September 30th, 2026
Tales from Watership Down is the sequel to the famous work Watership Down. It is divided into three parts: the first chronicals a more or less random collection of tales concerning El-ahrairah, the second is a series of stories concerning the period between El-ahrairah's visit to the Black Rabbit of Inlé and his return to his warren. The final section is a series of short stories which collectively form a narrative concerning the rabbits of Watership Down.
The rabbits have a wide variety of names. What do you make of rabbit naming conventions?
Each story begins with a number of short quotations. The Bible features frequently, but many and varied other sources are included. What do you make of these quotes? Did they add to the story?
Many of these stories are mythology. What do you make of Adam's decision to include so much mythology both in the original book and here?
Each section begins with an illustration, discuss them.
El-ahrairah is especially bold and has a strong mastery of his fear. These are not attributes rabbits are well known for. What do you think of the rabbit's mythology centering such traits as desirable?
What do you think the creatures in the land of perpetual darkness would have looked like if it weren't perpetually dark?
"The Sense of Smell" has El-ahrairah go to several different places. What do you make of his abillity to visit these places? Did you have a favorite place?
"The Sense of Smell" establishes man as the enemy of all creatures with a focus on his having driven many to extinction. Thoughts?
Many of the stories say something akin to "El-ahraihah, they say,...". Who do you suppose is doing the saying? Where do these stories actually originate?
El-ahrairah is alive! Why haven't they met him?
What did you make of El-ahrairah's journey to achieve immortality?
The Third Cow is Time itself. Why do you suppose a cow is the physical manifestation of time in rabbit lore?
Did you particularly like one of the cows?
Dandelion tells most of the stories, but Bluebell tells the story of King Fur-Rocious, Coltsfoot tells a ghost story, and Speedwell tells... his story. In what ways do the narrators differ in their story telling?
"The Story of King Fur-Rocious" and "The Fox in the Water" are very similarly structured. Is this rabbit plagiarism? Compare and contrast the stories.
Who do you think narrates "The Hole in the Sky", the narrator does not name themself.
"The Hole in the Sky" tells us El-ahrairah visits warrens to advise them. Do you think the advice we've seen El-ahrairah give throughout these stories is good?
Througout these stories we see bits of rabbit morality, for example "The Hole in the Sky" speaks about showing hospitality to suffering rabbits. Do you suppose other warrens tell tales with different morals?
What do you make of the hole in the sky?
Do you believe Coltsfoot's ghost story?
Fiver provies words of reassurance with authority and comforts Coltsfoot. What do you make of Fiver's leadership here? What do you make of Fiver's authority when speaking on supernatural matters?
Speedwell tells the most grounded and down to earth of all the stories in the book. Does his focus on keeping strictly to the facts detract from his story telling?
What was the beast in the Comical Field?
What does "The Story of the Great Marsh" tell us about leadership?
Throughout the book the rabbits interact with other animals, often receiving help. What do you think of these cross species interactions?
In "The Story of the Terrible Hay-Making" what do you think of El-ahrairah's attempts to save the warren?
Consider and discuss the behavior of El-ahrairah & The Chief Rabbit in these two stories.
"El-ahrairah and the Lendri" see our vegetarian heroes become hunters, living a "depressing and unnatural a life as could be for rabbits, by nature gregarious and the least carnivorous of creatures." What did you think of how their lives as outcasts were portrayed?
Do you think the lendri would ever have helped them?
This third part presents us a case of apparent rabbit precience. What do we make of these apparent intrusions of foresight?
Do you think Flyairth was intentionally trying to subvert the warren's leadership or was it moreso an accident of her rampant paranoia?
What do you think of the warren's embracement of egalitarianism?
Is Hyzenthlay a good leader?
"Sandwort" sees the leadership of the Watership Down warren challenged. Do you think that the leaders of the warren handle this challenge well?
"Stonecrop" shows Hazel being taking on substantial risk and hardship for a rabbit he doesn't know and who by rights ought to be killed by Hazel's own admission. What do you make of Hazel's "folly" here. Is this good leadership or bad?
Throughout these stories Hazel often seeks and gives great credence to Fiver's advice, even when Fiver isn't speaking prophetically. Do you think Fiver gave especially good advice to justify this treatment?
Do you think the intervention with Campion was well handled?
Do you agree with Campion's thoughts on the value of the Wide Patrols?