Is Watership Down a historical allegory or just a political allegory?
I’m not aware that it makes direct reference to any particular historical events. But it is certainly making analogy to human social and political structures. Much of the book is concerned with comparing and contrasting different ways of organizing a society (essentially concluding that totalitarianism sucks). It definitely does have religious themes. Fiver is essentially a prophet, and every time he’s involved you can liken it to some element from either Western religious traditions or Native American traditions. (You can even liken him to Jesus in some places). The stories of El-ahrairah are very much like stories of the Trickster from Nordic or Native American religions.
