Foreshadowing In Watership Down

One of Richard Adams’ most prominent literary elements in Watership Down is foreshadowing. This element is shown through the character Fiver, a rabbit who has the ability to see things happening in the future through dreams, visions, and feelings. Numerous times throughout Watership Down, Fiver has a dream or vision that plays out later in the book. One instance is in the beginning, when Fiver is overcome with terror and his brother Hazel is trying to figure out what is wrong. “‘Hazel - the danger, the bad thing. It hasn’t gone away. It’s here - all round us… We’ve got to go away before it’s too late’” (9). Fiver is foretelling the danger that is to come and destroy the warren. He convinces Hazel to leave and they gather a small band of followers to leave with them. Days later, Fiver is proven correct when men come

All around the land are snares and wires set out to capture the rabbits living there. Fiver is proven correct once more when Bigwig, another rabbit, is caught in one of the numerous snares and is hurt. In addition, Fiver also foreshadows the harm that is to come to Hazel when he sets out on a mission to retrieve does for his warren. “‘But there’s something that frightens me about you yourself, Hazel: just you, not any of the others. You’re all alone, sharp and clear, like a dead branch against the sky’” (209). Fiver knows that something is going to happen to Hazel as he journeys to the barn to free the hutch does. However, Hazel is not entirely positive, and goes on his mission anyway, despite Fiver’s warnings. Once more, Fiver is proven correct when Hazel is shot during his escape by a farmer. To conclude, foreshadowing is one of the most prominent literary elements present in Watership Down. Fiver, a prophet-like rabbit, carries this element throughout the entire story. His visions, dreams, and feelings are proven true time and time again as he and the rest of the rabbits continue