“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” Reading Guide Do on your own paper
Name: ____________________________________ Period: _____ Date: ________________
“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”
Please do this on your OWN paper. Do not write on this paper or crumple it up. When you’re done using
it, put it inside the book on page 15.
Pre-reading: Building your vocabulary.
Using the clues from sentences given, define each word. After first attempting to figure out the word
using context clues, then go to the book to check your definition.
1. immensely- Rikki is immensely brave. The snakes are immensely powerful. (p. 17)
2. cowered- Darzee, who is a coward, cowered before the snakes. Rikki cowered before no one.
(p.18)
3. valiant- Rikki is a valiant hero, facing danger without fear. Perhaps other snakes would think Nag
and Nagaina were valiant. (p.23)
4. consolation- Snakes get no consolation from Rikki. Rikki’s consolation comes from a safe and
peaceful garden. (p.24)
5. impotent- With all but her last egg destroyed, Nagaina felt impotent and powerless against Rikki. (p.28)
During Reading: Answer the questions.
Page 16
6. Reread paragraph 2 on page 16. Write down three details from these lines that help you picture
Rikki.
Page 17
7. What events happened that led to Rikki ending up at the bungalow?
8. Pause after paragraph 4. What is the motto of the mongoose family?
9. List three things that Rikki does to live up to this motto.
10. Pause at “open book 1” Write the reason given in the story that Rikki decides to stay in the
bungalow.
Page 18
11. Pause after paragraph one. What do you think would happen if a snake came into Teddy’s
room?
12. Write 3 details from the story that help you visualize what the garden looks like.
13. Do you think a conflict will develop between Rikki and Nag? Why or why not?
Page 19
14. How does Nag try to trick Rikki?
Page 20
15. Stop after the first paragraph. Write the reason why Karait is more dangerous than the cobras.
16. What mistake does Rikki make in fighting with Karait?
17. How does Rikki finally kill Karait?
“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” Reading Guide Do on your own paper
Page 21
18. What does Chuchundra think will happen to him if he talks to Rikki?
19. What does Rikki hear when the house is “as still as still”?
20. What is Nag and Nagaina’s plan of attack to get rid of Rikki?
Page 22
21. What do Nag and Nagaina want for their children?
22. Where is Nag going to wait for the big man?
23. What happens to Nag?
Page 23
24. Why is Rikki frustrated with Darzee?
25. Where are Nagaina’s eggs?
26. What does Rikki want Darzee to do?
Page 24
27. Why do you think Nagaina plan to kill Teddy (the son of the big man in the house)?
28. What was Rikki doing when Darzee’s wife screamed for Rikki to come quickly?
Page 25
29. How does Rikki get Nagaina to turn around and stop threatening the humans?
30. In the fight scene, Rikki and Nagaina circle each other like boxers in a ring. Why do you think this
adds to the action increasing and building to a peak (the climax)?
Page 26
31. What does Nagaina do when she gets the last egg?
Page 27
32. Rikki does something very few mongooses would ever do. What is it?
33. Why does Darzee sing a death song for Rikki?
34. Is Rikki dead?
35. Is Nagaina dead?
Page 28
36. What is the resolution to the story? How is the main conflict between the cobras and Rikki
finally solved?
37. In “Darzee’s Chant” who is Darzee speaking about when he sings,
“Evil that plagued us slain,
Death in the garden lies dead.
Terror that hid in the roses is impotent—
Flung on the dunghill and dead.”
After Reading: Check your comprehension
Write True or False, not T or F.
38. True or False: The plot of the story involves a mongoose who threatens humans.
39. True or False: conflict arises from the fact that the mongooses and snakes are natural enemies.
“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” Reading Guide Do on your own paper
40. True or False: Nag and Nagaina plan to kill Rikki because he killed their young.
41. True or False: The final battle occurs between Nag and Rikki
42. True or False: At the climax of story, Rikki puts himself in mortal danger by following a cobra into
its hole.
50. Climax/final conflict ___
47. Event ___
51. Resolution ___
46. Event ___
Choose from these answers:
A. Rikki fights and kills Karait
45. Event___
B. Rikki fights Nagaina, but Rikki
doesn’t hold on long enough
C.
Rikki kills Nag
D. Rikki kills Nagaina inside the rat
hole
44. Event ___
E.
Rikki tricks Nagaina and
distracts her from striking
Teddy.
F.
Rikki, a mongoose, becomes the
pet of a family that has a garden
43. Exposition
(characters/setting) __
with cobras in it. They live in a
bungalow in Segowlee, India
G. Teddy’s family shows their
gratitude to Rikki for saving
their lives. Darzee makes up a
song praising Rikki.