Study notes: The Jungle Book
Mowgli is a human child raised by wolves, taught by Baloo, and hunted by the tiger Shere Khan. Around that story Kipling set other tales: a mongoose named Rikki-tikki-tavi, a white seal, and working animals of an army camp. The jungle has a law, and the law is not the same as kindness. The book is an adventure and also a picture of the empire Kipling believed in. Families can enjoy the animal plots and still say plainly that the frame is old and one-sided.
Themes
Belonging to more than one world. Rules that protect a group. Courage that is quick, as in the mongoose story.
People to follow
Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera, Shere Khan, and Rikki-tikki-tavi.
Talk about
- Which “law” helps, and which one only serves the strongest?
- Where does Mowgli belong at the end, and who gets to decide?
- What does Rikki-tikki protect?
Public-domain text.