How is tension built up in Chapter one of ‘Watership Down’? CAND 3

CANDIDATE 3

How is tension built up in Chapter one of ‘Watership Down’?

At the beginning of Chapter One all rabbits are at ease and there is no tension at all. Richard Adams describes the scene as peaceful and beautiful and the rabbits have no worries and feel safe, this is described through the quote ‘’ But a blackbird singing undisturbed on the outskirts of the wood , showed that there was nothing alarming there, and in another direction, along the brook, all was plain to be seen, empty and quiet’’.

Adams quickly changes the scene from calm and peaceful when the companion of another rabbit becomes less at ease than the other rabbits and begins to build up tension in the book. This leaves the reader feeling anxious as they are not sure what is going to happen in the future. Just the slight inquisitiveness of the rabbit begins to make the reader question what threats the rabbits have and what is making them feel so nervous and as result changes the emotion of the reader from peaceful to tense and on edge.

Furthermore, Buckthorn asks to leave the warren as he explains that something isn’t right there by saying ‘’you know there’s something queer about the warren this evening, although I can’t tell exactly what it is.’’. By adding this into the book, Adams builds up tension for the reader as you are not sure of what is going to happen.  

Further along on the page the group ‘’Owsla’’ is mentioned which adds more tension to the book as the rabbits seem threatened and frightened of them, this suggests to the reader that the Owsla has some sort of power and control over the rabbits and by saying ‘’Cowslips are for Owsla – don’t you know that? If you don’t, we can easily teach you’’ this is evidence that supports this as the rabbits are restricted as to what they can do. After mentioning the Owsla and seeing the rabbit’s reaction it suggests that something bad could happen if the rabbits do not follow the Owsla’s rules which again builds up the tension for the characters and the reader.

To add to the tension Hazel and Fiver have a conversation that suggests something around the warren and brook is not quite right and that all rabbits should feel uneasy and be aware. They also suggest that moving the warren to another place could be safer for them. This conversation occurs after Hazel asks Fiver if he feels safe to which Fiver replies saying he feels safe but then adds tension when Adams uses the word ‘’oppressive’’ which suggests inflicting harsh treatment which could link back to the threats of the Owsla. Fiver also says ‘’I can’t tell you what; but it worries me’’ which suggests that although they are not sure on what the threat is, they know something is happening and they do not feel safe, this suggests to the reader that something bad is going to happen that is going to inflict harm on the rabbits and begins to add tension even more.

The main occasion in Chapter One which highlights Adams’ intentions of building tension is when Fiver suggests that the field is covered in blood. This is a major point of Chapter One as it really emphasises the rabbit’s terror and adds to the tension enormously. Blood is associated with death and by spreading it over the field suggests war and defeat, this begins to make the reader question as to why this is related to the scene and whether it links to an event further into the book, by doing this it leaves the reader on edge until they are able to identify the answer to why Fiver has thought of this.

To conclude, using these quotes and techniques throughout Chapter One, Adams was able to place a sense of uncertainty and tension in the reader’s thoughts as they question what is happening with the rabbits and what will happen in the future. The way he has used language and words to describe the scene but also change them such as going from ‘’beautiful’’ to ‘’fields covered in blood’’ sets the tension and terror of the characters.