Watership Down, Mythology
...ow the rabbits gained strengths over their enemies (36). Dandelion uses this story to dissolve the fears of the worn out rabbits (37). It helps the smaller rabbits, such as Fiver and Pipken, who are in the most danger at this point in the book, remember the “indestructibility of the rabbits” (37). When the rabbits meet a strange rabbit in a field and are invited to his warren, Fiver suspects something is wrong with these overgrown rabbits(96). Silver is asked to tell a story as an ice breaker, he tells “The Story of the King’s Lettuce” (100). This story reminds Hazel’s rabbits of how rabbits use tricks to live their lives the way they do, but Cowslip’s rabbits believe in pride and that they shouldn’t fight fate, but just except it (108). The rabbits at this warren have disregarded the old stories of deception and trickery and have adopted a more down to earth style of poetry that tells of their sorrow and how, even though they are fed and protected where they are, that they would love to be free somewhere far away (109). The disregarding of the old stories, being such a big part in Hazel’s rabbit’s life and strength, brought up doubt that these seemingly perfect rabbits weren’t living so high after all (111). Bluebell is reminded of “The Story of the Trial of El-ahrairah” when Hazel uses the mouse to help them (172). For in “The Story of the Trial of El-ahrairah” the tricky El-ahrairah uses many different animals to show that his found out spy, Hufsa, was delusional there for he was innocent of the crime he was suspected of (183). This gives them the idea to entrust other animals to help them like Kahaar (184). “The Story of the Black Rabbit of Inle” is told when the rabbits are on route to Efrafa to retrieve does. This story is told simply because Bigwig wants it to be (271). The reasons behind this is that Bigwig is going into an impossible situation, and in “The Story of the Black Rabbit of Inle” El-ahrairah is faced with an impossibility but overcomes it using his wits (283). Bigwig feels that if El-ahrairah can triumph over his hopelessness then he can do it as well. This story scares the other rabbits, so badly that Hazel has to take Pipken away (277). While they’re outside they are able to warn the others of an approaching fox. (286) “Now came the dog days…” (395) was used to foreshadow “The Story of Rowsby Woof and Fairy Wogdog”, which in itself is a foreshadowing. When the same sound Rowsby h...