11: Chapter 14. 'Like Trees in November'  

 

11.1 Housekeeping: Correction of the week: There was a brief sound drop while discussing the opening quote of the chapter last episode.  

 

11.2 Chapter 14. 'Like Trees in November': This is a phrase that needs explaining to anyone who lives in a different climate. In the UK, particularly in southern England where the book is set, the year is very much divided into two equal halves. At the beginning of May the leaves come out on deciduous trees. Then, after Halloween, at the end of October, the leaves fall from the trees. 

The quote that gives this chapter its name is based on something Pipkin says.  

 

The chapter opens with a quotation from the Earl of Chesterfield about learning to "read the room" as we might say now. 

 

As Hazel arrives back in the Great Burrow he notices Strawberry talking to Cowslip about his reaction to the 'shape'. He asks Blackberry to join him outside. Cowslip interrupts and invites them to share in food that seems to be available in the Great Burrow. Hazel insists his group would prefer to go above ground to feed. Cowslip laughs. This is utterly alien to rabbits. Is there something a bit too...human about these rabbits? And what would be causing that? Hazel explains the 'shapes' to Blackberry and asks Pipkin what he thinks, which leads to the line that names this chapter. Hazel responds that he is right about how sad they all seem. As if they have something on their minds. Blackberry brings up the fact that they nowhere near fill the warren. The three of them go below ground and find an empty burrow to sleep in. 

The following morning we are told of the smells from outside that tell Hazel what time of day it is. But there is another smell as well. A smell of burning. A smell of a cigarette, or "white stick" as the rabbits call them. A man has been walking about outside the Warren. There is the sound of a rabbit stamping underground and singing the word 'Flayrah', meaning good quality food. Basically anything better than grass. It is Strawberry, who tells Hazel that the man has been and now there is good food outside. One of the Warren rabbits explains that the man leaves it out in the field. Hazel comments that, with food so freely available, the Warren should be full of rabbits.  

 

Hazel meets Pipkin, who says he hasn't seen Fiver in a while. He sees Fiver sitting under a Yew tree. He asks if he is going to help with the food. Fiver says he won't have anything to do with it. He says they are acting like dogs with sticks. Hazel says even Fiver can be wrong about something. But Fiver asks him why the man puts out food for the rabbits. It turns out that Fiver has been outside all night. 

 

When evening arrives Hazel goes exploring with Bigwig. They come across a rabbit hole where there are signs of commotion. Leaves have been thrown up in the air and at the centre of this is a patch of bare earth. They discuss Cowslip's unwillingness to answer any questions, in particular on where anyone is. 

Finding Fiver still under the Yew tree, Bigwig bullies him into coming below ground. The Great Burrow is crowded with plenty of food. Cowslip approaches Hazel and says it has been suggested that one of his group might like to tell a story. Blackberry suggests that Hazel tell of their journey before they arrived at this warren. This does not seem to be received very well, judging by the silence, so he suggests that Dandelion tell a story of El-ahrairah. Hazel suggests the story of the King's Lettuce. Cowslip says they will enjoy that. So Dandelion begins.  

 

11.3 Next time: The story of El-ahrairah and the King's Lettuce...and some welcome relief from whatever is going on in this warren. How will their hosts respond to the story? And how will Fiver react to that? 

 

Vocab:  

Silflay: The verb for going above ground to feed. particularly on grass.  

Sayn: Is  

Lay: groundswell  

Narn: nice  

Marli: mother  

Flayrah: Good food, such as fruit and vegetables.