The Jungle Book is two things simultaneously: a collection of separate stories and a novel of development that centers around Mowgli’s progress through childhood and into adulthood. Because of this, the mood is varied, and Kipling manipulates the readers’ emotions in different ways throughout. The work starts with a mood of curiosity as Mowgli, a human child, navigates his life in the jungle. This sense of discovery recurs throughout the stories, allowing readers to share in the boy’s sense of wonderment and the enormous scale of his forest home. The reader feels immersed in the lush, colorful world of the Indian jungle, respectful of its “good” animals like Mother and Father Wolf, and fearful of Shere Khan.
As Mowgli's experiences unfold, the mood shifts between heightened tension and moments of calm. The challenges Mowgli faces from characters like Kaa the snake and Shere Khan the tiger create suspense. However, these tense episodes often give way to periods of learning and bonding after Mowgli has successfully completed a mission and learned a lesson. These teachings are often imparted to or refreshed for him by Baloo, the bear, and Bagheera, the panther. In these moments, the reader feels that these wise guides are also “educating” them about the "Law of the Jungle."
In stories like that of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the mongoose, the mood becomes electric and highly intense. There's a clear sense of anticipation as confrontations arise between the Mongoose and his enemies the Cobras, but as with all the other tales it ends happily. Good always triumphs over evil in this book. By the end of The Jungle Book, the reader is left feeling encouraged and satisfied by Mowgli's growth and success. They have also received a thorough education in British colonial attitudes toward growing up, social hierarchy, and the uses of power, all without being explicitly told any of this was happening.
