Sunday, March 15, 2015

How is Rikki-tikki-tavi courageous?

The defining character traits of a mongoose are their inherent curiosity and bravery. Rikki-tikki-tavi’s character does not deviate from the norm, and he displays his bravery numerous times in the short story. After surviving a turbulent flood, he ends up in a lovely bungalow, which is inhabited by a pleasant British family. Rikki-tikki initially demonstrates his bravery by standing face-to-face with Nag in the garden and killing a deadly sand snake named Karait. Rikki-tikki once again displays his bravery by fighting and killing Nag in the family’s bathroom to prevent him from harming Teddy’s father. Despite being much smaller, Rikki-tikki defeats the large, intimidating male cobra. In Rikki-tikki’s most impressive display of bravery, he saves Teddy’s life and defeats Nagaina in her underground nest. Entering the cobra’s nest is an extremely courageous action and Rikki-tikki risks his life during his deadly fight with Nagaina. Overall, Rikki-tikki demonstrates his bravery by defeating the deadly snakes living on the compound and protecting the British family from the threatening cobras.


Bravery is one of Rikki-tikki-tavi's defining characteristics, and he displays great courage at many points throughout the story. He takes very seriously his role as protector and defender of Teddy and his family, and Rikki-tikki doesn't hold back on confronting any threatening snakes, no matter how poisonous they are. Nag and Nagaina are two fearsome cobras; they regard the family's garden as belonging to them as they were there before the bungalow was built. Not surprisingly, they aren't too happy to see human beings and a mongoose occupying their territory. But Rikki-tikki doesn't back down and confronts the dangerous cobras, killing Nagainia after Teddy's father shoots Nag.
In an even greater act of bravery, he also challenges Karait, a small, venomous sand snake even more deadly than a cobra. In fact, he even kills the snake, saving Teddy from certain death in the process.

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