Episode 343: Watership Down by Richard Adams, Ch. 31-40

Today’s episode of The Literary Life is part 4 of our series on Richard Adams’ Watership Down. Angelina and Thomas discuss chapters 31-40 this week, starting with some thoughts on the conventions of literature in different literary periods. Thomas also makes a note that although this book mirrors many aspects of The Aeneid, readers ought not expect to find exact correspondence between the characters and plot points in the two stories. They talk about the depth and weight of this story due to its connections with mythology and the literary tradition.

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Commonplace Quotes:

Literalism has never been a profitable interpreter of genius.

T.R. Glover, from “The Pilgrim: Essays on Religion“

Literature presents, not an affirmation of repudiation of facts, but a series of hypothetical possibilities. The appearance of a ghost in Hamlet does not owe its dramatic appeal to the question whether ghosts exist of not, or whether Shakespeare or his audience thought they did. Shakespeare’s only postulate is, “let there be a ghost in Hamlet.” In this, the poet resembles the mathematician rather than his verbal colleagues in history and science.

Northrop Frye, from “Levels of Meaning in Literature“

I to My Perils

by A. E. Houseman

I to my perils
        Of cheat and charmer
        Came clad in armour
By stars benign.
Hope lies to mortals
        And most believe her,
        But man’s deceiver
Was never mine.

The thoughts of others
        Were light and fleeting,
        Of lovers’ meeting
Or luck or fame.
Mine were of trouble,
        And mine were steady,
        So I was ready
When trouble came.

Book List:

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Watership Down by Richard Adams

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Lilith by George MacDonald

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