Question

What can you Infer about Rikki

Answer 1

Answer:

The fact that Rikki-Tikki-Tavi saved his befriended family from snakes reveals that he is a fighter and brave young little mongoose.

His character and actions of saving his human family helps its readers to infer the themes of courage and family importance.

Explanation:

'Rikki-Tikki-Tavi' is a part of a collection of stories in The Jungle Book written by Rudyard Kipling.

The story is about a little mongoose whose was drown ashore in a flood and saved by a human family, who later adopts him. In the story, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi saved his human family three times from the Nag and Nagin, who were trying to harm them. These actions characterizes Rikki-Tikki-Tavi as a brave and fighter little mongoose, who did not think about his own life while fighting the family of Cobra snake, the most deadly, vicious, and venemous snake.

These actions of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, of saving his family from snakes, helps the reader to infer the themes of courage and importance of family. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi's actions are presented as that of a knight by Kipling annd thus develops the theme of bravery and courage. The fact that Rikki-Tikki-Tavi did not think about his own life instead gave priority to others life and safety dictates his courage and virtue. This also develops the theme of family importance, that being a little mongoose, he considered the safety of his family a priority. And not just his own family's safety but the family of his friends of Darzee and Chuchundra.

Textual evidence:

"This is the story of the great war that Rikki-tikki-tavi fought single-handed, through the bath-rooms of the big bungalow in Segowlee cantonment. Darzee, the tailor-bird, helped him, and Chuchundra, the musk-rat, who never comes out into the middle of the floor, but always creeps round by the wall, gave him advice; but Rikki-tikki did the real fighting."

These are the opening lines of the story which suggests that the story is centered on the theme of courage and bravery.

Textual evidence:

"Teddy's safer with that little beast than if he had a bloodhound to watch him. If a snake came into the nursery now --- "

These words from father also suggests that Rikki-Tikki knew the importance of family safety and thus Teddy is safer with him.

Another textual evidence at the end of the story:

"All the cobras are dead; and if they weren't, I'm here."