5.1: Housekeeping re. Blackberry and Dandelion and the first conversation: I didn't actually say it. Also must say "geek" less. First shout outs to Nati Plavin and Will Fuller. Thank you for your lovely comments. Also a comment, from Nathan Holec that the podcast is a bit quiet. I only record it on my smartphone, so I can believe that. The working title for WD was 'Hazel and Fiver' apparently. There seem to be two Facebook groups called 'Watership Down Fans'. I will be posting on, both. Editorial decisions: I will be dealing with versions of WD in chronological order. This means the 1978 film before the sequel 'Tales from Watership Down' (1996). Then the 1999 TV series. I have also decided that my site visits will follow the numerical order on the map at the start of the book. Today I will cover 3 chapters. Two short and one long, sandwiched between the other two. 

5.2 6. In The Woods  

Opening quote about rabbits leaving a Warren to find somewhere else to settle. It's nearly moonset when they leave the fields and enter the woods. Indicates how slowly they are travelling? Hazel is still nervous of the Owsla, even though they are further from the Warren than any of them have ever been. Why so little apparent urgency? They are following a brook and arrive at the woods. Hazel decides to go straight into the woods. Again we are told his internal monologue. The spookiness of the woods at night, for rabbits, is well described. First mention of rabbit mythology. More on this later. Bigwig says they need to rest, so Hazel asks Dandelion to tell them a story. 

5.3 6. The Story of the Blessing of El-ahrairah  

This will be very familiar to anyone who has seen the original film version as it opens the film, but not the book. A stylised version has become a convention for film versions. It gives us a first view of how rabbits see their place in the world and is quite Judeo-Christian in tone. First we learn of how Frith (God) made the world. It starts out as a Garden of Eden, where no animal eats another. Explanation of the word El-ahrairah. Elil-Hrair-Rah (Enemies-Thousand-Prince). El-ahrairah angers Frith with the original sin of breeding too much. Frith decides not to destroy El-ahrairah because he needs his tricks in the world. Instead he calls a meeting of all animals and gives each a "gift". Some of those gifts make animals into the Elil, the animals who will, from now on, try to hunt and kill rabbits. El-ahrairah is warned what Frith has done as he is on his way to the meeting. This frightens him and he starts to dig a hole. When Frith arrives he can only see El-ahrairah's bottom. He knows it is him. This defines the gift he is given: strong hind legs for running and stamping on the ground to warn other rabbits, and the flashing white tail of a running rabbit. As soon as he receives his gift he leaves the hole and runs away, the fastest creature on Earth. The chapter ends with the very familiar speech from Frith that makes the place of rabbits in the world very clear.  

5.4 7. The Lendri and the River 

Translation of quote at start: “As for moral courage, it is very rare, he said, to find that kind found at 2 o'clock in the morning; that is to say, courage in the face of the unexpected.” ― Napoléon Bonaparte 

As the story ends they become aware of a badger, which can be dangerous. Bigwig takes the lead and they leave. They find themselves at the bank of the River Enborne. Fiver says they will have to cross the river, which Bigwig finds ridiculous. Hazel thinks that if fiver says they should cross the river, it might be dangerous not to, then realises that it is morning and that, on the other side of the river, are open fields. 

5.5 Next Episode: Chapter 8. The Crossing. Which should give a clue what happens next. 

Vocab:  

El-ahrairah: The Prince with a thousand enemies (Elil-Hrair-Rah). Frith: God. Also the Sun. 

Lendri: Badger 

Tharn: a state of paralysis in rabbits brought on by fear.