The Jungle Book: Style 1 key example

In The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling's style reflects the British Imperialist attitude of superiority and high-handedness toward native populations. As this is a book intended primarily for children, his diction often loops back on itself to contextualize new ideas or words. He employs both simple sentences and more complex ones in every story. Where ideas are difficult or complicated, he often repeats or “explains” them, dissecting them to make sure all is clearly conveyed. This ensures that the British children for whom the book was originally written can easily grasp the moral and social lessons the author wants to teach, even in the unfamiliar locations and exotic scenes he describes. It also places the narrator’s educated, highly academic-sounding British voice in a position where it seems superior to both the reader and the characters. The pacing of the stories is varied, aligning with the intensity of their separate plots. Whether it's the action-packed exploits of Mowgli, peaceful underwater scenes following browsing Sea-Cows or the fight scenes with Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the pacing adapts dynamically.