Personification. Personification is a figure of speech in which something not human is described as if it were human. In “Rikki-tikki-tavi,” the animal characters take on human characteristics. Find examples of this as you read.
Conflict. A conflict is a struggle between two people or things in a literary work. An external conflict is one that involves a character and some outside force. As you read this story, try to identify the external conflict.
|
• Science Connection. This story features an Indian, or gray, mongoose. A small, short-legged animal, the mongoose belongs to the civet family and is found in Africa, Asia, and southern Europe. The mongoose has a pointed nose, small ears, and a long, furry tail. Rikki-tikki-tavi is a brave and determined mongoose who fights two deadly cobras. Courage is typical of the mongoose, which is known as a bold predator of poisonous snakes.
• History Connection. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the British East India Company, a powerful shipping and trading organization, took control of much of India. Then, in 1858, the administration of India was transferred to the British Crown. After World War I, Mohandas Gandhi led Indian citizens in a peaceful revolt against British authority. India finally won its independence from Britain in 1947.
To help distinguish personification in the animal characters, fill in a chart like the one below:
Have you ever seen an animal commit a courageous act? Write about any unusual animal behavior you have seen.
|
