He is the Chief Rabbit of Efrafa. In the TV series, after the destruction of Efrafa, Woundwort uses Redstone warren as his "stepping-stones to succession" and takes leadership of it after manipulating Hickory. After the destruction of Redstone, Woundwort journeys to Darkhaven Warren and takes leadership of the warren.
Woundwort is said to be around three years old in the book.
In the book, Woundwort is described as a savage-looking rabbit almost as large as a hare, with razor sharp claws and cold eyes.
In the film, Woundwort is depicted as a large, brown rabbit with a dark green right eye, while his left eye is blind. He is the only rabbit who is shown with extra sharp teeth. He shares other characteristics of the other Efrafans, including a darker color, a more ragged appearance, prominent claws, and dark circles under his eyes. His claws are large.
General Woundwort in season 3.
In the TV series, he is the biggest rabbit and has black, ragged fur, notched ears, a red right eye, and a blind left eye. At a younger age, Woundwort had brown/beige fur, a round cotton tail, and dark-brown eyes. In season 3, his design changes: his fur is light grey and tan on his cheeks and belly, his other eye is pale red and his muzzle is white.
In the miniseries, he is depicted as an exceptionally large like a hare, muscular rabbit with ragged, dark grey and brown fur, torn ears, and numerous scars, most notably one over his blind left eye, while his good eye is amber. When he's shown younger in the first part of The Siege, he looks like his younger TV series counterpart.
Book[]
Background[]
Woundwort was born as the strongest of a litter of five in a burrow outside a cottage garden near Cole Henley. His father, a happy-go-lucky and reckless buck, had thought nothing of living close to human beings except that he would be able to forage in their garden in the early morning. He had paid dearly for his rashness. After two or three weeks of spoiled lettuces and nibbled cabbage plants, the cottager had lain in wait and shot Woundwort's father as he came through the potato patch at dawn. The same morning the man set to work to dig out the doe and her growing litter. Woundwort's mother was also shot, and although she survived briefly, she was soon slaughtered by a weasel.
A Young Woundwort is terrorized by a cat in the TV series.
Afterwards, he was rescued and taken in by an professor, who lived in a cottage and owned a cat, which occasionally tormented Woundwort when the professor wasn't looking. Once Woundwort was fully grown, he attempted to kill his first of "the thousand", which apparently began with the cat he lived with, attacking it after it went to go and try and terrorize him. A week after severely maiming the cat, Woundwort escaped by ripping open the wires of the hutch he lived in and found his way to a warren.
He quickly usurped leadership by force, killing the Chief rabbit and a rival named Fiorin. He then began his authoritarian rule and conquered several other warrens, fighting and killing their leaders personally. He formed a new, larger warren called Efrafa to house the inhabitants of all the conquered warrens, including Nutley Copse, one of the warrens he invaded.
Soon General Woundwort's Efrafa becomes too massive to be maintained as warrens should be, and is transformed into a secretive, strictly-militaristic one, where all rabbits are given over to a strict code for when to silflay, outsiders are forcibly detained, and any rabbit trying to escape is severely punished. Woundwort is a master schemer, and his strict code stops Efrafa from becoming plagued with a disease or being discovered by predators or humans. But still having some good, Woundwort took over the work the does didn't complete as they slept. He also watched over kits of a litter, specifically picking out the strongest and training them himself to join the Owslafa.
Owsla membership becomes the great goal for many of the bucks, with patrols that spread out far and wide, tracking the whereabouts of the thousand, and of various humans. However, many of the does are discontent, since they are unable to breed properly because of overcrowding. As a result, the system is "breaking down" as Hyzenthlay said, one of the does in Efrafa.
Watership Down[]
When Bigwig infiltrates the warren, he earns the General's respect thanks to his size and strength. When it turns out that Bigwig only came to liberate a number of does and Blackavar, General Woundwort becomes obsessed with revenge against the former Sandleford rabbit. He holds a hatred for Bigwig for the remainder of the book, swearing to kill him personally.
Woundwort loses the respect of Efrafa after the escape of Bigwig, Blackavar, the does and all the Watership Down rabbits who had accompanied Bigwig. In order to rectify what he sees as a personal failure, Woundwort takes the best of his legendary Owsla to destroy Bigwig and his warren after learning of its location from his most trusted subordinate, Campion. On the journey to Watership Down, Woundwort drives off a pair of stoats that attack Groundsel.
The Efrafan Owsla reaches Watership Down, and is met by Hazel, who offers a peaceful treaty with Woundwort, but the General demands unconditional surrender and threatens to kill every buck in the warren. The Efrafans then besiege the blocked-up warren and when they finally break through the barricades, Woundwort himself goes in first.
Woundwort fighting Bigwig to the death.
Bigwig, in a last-minute scheme, buries himself under a thin layer of dirt. When Woundwort passes over him, he jumps up and bites the General's foreleg so severely that Woundwort is forced to hobble on three legs. Despite this crippling blow, Woundwort puts up a tremendous fight against Bigwig, but ultimately succumbs to exhaustion and backs down, ordering Vervain to kill the buck.
When Vervain returns, saying he got grit in his eye and when he clears his eye of it, Woundwort calls him a coward and goes to kill Bigwig himself. When Woundwort sees Bigwig prepared for another round of fighting, the General asks why he won't surrender, Bigwig reveals that he's not the chief rabbit and is only following orders. This shocks Woundwort, who automatically assumes that the chief rabbit must be even bigger and stronger than Bigwig.
Meanwhile, Hazel leads Dandelion and Blackberry to Nuthanger Farm, to release the dog, Bob, and lure him to the Efrafans. Thanks to the speed of Dandelion and Blackberry, as well as the gnawing of the rope by Hazel, the dog is unleashed on the Efrafan Owsla.
Woundwort lunges at Bob after he stands his ground.
When Woundwort hears the commotion, he abandons Bigwig, ordering Vervain to finish the small buck they thought was dead off instead of Bigwig, and emerges from the warren to find his entire Owsla fleeing in panic. General Woundwort is the only rabbit of Efrafa to stand his ground against the dog while the rest flee. Woundwort confronts the dog as he fears nothing and lunges at it, but is never seen or heard from again.
It is unknown what happened to Woundwort afterwards as his body is never found which leaves his fate a mystery, although he might have been apparently killed by the dog following a violent fight (and possibly devoured due to dogs being natural predators to rabbits). Groundsel, however, strongly believes Woundwort survived and is probably starting another warren somewhere else.
Film[]
Blackavar killed by General Woundwort.
"Bigwig! You traitors! Campion, take this miserable group back to their mark. I'll settle you myself Bigwig. There's no need to take you back."
— Woundwort to the escapees and Bigwig
In this version, Woundwort kills Blackavar during the final battle. He also chases Pipkin down the tunnel to Bigwig.
TV series[]
General Woundwort in seasons 1-2.
Woundwort serves as the main antagonist of the television series. He was born in Darkhaven and is also known as 'the Dark One'. A brutal and tyrannical leader who sees himself as the one doing everything for the best of his warren, Woundwort strives to destroy Hazel and his outsiders because of the hope for free life they represent for his own subjects. Woundwort deeply respects Campion, even after his betrayal by him, and he often punishes and threatens Vervain, but still values him as an adviser and loyal subject despite this.
He briefly shows a softer side after Pipkin tells him that his parents were killed by a weasel, as this is a fate that Woundwort's mother went through, and for a brief moment before Efrafa's destruction sees himself for what he is and what he has brought Efrafa to.
Woundwort is larger and more muscular than most rabbits, making him capable of defeating predators of similar size to himself, like a weasel that he is able to wrestle and toss aside. In particular, his strength was enough to kill a fox, though Campion mentions that the Efrafans helped him without losing any rabbits. His strength was enough to handle five captains at a time when he yelled at them to fight him, throwing them with ease. However, during the final battle for Watership Down, Hazel was able to hold off Woundwort's strength by gripping against each other, though it's possible that Woundwort was weakened from fighting his way through most of Hazel's army, running up the hill and taking on Bigwig in single combat before fighting against Hazel. His size can be proved to be intimidating enough for other rabbits and heron to flee.
Season 1[]
Coming soon!
Season 2[]
In Prisoner of Efrafa, Woundwort acts nice towards Pipkin, who he has kidnapped from Watership Down Warren. But he ends up liking the buck when it's revealed his parents were also killed by a weasel. When Vervain says he'd like the honor of killing Pipkin, but Woundwort tells him not to do it. At the end of the episode while General Woundwort is stuck under a tree and Bigwig is about to kill him, Pipkin comes to save him.
In the The Homecoming, Woundwort when tries to kill Hazel while fighting him, Bigwig saves him and attacks Woundwort himself. When Campion betrays Woundwort and saves Bigwig, Woundwort tells Campion he'll tear him apart before the caverns start to collapse. Campion then saves Woundwort, risking his life.
Season 3[]
In The Last Battle, Woundwort notices what he has done and attempts to stop the war, but it was in vain. After the destruction of Efrafa, Woundwort becomes obsessed with seeking his destiny of destruction.
In The Dark Deal, Cowslip and Woundwort make a deal, Redstone Warren's destruction for Cowslip's seer, Silverweed. After the destruction, Silverweed is given to Woundwort by Cowslip. Silverweed's vision leads Woundwort to the warren he was born in: Darkhaven.
In Darkhaven, General Woundwort tells Campion he thought he was dead, Campion tells him that like Woundwort, he is hard to kill. Woundwort threatens Campion, telling him he'd send him to the Black Rabbit. After Campion flees and tells Woundwort no one can defeat him, he tells Campion he was never a fool, making him the finest captain he knew. Woundwort gives Campion a chance to leave but Campion stays to "serve" him.
In The Spy, Woundwort informs Spartina she succeeded in her quest and says that Campion will lead her to Watership Down warren.
"I'll never stop, Hazel... NEVERRRRR!"
In The Magic, Woundwort and his army of Darkhaven members charge up to the down and start fighting, managing to dodge the boulders and many traps Hazel has planned. Later, Bigwig comes to fight Woundwort for his rank, just to fail as Woundwort "kills" him. In the end, Woundwort pays the ultimate price for his actions and as punishment, he and his Darkhaven warriors are taken away to the Shadowlands after being rejected by the Black Rabbit of Inlé. Woundwort tells Hazel before he gets sucked into the Black Rabbit's tornado that he will never stop. Bigwig is also revealed to have been alive.
Miniseries[]
"And to those of you who tremble at the wake of birds, or foxes, or any of the thousand enemies of rabbits! I say this; In Efrafa, we run from no Elil... We are the Elil!"
— General Woundwort after Sainfoin showed cowardice
Woundwort in the miniseries.
General Woundwort appears as the main antagonist in the 2018 miniseries. He is more secluded in this adaptation, and most likely leaves the running of Efrafa to the Council and Vervain, Captain Orchis or Sainfoin. He only lets his Owslafa see him if it's an important message or a member was called to his burrow.
He is much more darker in this adaptation, killing a Owslafa member over suggesting to take prisoners and threatening to murder Sainfoin over his fear of Kehaar (Despite himself fleeing after getting thrown down by Kehaar only twice).
Young Woundwort is scarred by a fox.
In this adaptation it is revealed that as a younger rabbit, Woundwort's family and fellow warren members were killed by a fox that scratched Woundwort, scarring him and blinding his left eye, though he survived this awful experience, but it's not said and shown how he managed to escape.
Compared to other rabbits, Woundwort is the tallest and most muscular of all rabbits though his appearance resembles hare, his strength being sufficient to handle Bigwig. The intimidation of his size was enough to scare most rabbits into submission, though he had evidenced to be evenly matched in combat with Bigwig. Woundwort's resilience is high enough to take two hits from Kehaar and still be able to run away.
Even in the long, brutal fight with Bigwig, he was still able to move well and continue his approach into the warren as he still wanted to kill Bigwig despite being very weakened. Eventually, Woundwort had enough courage, stamina and strength to start a fight with the large farmer's dog that might have used a good deal of stamina for the long run up the big hill.
He appears at the end of the episode when an Efrafan buck comes to tell him that a wide patrol had picked up the scent of a large band of rabbits, with Woundwort telling the buck to tell the wide-patrol not to return until the band is located and to leave one alive for questioning.
Woundwort appears when Holly makes the council laugh by requesting if Efrafa would be willing to let some does go to Watership Down Warren, demanding everyone shut up. Woundwort rejects the idea, and threatens to take Holly's group prisoner. When Holly calls him a captain, Woundwort makes it clear he is a general.
Woundwort tells an upset Captain Orchis, who is angered by Vervain's death, to break Hyzenthlay's morale because if she gives up escaping, the rest of the does will.
Woundwort tells Clover he doesn't make deals.
He meets a captured Clover and tells her that he likes her, and that he once lived in a hutch. He then tries to seduce Clover into becoming his "queen", mentioning kings need queens and that an empire is not born over a lifetime, but generations. He asks her if she agrees but she is speechless. He tells her she may leave, and says he does not like to be disappointed. Later, when Hyzenthlay is sentenced to death, Clover tries to make a deal with Woundwort, saying that she will be his queen if he spares Hyzenthlay. However, Woundwort refuses, stating that he doesn't make deals.
Woundwort and his army of Efrafan forces.
Woundwort eventually learns there's an escape attempt by the does. Woundwort and his army catch up to the escapees at the bridge. Woundwort tells Bigwig he can recognize he's a fighter, and that Bigwig's death will be pleasurable.
At the start of the episode, Woundwort's backstory is shown. His father and siblings are eating at a garden with a young Woundwort watching for trouble. He notices a fox and goes tharn, his father notices something wrong and before Woundwort can tell them about the fox, it pounces and kills the three. Woundwort runs to his warren, with the members getting murdered. At the end, Woundwort loses his eye to the fox but lives.
In the present day, the Owslafa are surrounding Bigwig, the escapees and some members of the Down who came to assist in the escape. Before General Woundwort can strike Bigwig, Kehaar appears and the confusion lets the prisoners flee.
The next day, Sargent Sainfoin, Captain Campion and Captain Orchis were talking about meeting Woundwort. As Orchis asks what of Woundwort, the General appears and asks who called the meeting. When Campion replied that he did, Woundwort orders him to get the officers and the guards and bring them to his burrow.
Later, General Woundwort tells everyone who has gathered to voice any concerns they may have. Sainfoin speaks up, saying how he's scared of the bird Kehaar. Woundwort starts asking Sainfoin if he's scared, when Sainfoin replies maybe he is, Woundwort throws him down and starts yelling at him, calling him a coward. He asks the Sargent if he's royal before asking Campion if he's royal. Woundwort then talks about destroying Watership Down Warren and how in Efrafa no one runs from the Elil, they are the Elil.
Later, Haystack smells the Efrafans approaching the Down to attack, making Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig and Captain Holly investigate. Hazel visits Woundwort to negotiate, but Woundwort threatens to destroy Hazel's warren. Hazel tells Woundwort he approached down wind and how it gave him away, Woundwort tells him by filling in the burrows, he was only delaying the attack by a few moments. Hazel tells Woundwort how he'll leave with far fewer bucks, deciding to try and alliance.
Campion tells Woundwort it might be worth it, but Woundwort decides to deny the alliance, telling Hazel how he'll react to three days without food, saying how no one will leave the warren and live. As Hazel leaves, Woundwort tells him to tell Bigwig he's looking forward to seeing him again.
Sainfoin comes to Woundwort, saying how two of his bucks have left after noticing hraka from the bird. Woundwort smacks Sainfoin, saying he already told Sainfoin the bird is gone and says how he should've killed him in the council's chamber. When Campion starts questioning Woundwort about taking prisoners, with another buck agreeing and saying how they could capture the bucks and spare the does, Woundwort kills the unnamed buck and demands his soldiers run into the warren, deciding to stop the plan of starving them out.
After the Efrafan's battle against the Watership Down rabbits and it's now day, Woundwort decides he's going into the Down himself. Sainfoin mentions Kehaar once more and Woundwort quickly shuts him down before ordering Campion to follow him inside but not too close in-case they get ambushed, Campion denies, saying what Holly had told him in The Raid. General Woundwort demands Orchis to kill Campion. Woundwort then gets into the burrows with Sainfoin following behind him.
Woundwort starts digging out the warrens members, who are hiding behind the wall. Sainfoin tries to warn Woundwort of Bigwig who was planning to surprise Woundwort with an attack under the dirt, but Woundwort ignored him and ended up getting bit by Bigwig.
Later, Woundwort tells Bigwig he can send one buck after another into the burrows but decides against doing such, offering Bigwig to come back to Efrafa and leading any mark he wishes. When Bigwig says how he's not the Chief rabbit, Sainfoin leaves the warren in fear. Woundwort resurfaces and notices the Owslafa members cowering and leaving, Woundwort calls them all cowards and demands Sainfoin gather his bucks and says they'll finish the war.
General Woundwort laughs when discovering that Watership Down's leader is Hazel, not Bigwig, who is Chief Rabbit. When Hazel lures Bob to Watership Down, Woundwort asks what everyone is running from and fearlessly stands his ground against the dog, and after saying the lines, "We fear no elil. I fear no dog. I... fear... nothing." He is seen lunging toward the charging dog, leaving his fate unknown.
Personality[]
"He really is a grim customer. I don’t think even you’d match up to him, Bigwig. He’s almost as big as a hare and there’s something about his mere presence that frightens you, as if blood and fighting and killing were all just part of the day’s work to him."
— Holly describing Woundwort in the book
Woundwort in the film.
General Woundwort is an arrogant, cruel, bloodthirsty and viciously ruthless Chief Rabbit who will slaughter anyone who gets in his way. He refuses to bargain with anyone, offering them the choice of unconditional surrender or all-out war, showing that his viciousness surpasses that of most predators, who mainly kill for food. He nevertheless believes that all his decisions are for the good of the warren. He is utterly fearless, perfectly willing to fight even when the odds are obviously against him as when he and a wide patrol kill a sick owl.
However, Woundwort does have some good in him, as when he finishes the does work when they slept, he watches kits (Although just to pick the strongest out to join the Owslafa) and watches out for any Elil instead of always depending on his captains or the Owslafa. In the books words, "Woundwort was no mere bully. He knew how to encourage other rabbits and to fill them with a spirit of emulation."
As he believes the strongest rabbits should be given leadership, he is startled by Bigwig revealing he isn't the Chief rabbit, making Woundwort believe that there could've been a rabbit stronger than himself in the warren waiting to attack him.
Thanks to the death of his mother by a weasel, General Woundwort holds a grudge against any weasel, or a stoat. After getting terrorized by a Cottage owner's cat for too long, General Woundwort severely injures it and claws his way out of the house through the wires of his hutch outside, running away into Efrafa. Through brutal force, Woundwort takes charge of Efrafa and murders the previous Chief an enemy called Fiorin. Woundwort fought to entirely kill. Despite being a savage brute, he had his limits, he'd go as far to attack anything except a fox. But he has managed to attack and chase off a dog alone.
Woundwort is arguably the deadliest fighter in any adaption of Watership Down, rivaling or even surpassing Elil in some cases. He has fought and defeated a cat, a crow, a stoat and an Aberdeen puppy, respectively, as well as rats, squirrels and magpies. Also, despite being wounded and exhausted from his fight with Bigwig, he fearlessly stands his ground against a powerful farm dog. Although Woundwort's body is never found, making it unclear if he survives the encounter, the dog survives with minor injuries inflicted by the General.
Woundwort fighting Bigwig in the graphic novel.
He has also killed the leaders of other warrens personally and imposed his will on groups of rabbits all by himself on more than one occasion. Woundwort's massive size gives him a significant advantage over most opponents; it is said that he won almost every fight of his life by using his weight. The only rabbit strong enough to give Woundwort a real challenge is Bigwig and even he has to use a surprise attack in order to make the fight even. Even with a severe wound limiting his mobility, Woundwort manages to fight Bigwig to a standstill, heavily implying that if the General had not been caught off guard he would have won the fight. But, Woundwort did manage to get Bigwig to almost die.
TV series[]
Woundwort taking a caring and fatherly role towards Pipkin.
In the television series, Woundwort is portrayed as a more tragic character and does occasionally show a softer side. Fiver's visions tell him that Woundwort has not always been evil, but is full of hate, fear and loss after his parents were killed and after spending time in a man's cage with a cat constantly tormenting him. Unfortunately, Woundwort's way of handling his own pain is to make everyone else's lives as miserable as his own. Despite his fearless front, Pipkin sees through it and realizes that Woundwort is actually full of fear, but instead of giving in to it he uses it to make him stronger.
He also realizes how destructive his actions are shortly before the destruction of Efrafa and even contemplates changing his ways. However, when the Watership Down rabbits and their army attack, without giving Woundwort a chance to negotiate and ignoring him when he tries to stop the fighting, he forgets about redeeming himself after falling into a fissure, believing that it is his destiny to cause destruction. In Woundwort's opinion, Hazel is no better than he is, because of the relentless attack that indirectly leads to Efrafa's destruction.
Woundwort is also noted for being a highly efficient military strategist. At some point before the beginning of the TV series, he and his troops kill a fox and use its skull as a warning for other Elil without losing any rabbits.
In addition to military strategy, Woundwort is good at manipulation. Whilst he usually gains the loyalty of other rabbits by terrifying them, he actually makes the effort to befriend Pipkin in the hopes of learning where his warren is. However, while he initially only befriends Pipkin to learn the location of his warren, Woundwort quickly develops a genuine attachment to the young rabbit and tells Vervain that if he kills Pipkin he would be "killing part of himself".
Although he says he would deal with Pipkin if necessary, he does not specify whether he would kill him or simply try to discipline him as he would discipline members of his Owsla. In fact, Woundwort even suggests that Pipkin would make a fine Captain of Owsla when he is older. He treats Pipkin like a favorite nephew during the short time Pipkin spends in Efrafa, allowing him onto his throne and telling him he has a flare for command. Additionally Woundwort even opens up to Pipkin about his dark and difficult past, something that he apparently has never told anyone else as he states in an earlier episode, when Fiver has a vision about Woundwort's traumatic childhood, that "Only the Black Rabbit of Inle could know these things". Woundwort even tells Pipkin to leave and go back with the outsiders, so that he would not hurt him, and reveals to Pipkin that he not in a cage anymore and that war is everything he knows and he cannot change his ways.
Woundwort has a good relationship with Campion, which may be why Campion is so reluctant to betray him, despite knowing how ruthless Woundwort can be. When Vervain constantly hurls accusations of treachery at Campion and deprives him of food, Woundwort expresses concern that he would starve and suggests that Vervain might be mistaken. Furthermore after being convinced that Vervain is not only mistaken but has also gone mad, Woundwort personally apologizes to Campion and reappoints him Captain of Owsla. This shows that he can acknowledge his mistakes.
Even after learning that Vervain is right and Campion is a traitor, Woundwort still maintains his respect for him because Campion saves him when a boulder is about to fall on him. Woundwort is shocked by Campion's sacrifice but also grateful for it, despite his previous rage at Campion's betrayal. His respect for Campion even causes him to consider abandoning his bloodthirsty ways and trying to live peacefully instead. Ironically Hazel, who has wanted peace with Woundwort all along, destroys any chance of befriending him when he leads the attack on Efrafa shortly before its destruction.
In the final season of the television series, Woundwort's obsession with destruction ultimately drives him into total insanity. While he does tell Campion, Blackberry and Spartina that there was a time when he would have changed his ways, his rage and lust for revenge convinces him that there is no difference between him and Hazel and that war is the only solution. He wishes to build a dark empire in the name of the Black Rabbit of Inle. Ironically, Woundwort is destroyed by the very deity he worships when the Black Rabbit decides that he is going too far.
In the television series, Woundwort also fights off two weasels, individually, and slays a hawk all by himself, not even attempting to take cover, but instead facing them in direct combat, telling Vervain he should've joined and how it was glorious. In addition, during one of his daily exercises, Woundwort defeats three members of his Owsla with relative ease. As a show of strength, he also fights and defeats five Efrafan captains at once.
Quotes[]
Book and Film[]
"A new warren? Out of the question!"
"I'll settle you myself, Bigwig. There's no need to take you back."
"You were one of those on the riverbank. Did Bigwig send you? What was left unfinished on the riverbank will be finished now."
"Terms?... Very well. These are my terms. Hand over all the deserters immediately."
"No. You take back our terms. And you tell your chief, Bigwig, that if he and Hyzenthlay and the others aren't waiting outside when I come for them, I'll tear out every throat in the place!"
"And I told you I would kill you myself! There's no white bird here, Bigwig!"
"Well, if there is an animal, it'll find out that I'm an animal, too."
"Come back! Come back, you fools! Come back! Come back and fight! Dogs aren't dangerous!"
"I'll find you outsider! The world isn't a big enough place to hide, I'll hunt you till Frith falls from the sky outsider! Do you hear me?!" - Woundwort threatening Hazel, Bigwig and Fiver.
"We all do. Fear is part of every rabbit's life... It makes us who we are..." - Woundwort to Pipkin about fear.
"I escaped. My fear of man made me strong enough to do anything I dream of. Man has the power to shape the world, but here... I am the power... I rule..." - Woundwort about his fear of man and power.
"If destruction be my destiny... Then let it begin!" - Woundwort looking over Efrafa's destruction.
"Nothing's impossible for Woundwort. Nothing can kill me. Nothing in the woods. Nothing in this world, or in the shadow land beyond!" - Woundwort to Vervain while going to chase away man.
"Then let's try it again shall we. I challenge you to fight in single combat for the chieftainship of Darkhaven. Come Campion. Fight me. I'll send you to meet the Black Rabbit of Inle." - Woundwort challenges Campion in Darkhaven.
"You were never a fool. That's what made you the finest captain of Owsla, I have ever known... You saved my life at the battle of the caverns... I return you the favor. You may leave Darkhaven." - Woundwort spares Campion.
"As am I, Campion, welcome back." - Woundwort when Campion said he was cursed.
"I'll... Never stop, Hazel! NEVER!" - Woundwort's last words to Hazel.
Miniseries[]
"I fear nothing."
"And to those of you who tremble at the wake of birds, or foxes, or any of the thousand enemies of rabbits! I say this; In Efrafa, we run from no Elil.. We are the Elil!"
"To Inle with starving them out. Go in! Storm the tunnels!"
"We fear no elil. I fear no dog. I... fear... nothing..."
Trivia[]
Woundwort is a name of a herb.
Richard Adams on Woundwort: "The only part of the story that continues to give me a bit of misgiving is the character of Woundwort. Woundwort is only somewhat an anti-hero in the book that is published, and I'm not entirely happy with that. If I could do it again I would give more attention to his character, making him an heroic anti-hero. The question is whether he died being chased down by the dog, or whether he escaped and continued living his wild life in the English countryside. I would certainly like to resurrect him as a character."[1]
Due to being as large as a Flemish Giant, Woundwort is too big to swim.
In the television series, General Woundwort was voiced by the late John Hurt. This was Hurt's second time working on an adaption of Watership Down as he had previously voiced Hazel in the movie, which is ironic since Woundwort is Hazel's enemy. John Hurt was presumably a fan of Watership Down as he was one of only two actors to have played two different characters in two different versions of the story, the other being Richard Briers, who voiced Fiver in the movie, and Captain Broom in the TV series.
General Woundwort's Dutch name is Generaal Guldenroede.
Despite his uncertain fate, Woundwort is used as a bogeyman by rabbit mothers to frighten disobedient kittens.
Woundwort in the storyboard.
There's a storyboard for a scene of the Watership Down miniseries where Woundwort and his brother Ragwort survive the attack with Woundwort being the only one scratched. In the same storyboard it's shown that Woundwort has been attacking the human that has taken him in to the point of needing bandages and medicine, it's shown to have scared Ragwort. It's also shown that Woundwort had attacked the cat to the point of making it hide under a chair and helped his brother escape with him to Efrafa.
This is similar to his backstory in the book, but this time his brother lives.
