“Rikki-tikki-tavi”
by Rudyard Kipling
OBJECTIVES
• Students will be able to identify and explain various conflicts that exist in literature.
• Students will be able to identify and explain characterization.
• Students will be able to identify protagonist and antagonist is fiction.
Rikki-tikki-tavi
This is a classic tale of Good vs. Evil
A hero vs. a villain.
Good vs. Evil
Good vs. Evil
Good vs. Evil
Good vs. Evil
Good vs. Evil
Our main characters (protagonist & antagonist)
are…
A mongoose
…and a cobra
Assessing Prior Knowledge
• Do you know any facts about either animal?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdg9gkmWsEA
• Activity: Create a chart for the facts you find.
MONGOOSE
COBRA
Vocabulary and Reading Warm-ups
Plot
•
•
•
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpfbSJjOQxc Adele
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Q7E3fFyY LearnZillion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffAOkGg2Lr4 Aladdin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoswyNaAIUA&index=5&list=PLlFEjWN96Ct62s1
fK6w0zQQv5hOukbbNc Orson Welles
Checking For Comprehension:
Read pgs. 26-through the first full paragraph on
page 28 that ends, “Then he felt better.”
• How did Rikki-tikki-tavi come to live with a family of humans?
• On page 27 we learn important characterization traits of R-t-t,
along with all mongoose. What is that and cite specific text
evidence.
• What words best describe the family’s feelings/emotions toward
R-t-t? Cite specific text evidence to support your answer.
Checking for Comprehension:
On page 28, paragraph 3, we learn that mother is a little wary
(nervous)about R-t-t sleeping with Teddy. What is dad’s
reaction to her concerns?
(A) Father agrees with mother’s fears.
(B) Father disagrees with mother and feels R-t-t will make a great
pet.
(C) Father seems to have no opinion in regards to mother’s concerns.
(D) Father thinks that a snake would make a better pet than a
mongoose.
Comprehension Check:
On pg. 29, we are introduced to Darzee and his
wife. Read pg. 29 up to, “…whatever the snake may
be thinking of.”
• How would you best characterize Darzee and his
wife?
• What problem are we introduced to in the story?
Characterization
• After reading pg. 30 we learn quite a bit about Nag and
his wife, Nagaina.
• What words best describe them? What tells us this?
Explain/Cite.
• R-t-t could have been killed in the fight that transpired.
What saved his life?
After the altercation between Nag and
Nagina, R-t-t is now introduced to another
animal named, Karait.
• Please characterize Karait.
• Is this the climax of the story?
• Summarize the events that occur on page 32.
Making Inferences:
Read second to last paragraph on pg. 32. “…and if he
wanted all his strength and quickness ready, he must
keep himself thin.” What inference can you draw
after reading this line?
While Teddy is sleeping R-t-t meets a
muskrat, Chuchundra. What valuable
information does Chuchundra give to R-t-t?
(A)That Nag is in the garden.
(B)That Chuchundra is afraid of R-t-t.
(C) That Nag is everywhere, and that R-t-t needs to listen.
(D)That Nag is in the house.
HINT: read very carefully before answering
Motivation: It is the driving force that moves
characters to act or behave a certain way.
On pg. 34 we learn that Nag and Nagina are planning to kill
not just R-t-t, but the family as well. What is their
motivation?
(A) If the house is empty with people, it will also be empty with a
mongoose.
(B) The humans are constantly hunting cobras.
(C) Snakes naturally hate and attack humans. They are natural
enemies.
(D) All of the above.
Checking For Comprehension:
How is Nag planning to kill the father?
(A)Slithering into his bed and biting his neck.
(B)By waiting in the bathroom all night and then attacking
the father when he goes in to the bathroom first thing
in the morning.
(C) By waiting in the hallway until he comes out to get a
late night snack from the kitchen.
(D)Nag will not kill father, Nagaina plans to kill him.
Read pg. 35 (bottom) and pg. 36 to where it
ends, “…as he fancied.”
• The battle occurred between R-t-t and Nag.
What was the end result? In one or two
sentences what happened?
Making Inferences:
Why is R-t-t displeased and angry with Darzee
singing about R-t-t’s victory?
(A)Because the war is not over yet.
(B) Because he is a humble mongoose and doesn’t like to
boast.
(C) Because he doesn’t like the melody of the song.
(D)Because he doesn’t want the song to get to Nagaina and
further anger her.
Comprehension Check:
R-t-t plans to eat Nagaina’s eggs. In order to do this,
what does he request from Darzee, or his wife?
(A)To go sing that song to Nagaina.
(B) To go tell Nagaina what R-t-t plans to do.
(C) To pretend he/she is hurt and lure Nagaina away from
the nest.
(D) All of the above.
Read paragraph 6, page 38. “R-t-t smashed
two eggs…singing a song of triumph.”
• In a simple sentence, what is happening in this
scene?
• Is this the climax?
Comprehension Check:
Why does Nagaina decide to NOT kill any of the family
members sitting at the table?
(A) Because she sees R-t-t with one of her snake eggs in his
mouth.
(B) She actually does bite Teddy on the foot.
(C) Because she has a change of heart, and wants to make
amends.
(D) Because she’d much rather kill R-t-t, who is responsible for
her husband’s death.
Drawing Conclusions:
Pg. 41, top paragraph, “It’s all over…he had spoken the
truth.”
The text doesn’t say this explicitly, but we
can infer…? What are the context clues?
NAGAINA IS DEAD.
POST READING:
Identify the climax of the story and explain why you
think this would be the highest point of suspense.
Support your response with evidence from the text.
POST READING CONNECTIONS:
Does every conflict have a winner?