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Watership Down

What is watership down?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Author Richard Adams[1]
Form Adventure novel[1]
Setting Hampshire, southern England[1]
Main characters A small group of rabbits[1]
Title referent A hill named Watership Down[1]

Watership Down is a novel by Richard Adams about a group of rabbits seeking a new home in Hampshire, England. The title also refers to a real hill where they establish their warren.

Context

Watership Down is a novel by Richard Adams about a group of rabbits seeking a new home in Hampshire, England [1]. The title also refers to a real hill in Hampshire where the rabbits establish their warren [1] [3]. The novel follows rabbits after their warren is destroyed [1]. The rabbits are anthropomorphised and have their own culture, language, proverbs, poetry, and mythology [1]. Richard Adams said it is 'just a story about rabbits' [2].

Documented claims

  • The novel follows rabbits after their warren is destroyed. [1]
  • The rabbits are anthropomorphised and have their own culture, language, proverbs, poetry, and mythology. [1]
  • The hill is the place where the rabbits build their new home. [1]
  • Richard Adams said it is 'just a story about rabbits.' [2]

Questions and answers

What is the story of Watership Down about?

It follows a group of rabbits after their warren is destroyed, as they seek a new home in Hampshire, England [1].

What is Watership Down a metaphor for?

Richard Adams said it is 'just a story about rabbits,' but it has been interpreted as a metaphor for various human themes [2].

Is Watership Down safe for kids?

The novel contains violence and dark themes, so it may not be suitable for very young children [1].

Why was Watership Down so controversial?

It was controversial due to its graphic violence and dark themes, which were unusual for a story about rabbits [1].

Sources

  1. Watership Down: 'true meaning' revealed ahead of remake — theguardian.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Watership Down: Full Book Summary | SparkNotes — sparknotes.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Lessons from Watership Down: What Rabbits Can Teach the Church — theopolisinstitute.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Culture