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8. Lukannon
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Jungle Book, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Laws of Nature
Human and Animal Relationships
Loyalty
British Imperialism
Coming of Age
Summary
Analysis
It is summer in India when a flood arrives, disturbing a young mongoose named Rikki-tikki-tavi. The flood ruins Rikki-tikki-tavi’s burrow, so he has nowhere to live. It almost kills Rikki-tikki-tavi, who was not ready for the flood. Luckily, an English boy, Teddy, who lives nearby, rescues him. Teddy takes Rikki-tikki-tavi home to his parents and explains what happened.
“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” is another story about human and animal relationships, this time featuring an English boy and his family. It is a story that scholars often interpret as a defense of English Imperialism for reasons that will become clear as the story progresses.
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Teddy and his parents take care of Rikki-tikki-tavi and revive him to full health. When Rikki-tikki-tavi feels better, he climbs up on Teddy’s shoulder; from that moment on, he and Teddy are friends. Even once Rikki-tikki-tavi feels better, Teddy and his family continue caring for him. They give him food and allow him free range in their house. Rikki-tikki-tavi is a curious animal who takes full advantage of his privileges. He eats whatever he can get his hands on and excitedly explores the home.
“Rikki-tikki-tavi” is also a story about loyalty; because the English family protects Rikki-tikki-tavi, he becomes fiercely loyal to them. The trust between the English family and Rikki-tikki-tavi runs both ways. He is allowed free range in their home, and, in return, he respects their boundaries. If one reads the story as an allegory for British Imperialism, Rikki-tikki-tavi is Kipling’s notion of the ideal Indian. He is respectful, loyal and appreciates how his British masters purportedly “improve” his quality of life.
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At night, Teddy and Rikki-tikki-tavi sleep next to each other in the same bed. Teddy’s mother is not sure about the arrangement. Although she likes Rikki-tikki-tavi, he is still a wild animal, and she worries he might bite Teddy while Teddy is sleeping. However, Teddy’s father tells her she has nothing to worry about. If anything, he thinks, Rikki-tikki-tavi will protect Teddy. They live in an area with many snakes, the natural enemies of mongooses. Teddy’s father hopes Rikki-tikki-tavi will scare any snakes away and save Teddy from getting bit.
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The following day, Rikki-tikki-tavi goes outside and explores his new family’s garden. The family lives in Segowlee, a part of India with many British families. While exploring the garden, Rikki-tikki-tavi hears a bird named Darzee crying. When Rikki-tikki-tavi investigates, he discovers that one of Darzee’s babies fell out of the nest, and then a cobra named Nag ate it.
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Nag appears and tells Rikki-tikki-tavi that he is a special snake blessed by the god Brahm. Indeed, Nag’s hood has a special marking, and his presence frightens Rikki-tikki-tavi. However, Rikki-tikki-tavi soon gets over his fear and reminds himself that snakes are prey for mongooses.
Nag continues talking to Rikki-tikki-tavi as a way to distract him. Meanwhile, Nag’s wife, Nagaina, slithers up behind Rikki-tikki-tavi and prepares to strike. However, before Nagaina can do anything, Darzee and his family warn Rikki-tikki-tavi about her presence. When Rikki-tikki-tavi discovers the snakes’ trick, he becomes irritated. However, he knows it would be dangerous to take on both Nag and Nagaina simultaneously, so he decides to back off and devise a better plan.
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Not long after Rikki-tikki-tavi’s encounter with Nag and Nagaina, he is outside with Teddy and sees a venomous snake named Karait coming after the young boy. Before Karait can get to Teddy, Rikki-tikki-tavi springs into action and bites him. Rikki-tikki-tavi’s bite paralyzes Karait, giving Teddy time to grab a stick and beat him to death. After the fight, Rikki-tikki-tavi thinks about eating Karait. However, he decides not to because he knows he will have to fight Nag and Nagaina soon and does not want to be too full to move quickly.
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That evening, Rikki-tikki-tavi wanders outside, where he finds Chuchundra, a muskrat. Chuchundra informs Rikki-tikki-tavi that he thinks Nag and Nagaina will try and get into the house. Rikki-tikki-tavi finds Nag and Nagaina nearby, though he stays out of their sight. Rikki-tikki-tavi listens in on their conversation, hoping to find a way to counteract their plan.
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Nag and Nagaina discuss their plans to kill Teddy and his family. They want to get rid of the British family so that Rikki-tikki-tavi will go away—that way, they can once again rule the backyard and raise their young without fear. Nag thinks the best way to kill Teddy’s father is to hide in his bathroom. Rikki-tikki-tavi overhears the plan and decides he will do whatever he can to ensure the safety of Teddy and his family.
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That night Nag goes and hides in the bathroom and waits for the morning. However, Rikki-tikki-tavi does not give Nag time to let his plan unfold. Rikki-tikki-tavi watches until Nag falls asleep and then attacks. Rikki-tikki-tavi strikes Nag right above his hood, which contains his unique markings. Once Rikki-tikki-tavi bites down, he decides to hold on for dear life. Nag trashes around, but Rikki-tikki-tavi does not give in. Eventually, Nag and Rikki-tikki-tavi create enough noise that Teddy’s father enters the bathroom and finds them. Luckily, Teddy’s father brings his gun with him, and he uses it to shoot and kill Nag.
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Literary Devices
Although the fight with Nag was a close call, Rikki-tikki-tavi does not get hurt. Exhausted, he returns to Teddy’s room and goes to sleep. The next day, Rikki-tikki-tavi is pleased with himself for his bravery. However, he knows Nagaina is still out there, and he will have to deal with her and her eggs. He decides to pay Darzee another visit and figure out what to do.
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When Rikki-tikki-tavi finds Darzee, he is overjoyed because Nag is dead. Darzee’s happiness annoys Rikki-tikki-tavi because he knows no one will be safe until he destroys Nagaina and her eggs. Rikki-tikki-tavi tries to make a plan with Darzee; he wants Darzee to pretend he has a hurt wing to lure Nagaina away from her eggs. Then, when Nagaina is not looking, Rikki-tikki-tavi can destroy them. Darzee is unsure about the plan; he does not think it is right to destroy the eggs. However, Darzee’s wife speaks up and offers to carry out the plan in her husband’s place. She thinks that more cobras will only lead to despair for every other living thing in the garden.
Darzee’s wife lures Nagaina away from her eggs. Meanwhile, Rikki-tikki-tavi sneaks into Nagaina’s nest and destroys the eggs one by one. Before he can finish his task, Rikki-tikki-tavi hears Darzee screaming that Nagaina has gone into the house intending to kill someone. Rikki-tikki-tavi quickly destroys two of the three remaining eggs and snatches up the third one. Then, he goes inside, where he sees Nagaina preparing to attack Teddy and his family while they sit at their breakfast table. Teddy and his family are paralyzed with fear and unsure of what they can do.
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Rikki-tikki-tavi tries to get Nagaina to fight him, but she remains focused on the humans. Then, Rikki-tikki-tavi tells her that he smashed all her eggs and only one is left. This information catches Nagaina’s attention, and she turns to look at Rikki-tikki-tavi. Meanwhile, Teddy’s father quickly gets Teddy away from Nagaina and goes to look for his gun.
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Rikki-tikki-tavi and Nagaina fight over the egg. Eventually, Nagaina manages to steal it from Rikki-tikki-tavi. Then, she retreats to a hole in the ground. Rikki-tikki-tavi follows Nagaina into the hole even though he knows it is dangerous. Before long, he comes out of the hole and says he killed Nagaina once and for all. Afterward, he falls asleep on the spot.
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When Rikki-tikki-tavi wakes up, he celebrates his victory with the rest of the animals in the garden. Everyone is thrilled the cobras are dead. After, Rikki-tiki-tavi goes inside and eats dinner with Teddy and his family. Although Rikki-tikki-tavi is pleased with himself, he plans to remain vigilant. He knows that more snakes could come, and when they do, he wants to be ready.
