Rikki Tikki Tavi

Who is the story’s intended audience? What elements of the story reveal this?

What parallels does the story draw between the three “families” that appear in it (Nag, Nagaina, and their eggs; Darzee, his wife, and their fledglings; and Teddy’s parents and Teddy)?

Consider the story’s female characters: Teddy’s mother, Darzee’s wife, and Nagaina. How do the story’s depictions of these characters conform to or subvert 19th-century British gender norms?

What role do Darzee’s songs play in the story?

How does the story portray the garden surrounding the bungalow? What does this suggest about the story’s attitude toward nature?

How does Karait compare to the two cobras? Why does the story include Rikki-tikki-tavi’s fight with the smaller snake?

Kipling refers to “old books of natural history” that detail a magical antidote to cobra venom that mongooses use (6). Research Indian legends or scientific knowledge about mongooses present during this time; how do these compare with the story’s depiction?

Rikki-tikki’s eyes are described as warm and red, while both cobras are labeled cold and wicked. How does the story use imagery to suggest characters’ morality?