership Down.

What happened to Hazel in Watership Down?

How did Watership Down end? The BBC series ended with the Black Rabbit coming to visit Hazel and the character dying some time after he saves his group from the Efrafa warren. Hazel is asleep, and when he wakes up the area is deserted.

What does Silflay Hraka U Embleer rah mean?

It’s the first time in the book Adams doesn’t provide a footnote, but careful readers can string together a translation: silflay means to feed, hraka are droppings, embleer is to stink like fox, and rah denotes a chieftain or leader.

What are dogs called in Watership Down?

Adaptations. Bob is the fierce guard dog of Nuthanger Farm who proved to be an obstacle whenever the rabbits of Watership Down ventured there.

What does Silflay mean in Watership Down?

Coined by Richard Adams in Watership Down as part of the fictional language Lapine, which in the story is spoken by rabbits. The word silflay (“to eat outdoors”) is derived from silf (“outdoors”) + flay (“food”).

Are Hazel and Fiver brothers?

Fiver is the deuteragonist in Richard Adams’ book Watership Down. He seems to be able to sense the future. Initially, he is a resident of the Sandleford Warren, and is the younger and smaller brother of Hazel.

Who is buckthorn in Watership Down?

Buckthorn is a rabbit who came to the Watership Down Warren from the Sandleford Warren. He is a strong rabbit who was going to join the Sandleford Owsla, when he reached full weight.

Who died in Watership Down?

Hazel in seasons 1-2 Hazel appears in the television series as the main character, as the boss of Watership Down. His death does not appear anywhere in the series, especially at the end of the series, where he and the other rabbits live in peace after Woundwort and the Darkhaven rabbits are captured by Black Rabbit.

What are the rabbits called in Watership Down?

Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and the other rabbits founded their own warren at Watership Down, Hampshire after a great deal of exploring. Hazel was Chief Rabbit. He is a strong leader with a talent for bringing out the best in every rabbit.