Curiosity In Rikki-Tavi, By Rudyard Kipling

Walt Disney once said, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” Have you ever felt curious before?Curiosity can be dangerous at times but it also allows you to make new experiences.Rikki-tikki-tavi by Rudyard Kipling is a fictional story that illustrates the theme to always find new experiences through curiosity.

Rikki Tikki, the main character, is a curious and brave little mongoose in the story. In paragraph 14 Rikki-Tikki-Tavi says, “ ‘There are more things to find out about in this house,’ he said to himself, ‘than all my family could find out in all their lives. I shall certainly stay and find out.’ ”This demonstrates that Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is

curious and that he wants to find out about everything he can.Furthermore, it allows Rikki to make new experiences because he is curious and curiosity allows him to explore the bungalow.In paragraph 7 it says, “ It is the hardest thing in the world to frighten a mongoose, because he is eaten up from nose to tail with curiosity. The motto of all the mongoose family is ‘Run and find out,’ and Rikki-tikki was a true mongoose. He looked at the cotton wool, decided that it was not good to eat, ran all round the table, sat up and put his fur in order, scratched himself, and jumped on the small boy’s shoulder.This shows that Rikki is a very curious little critter and that he will not be scared because he is “eaten up” with curiosity.Furthermore, this means that Rikki is consumed by curiosity.As you can see, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is a very curious mongoose and he can also be brave at times.
Nagaina, the antagonist, is a witty and vengeful cobra that tries to avenge her husband, Nag.In paragraphs 26,27, and 28 it says, “Nag was thinking to himself and watching the least little movement in the grass behind Rikki-tikki.

He knew that mongooses in the garden meant death sooner or later for him and his family, but he wanted to get Rikki-tikki off his guard. So he dropped his head a little and put it on one side. ‘Let us talk,’ he said. ‘You eat eggs. Why should I not eat birds? ‘Behind you! Look behind you!’ sang Darzee. Rikki-tikki knew better than to waste time in staring. He jumped up in the air as high as he could go, and just under him whizzed by the head of Nagaina, Nag’s wicked wife.”This demonstrates that Nagaina is witty, she,knowing not to make an entrance, chooses to ambush Rikki instead. Furthermore, it shows that Nagaina isn’t like Rikki because she doesn’t question who Rikki is like what a curious and decides to remove what may be a possible threat. In paragraph 80 it says, “Nagaina lifted up her head and hissed, “You warned Rikki-tikki when I would have killed him. Indeed and truly, you’ve chosen a bad place to be lame in.” And she moved toward Darzee’s wife, slipping along over the dust.” This shows that Nagaina is vengeful because she wants to avenge her husband by killing everyone involved in the murder.Therefore, it shows that Nagaina isn’t similar to Rikki-tikki do to the fact that Rikki-tikki would be less witty and that he would be curious

instead and take risky chances. As you can see, Nagaina is a vengeful and witty cobra that tries to kill Rikki-tikki.
Rudyard Kipling, the author, uses personification in this story to help demonstrate the theme to always find new experiences through curiosity.

In paragraph 32 and 33 it says, “when Teddy came running down the path, Rikki-tikki was ready to be petted. But just as Teddy was stooping, something wriggled a little in the dust and a tiny voice said: ‘Be careful. I am Death!’ It was Karait, the dusty brown snakeling that lies for choice on the dusty earth; and his bite is as dangerous as the cobra’s. But he is so small that nobody thinks of him, and so he does the more harm to people. Rikki-tikki’s eyes grew red again, and he danced up to Karait with the peculiar rocking, swaying motion that he had inherited from his family. It looks very funny, but it is so perfectly balanced a gait that you can fly off from it at any angle you please; and in dealing with snakes this is an advantage. If Rikki-tikki had only known, he was doing a much more dangerous thing than fighting Nag, for Karait is so small and can turn so quickly that unless Rikki bit him close to the back of the head, he would get the return stroke in his eye or his lip.” This is an example of personification because it shows that Rikki-tikki is gaining human values by protecting someone he cares about like teddy. This personification proves the theme by showing that Rikki-tikki is curious about Karait and he is developing human traits by protecting someone he cares about. In paragraphs 48, 49, and 53 it says, “He stole

off to Teddy’s bathroom, but there was nothing there, and then to Teddy’s mother’s bathroom. At the bottom of the smooth plaster wall there was a brick pulled out to make a sluice for the bathwater, and as Rikki-tikki stole in by the masonry curb where the bath is put, he heard Nag and Nagaina whispering together outside in the moonlight. ‘When the house is emptied of people,’ said Nagaina to her husband, ‘he will have to go away, and then the garden will be our own again. Go in quietly, and remember that the big man who killed Karait is the first one to bite. Then come out and tell me, and we will hunt for Rikki-tikki together.’... Rikki-tikki tingled all over with rage and hatred at this, and then Nag’s head came through the sluice, and his five feet of cold body followed it. Angry as he was, Rikki-tikki was very frightened as he saw the size of the big cobra. Nag coiled himself up, raised his head, and looked into the bathroom in the dark, and Rikki could see his eyes glitter. ‘Now, if I kill him here, Nagaina will know; and if I fight him on the open floor, the odds are in his favor. What am I to do?’ said Rikki-tikki-tavi.” This is an example of personification because Rikki-tikki is feeling hatred towards creatures that want to hurt people that he cares about. In addition, this proves the theme, to always find new experiences through curiosity, by showing that Rikki-tikki’s curiosity led him to the danger that would harm his family. Rudyard Kipling used personification to illustrates the theme by showing how Rikki-tikki was gaining human values through curiosity.
Rikki-tikki-tavi is a fictional story by Rudyard Kipling that demonstrates the theme to always find new experiences through curiosity. The main character, Rikki-tikki is a curious and brave little mongoose. On the other hand, the antagonist, Nagaina, is a witty and vengeful cobra. They both demonstrate their character traits through personification and the story demonstrates the theme to always find new experiences through curiosity. Conclude with a powerful statement about how this lesson applies to everyone. “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” ~ Albert Einstein.