Watership Down
Character Analysis Essay
Introduction
• Hook:
– quote:
• “’You ask which I prefer; War or Peace. I answer war!’ With
pronouncements such as these, General Woundwort from Richard
Adams’s novel Watership Down becomes one of the most
despicable villains ever to hop across the page.”
– anecdote:
• “Captain Hook, Frankenstein, Freddy Krueger, and Agent Smith
villains from classic literature and movies, however, these wellknown scoundrels pale in comparison to the loathsome General
Woundwort from Richard Adams’s novel Watership Down.”
– statement of fact:
• “Most readers enjoy hating a despicable literary villain more than
they like rooting on their favorite storybook heroes.”
– avoid “truisms” and “clichés”:
• “Authors use characters to make the story more interesting.” “The
early bird catches the worm.”
Introduction
• Central Idea:
– The main idea of the essay, your attitude toward a central
character—
• “General Woundwort’s words and deeds elicit nothing but contempt.”
• Thesis:
– The central idea + the three traits that support your attitude—
• “Because of his cruelty, selfishness, and treachery, General
Woundwort is loathsome.”
• Topic Sentence:
– The central Idea and first thesis point—
• “General Woundwort’s excessive cruelty makes him detestable.”
• Closing Generalization/Restatement of Central Idea:
– Restatement of Central Idea—
• “Mirroring the worst examples of human failings, General Woundwort
is abhorrent.”
Central/Main Idea: SPI 3001.6.1: Discern the stated or implied
main idea and supporting details of informational and technical
passages
“I can…”
(THINK) Read the following, and in one sentence using your own
words, state the main idea of the paragraph.
(PAIR) Right and Left partners, share your main ideas.
(SHARE) Share your main ideas with the class.
Watership Down began as a story Richard Adams told to
his two daughters, Juliet and Rosamond, on a long car journey; in
an interview, Adams said he "began telling the story of the
rabbits ... improvised off the top of my head, as we were driving
along." He based the struggles of the animals in the story on the
struggles he and his friends encountered during the Battle of
Oosterbeek, Arnhem, the Netherlands in 1944. His daughters
insisted he write it down—"they were very, very persistent"—
and though he initially delayed, he eventually began writing in
the evenings, completing it eighteen months later. The book is
dedicated to his daughters.
Watership Down began as a story for Adams’s children with
incidents Adams recalled from his own life.
Introduction
• Hook
• Author, Setting, Title, Central Conflict:
– “Written by Richard Adams, Watership Down is set
in the English countryside of the author’s youth,
and revolves around a group of hlessi who risk
their lives during many a daring adventure in
order to find a home.”
• Central Idea
• Thesis
Transitioning
• With your partner, create a list of transitional
words and phrases.
• Using the list of transitional words and phrases
you’ve just created, combine the following
sentences into a coherent paragraph.
– Watership Down is written by Richard Adams.
– The novel is set in the English countryside of Richard
Adams’s youth.
– The story is about a group of rabbits who risk their
lives to find a home.
– The most despicable character is General Woundwort.
– General Woundwort is loathsome because of his
cruelty, egotism, and treachery.
Body Paragraphs
• Topic Sentence
• Textual Support
• Commentary
• Transitions
• Clincher Sentence
Conclusion
• Closing Generalization/Restatement of Central
Idea
• Does not restate thesis points
• How character’s traits are responsible for
situation and/or rewards/consequences for
character