CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES

CHAPTER 10 - The Road and The Common

Summary

The rabbits come to a highway, a manmade concept most of them have never seen before. Bigwig explains that they are for the hrududil (motor vehicles) to run on and that neither the road nor the hrududil are dangerous to rabbits. Blackberry, however, spots a mass of fur on the road and is skeptical. Big wig explains that they are only dangerous at night because of the lights which will paralyze an animal and prevent it from moving out of the way. Hazel decides to simply cross it and get away from it.

They arrive at Newton Common, a rather barren land for rabbits who need groundcover for both food and protection. While resting under a bank, Hawkbit, Acorn, and Speedwell approach Hazel. Hawkbit acts sneaky as if he is up to something when he tells Hazel that the three of them think Fiver is wrong. They donÂ’t believe Hazel knows where they are going and they want to go back. Hazel is trying to reason with them when Bigwig comes along. He takes charge of punishing the three mutants while Fiver takes Hazel to the top of the bank. In the distance they can see a line of hills. Fiver says that the hilltop is their destination.

Notes

Bigwig is fully committed to HazelÂ’s quest now as he not only works with him but also enforces HazelÂ’s leadership, preventing the rebellion of any rabbits who get impatient over the duration of their journey.

CHAPTER 11 - Hard Going

Summary

They reach the floor of a big hollow where they can feed a little. Blackberry tells Hazel that Hawkbit and Speedwell challenged Bigwig, wanting to know who is actually the Chief Rabbit. In response Bigwig bit him. Hazel says he isnÂ’t sure who the chief rabbit is, but he disagrees with BigwigÂ’s tactics. He says he would prefer to have the others follow because they want to, not because they feel like they have no choice. Hazel goes to Acorn and Hawkbit (who are occupied with making an exaggerated case of HawkbitÂ’s wound) and promises that he will soon get them out of the plight that they are in. He promises that if they follow him, he will have them out by sunrise. They spend the night climbing their way out of the pit. By morning, they reach the other side of the common where they find a big field of thick grass. Blackberry pronounces Hazel a definite Chief Rabbit. The would-be rebels have no comment, but they dash out into the field to enjoy the grass.

Notes

Hazel has established his leadership. The rebel rabbits do not apologize, but their silence is akin to admitting that Hazel was right.

CHAPTER 12 - The Stranger in the Field

Summary

The rabbits are enjoying the field. Hazel talks them into digging some shallow burrows, called scrapes, under a bank so they can have shelter from the coming rain. Usually the does in a warren do the serious digging, so the need to dig holes comes as a bit of a surprise. Blackberry comes across a "man-track" in the field, but does not understand why it would be there as there is little evidence of human activity of any kind. Shortly after sundown a strange rabbit appears in the field. The rabbit seems unusually big and healthy with sleek, glossy fur. He tells them his name is Cowslip and that it had been assumed that HazelÂ’s group would want to live in the field. Cowslip notices the narrow, uncomfortable nature of the shallow holes and tells Hazel that they are all welcome to join his warren where there are enough empty burrows for them all.

Hazel has a council with Blackberry, Dandelion, Bigwig and Fiver. The rabbits arenÂ’t sure whether to trust the newcomer or not, but they realize that if all the rabbits are as big as cowslip, they could have easily overpowered and killed HazelÂ’s group if they had wanted to. They decide to at least investigate the invitation. Only Fiver resists. He says they should have nothing to do with the new rabbit or his warren and that they ought to leave the place at once. However, he realizes that his words are falling on deaf ears.

Notes

The field is the rabbitsÂ’ first attempt to establish a new home for themselves. It should be an ideal place, but it is suspiciously empty of any sigh of rabbit enemies except for them man. Furthermore, they have a limited view of their surroundings as they do not see the strange rabbit until he is almost on top of the. This location will be an example of what they donÂ’t want for themselves.

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