Rudyard Kippling's "Rikki-tikki-tavi" Mixing Fact and Fiction

Introduction

During the Victorian Era, British author Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was both respected as a journalist and lauded as "The Poet of the [British] Empire."  In his fiction, though, he blended the best of both skills and was ultimately awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas, and remarkable talent for narration which characterizes [his] creations."  "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," a short story from The Jungle Book (1894), is an engaging example of Kipling's ability to mix scientific and historical fact with imaginative characterizations to create a believable and entertaining tale.

Task

Guided Question:

  • How does Rudyard Kipling mix fact and fiction to create the believable, engaging narrative "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi"?

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the key events in Rudyard Kipling's life and describe their effect on "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi."
  • Identify the geographical and social context in which "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" was created.
  • Demonstrate comprehension of plot events and character motivations.
  • Describe the author's purpose and evaluate techniques used to achieve it.
  • Identify and differentiate between facts and examples of personification.

Process

Activity 1:  Rikki-Tikki-Tavi's World

What is the setting of a story?

After reading the opening paragraph, identify where the story takes place.  Locate northern India on the following link: http://web.archive.org/web/20090224114420/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/index.html?Parent=asia&Rootmap=india&Mode=d&SubMode=w

Read the biography of Rudyard Kipling (https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1907/kipling/facts/) and answer the following questions:

  • What nationality was Kipling?
  • Where was Rudyard Kipling born?
  • Why might Rudyard Kipling have chosen to set many of his stories in India?

What animals does Kipling describe in the first paragraph?  Explore the following link to learn more familiar with the land and animals of the country where the story takes place:  https://www.atozkidsstuff.com/india.html

Visit each of the following links to learn more about the animals personified in Kipling's "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi."

Activity 2:  A Closer Look

Read the story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi".  Be prepared to discuss your responses to the following questions:

  • How does Rikki-Tikki-Tavi help Teddy's family?
  • Why does Rikki-Tikki-Tavi help Teddy's family?  How do you know?  Explain which sentences in the story led you to draw your conclusion.

You have probably heard the phrase, "Actions speak louder than words."  Read the following paragraph from "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi":

"He spent all that day roaming over the house.  He nearly drowned himself in the bath-tubs, put his nose into the ink on a writing table, and burned it on the end of the big man's cigar, for he climbed up in the big man's lap to see how writing was done.  At nightfall he ran into Teddy's nursery to watch how kerosene lamps were lighted, and when Teddy went to bed Rikki-tikki climbed up too; but he was a restless companion, because he had to get up and attend to every noise all through the night, and find out what made it."

  • What do Rikki-Tikki-Tavi's actions tell the reader about his character?  What adjectives best describe Rikki-Tikki-Tavi?  Why?

An author usually does not tell the reader that a character is wise, content, or brave.  Instead, the author has the character's words and actions show the character's qualities.  Read the following paragraph from "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi":

"That night at dinner, walking to and from among the glasses on the table, [Rikki-Tikki] might have stuffed himself with nice things.  But he remembered Nag and Nagaina, and though it was very pleasant to be patted and petted by Teddy's mother, and to sit on Teddy's shoulder, his eyes would get red from time to time, and he would go off into his long war cry of 'Rikk-tikk-tikki-tikki-tchk!'"

  • What conclusions can you draw about Rikki-Tikki-Tavi from his words and actions?

Find another place in the story where a character's words or actions show the character's qualities.

Activity 3:  Fact, Fiction, and Personification

What is the difference between fact and fiction?  

Click on the following link for each of the animals personified in "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi"; Find examples of how Kipling included actual characteristic behaviors of the mongoose, cobra, and tailor-bird.  Place your findings on the Fact or Personification chart.

Kipling includes many facts about animals' appearances and behavior.  Do the facts make the story more believable or less believable?  Why?

Read each of the following passages; Explain why the passage is an example of fiction:

  • "That's Nag or Nagaina, "[Rikki-Tikki-Tavi] said to himself; "and he is crawling into the bath-room sluice.  You're right, Chuchundra; I should have talked to Chua."

 

  • Nagaina lifed up her head and hissed, "You warned Rikki-tiiki when I would have killed him.  Indeed and truly, you've chosen a bad place to be lame in."  And she moved toward Darzee's wife, slipping along over the dust.

Return to the text to find examples of Kipling's use of personification for Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and Nag and Nagaina; Record 2 or more on the Fact or Personification chart.

 

 

Evaluation

Please complete a characterization poster for one of the main characters in the story "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi".  The requirements are as follows:

  • Drawing of your character
  • Title:  (character trait that most represents your character)
  • 3 Quotes from the story that support your character trait
  • 3-5 sentence explanation showing the connection between the trait and each quote
  • Color and attention to detail is necessary.

A rubric will be provided.