KIDS TRIVIA

Detailed explanation-1: -The following themes are explored within Rudyard Kipling’s short story “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.” The protagonist of the short story, Rikki-Tikki, represents bravery in battle and instinctual courage as the much smaller mongoose who battles deadly cobras to protect young Teddy and his family.

Detailed explanation-2: -Rikki-Tikki-Tavi: a mongoose (a small rodent, like a weasel). He is the protagonist of the story, which is the main character, often the hero. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi fights off snakes to defend a family he befriends. Darzee: a tailorbird (a small songbird) and Rikki-Tikki’s friend.

Detailed explanation-3: -Rikki has to fight two cobras, Nag and Nagaina, to protect his garden and Teddy. He is frightened of them because they are stronger and bigger than he is, but he overcomes his fear and fights them anyway. His courageous behavior is rewarded when he fights the cobras, wins, and becomes a hero.

Detailed explanation-4: -"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” follows the typical coming-of-age model for a boy’s adventure story. Well, typical in that a boy goes from being a boy to being a man. The fact that the protagonist is a mongoose is a little atypical, but, hey, mongooses have to grow up too.