Rikki-Tavi

Words: 587
Pages: 3

In the short story Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling, you follow the perspective of a young mongoose named Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. The mongoose is washed out of his family burrow and is found by a human child, named Teddy, and his mother. He is taken to their bungalow and discovers a large population of snakes in his new family’s garden. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi’s instincts cause him to fulfill his purpose, to kill snakes, and protect his family. In this story, Rudyard Kippling uses suspense and mystery to engage his readers as well as showing all of his characters are devoted to their loved ones.
In the short story Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the author uses the events of the plot to build suspense and mystery and keep the reader engaged in the action. On the fourth page, there is a point where Rikki speaks with Chuchundra in the dark of the night, Chuchundra advises Rikki to listen. The tone of this section and repetition of keywords helps to portray the stark silence and isolation, aside from the slightest scratch of a snake, slithering its way against the brickwork of the house. Towards the beginning of the fifth page, author
…show more content…
Rikki shows his devotion to his family by persevering through the suspenseful plights, and single-handed fights that Rudyard Kippling included in this story. Rikki survived by the skin of his teeth when battling his formidable foes, Karait, Nag, and Nagaina. Yet, he still sits on his throne as king of the garden, and the snakes lay in their eternal resting place, the trash heap. Is that much of a surprise? As it is poetically put before the story, “At the hole where he went in, Red-Eye called to Wrinkle-Skin. Hear what little Red-Eye saith: “Nag, come up and dance with death.” This excerpt from the introductory poem represents and foreshadows Rikki’s future actions and successions, and the snakes’ attempts and