Name: _____________________________________
Date: ______________________________________
English Period: ____________
Due: Mon. 11/2__________
#:____
SECTION: UNITS
“Rikki-tikki-tavi” and Plot packet
By: Rudyard Kipling
Begins on page 464
LITERARY QUESTIONS
Directions: Answer the following questions in COMPLETE sentences. Be sure to proofread your answers!
1. Why is the setting (a garden in India) of the story “Rikki-tikki-tavi” is important?
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2. What do Nag and Nagaina most likely symbolize?
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3. What is the main conflict in the story? (Who/what is against who/what? List the character name!)
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4. Why is the main conflict in the story important?
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5. Why is it impossible for Rikki-tikki-tavi to remain afraid of fighting the snakes?
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6. Is Rikki Tikki Tavi a static or a dynamic character? EXPLAIN your choice!
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7. Describe the mood of the story.
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8. How does the encounter between Rikki and Karait help to advance the plot?
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9. How does the author make the characters seem human?
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10. How are Darzee’s wife and Nagaina similar?
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11. What causes the “war” between the animals in the story?
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CHARACTERIZAITON
Directions: Check off your answer choice. Then, in a complete sentence, write an explanation as to why you
chose that answer.
12. “’Look at your eggs,’ said Rikki-tikki, ‘in the melon bed near the wall. Go and look, Nagaina!’ The big
snake turned half around, and saw the egg on the veranda. Rikki-tikki put his paws one on each side of the
egg, and his eyes were blood-red.”
After reading the previous excerpt, it can be concluded that Rikki-tikki could be described as wise and
protective. Which of the following method(s) of characterization does the author use to cause the
reader to infer the character traits listed?
 Direct characterization
 Indirect characterization – speech
 Indirect characterization – actions
 Indirect characterization – thoughts
 Indirect characterization – effect on others
 Indirect characterization – appearance
Explanation of answer choice: _________________________
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13. “Darzee and his wife only cowered down in the nest without answering, for from the thick grass at the
foot of the bush there came a low hiss – a horrid cold sound that made Rikki-tikki jump back two clear feet.”
After reading the previous excerpt, it can be concluded that Nag could be described as egregious and
intimidating. Which of the following methods of indirect characterization does the author use to cause
the reader to infer the character traits listed?
 Direct characterization
 Indirect characterization – speech
 Indirect characterization – actions
 Indirect characterization – thoughts
 Indirect characterization – effect on others
 Indirect characterization – appearance
Explanation of answer choice: _________________________
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14. “’I don’t like that,’ said the mother; ‘he may bite the child.’ ‘He’ll do no such thing,’ said the father.
‘Teddy’s safer with that little beast than if he had a bloodhound to watch him. If a snake came into the
nursery now -.’”
Which type(s) of characterization does the author use in this excerpt to characterize Rikki?
 Direct characterization
 Indirect characterization – speech
 Indirect characterization – actions
 Indirect characterization – thoughts
 Indirect characterization – effect on others
 Indirect characterization – appearance
Explanation of answer choice: _________________________
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LITERARY TERMS
Directions: Fill in each literary term with the correct definition. Each term is only used once.
Word choices: theme, symbol, characterization, setting, mood, tone, dynamic character, static character
15. ____________________ : The attitude the author takes toward his/her subjects.
16. ____________________ : Characters that do not undergo any change from the story’s inception to its
conclusion.
17. ____________________ : Characters that undergo change over the course of a story as a result of their
experience.
18. ____________________ : Act of creating and developing a character; it can be direct or indirect.
19. ____________________ : Time and place of the story’s action; can include year, season, time of day,
time period, and weather
20. ____________________ :The feelings created in a reader while reading a piece of literature.
21. ____________________ : A central message that an author conveys in a piece of literature
22. ____________________ : Something concrete that stands for something else
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CONFLICT TERMS
Directions: Fill in each literary term with the correct definition. Each term is only used once.
Choices:
 Character vs. character
 Character vs. fate
 Character vs. self
 Character vs. environment
 Character vs. society
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Character vs. supernatural
External conflict
Internal conflict
Conflict
23. ____________________________________________ A struggle between two forces in the story.
24. ____________________________________________ A character’s struggle against some societal or
institutional injustice, oppression, unfairness, etc.
25. ____________________________________________ A character’s struggle against his or her own
emotions, conscience, or physical abilities.
26. ____________________________________________ A struggle between two characters.
27. ____________________________________________ A conflict that is within the mind of the character.
28. ____________________________________________ A character’s struggle against weather,
environment, time, geography, etc.
29. ____________________________________________ A character’s struggle against destiny.
30. ____________________________________________ A conflict that is observable and comes from an
outside force.
31. ____________________________________________ A character’s struggle against something magical
or fantastical.
Turn in the page!
You need to fill in
the plot mountain
for the story!
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33. Visit the following website and answer the questionsbelow about Rudyard Kipling, author of “Rikki
Tikki Tavi”. (The website is also listed on my website!).
http://www.biography.com/people/rudyard-kipling-9365581?page=1
33a. Why did Rudyard Kipling's parents come to India?
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33b. At age six, Kipling went through a rough time in his life? What happened to him?
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33c. List three other works that Kipling wrote.
1. _________________________________________
2. _________________________________________
3. _________________________________________
33d. List five other interesting facts about Rudyard Kipling on the lines below.
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2. ________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. ________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. ________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. ________________________________________________________________________________________
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