THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
The Wind in the Willows: Additional Educational Resources
© 2016 The Little Consulting Company | All Rights Reserved
References are made to these additional resources with the activity guidelines in the
teaching guide. You should refer to these guidelines for instructions about how to introduce
and use these resources with your pupils.
The resources have been set out in such a way that you should easily be able to print and
photocopy individual resources for your pupils.
Resource A: Biography of Kenneth Grahame
Resource B: Letter Writing
Resource C: News Flash!
Resource D: Research Rubric
Resource E: Report Organiser
Resource F: Speech Writing Scaffold
Resource G: Mock Trial Participants’ Background Information
Resource H: Order of Procedure
Resource I: From Page to Stage
Resource J: Extract from the novel
Resource K: The Missing Epilogue
The Glossary of Tricky Words is designed to support your pupils in their reading of the
original novel. This resource provides a simple definition and synonyms for words that
may be unfamiliar familiar to your pupils. It is organised chapter by chapter.
The Wind in the Willows: Additional Educational Resources
© 2016 The Little Consulting Company | All Rights Reserved
In 1859, in the capital of Scotland,
Edinburgh, Kenneth Grahame was born.
His family didn’t stay in Edinburgh for very
long after his birth because Kenneth’s
father, Cunningham, became the Sheriff
of Argyll in western Scotland, so the
family had to move.
The family moved into a brand new home
that was built especially for them, but
sadly they didn’t stay there for very long
either. When Kenneth was five years old
and shortly after his brother was born, his
mother got very ill very quickly and died.
Cunningham didn’t cope with the loss of
his wife and returned to the bad drinking
habits he had before Kenneth was born.
Cunningham was an alcoholic and could
not look after his four children – Helen,
Willie, Kenneth and Roland – all by
himself. So, the children moved in with
their Granny, Inglis.
The years spent at Granny Inglis’ home in
England were some of the happiest times
for Kenneth. Their house, called The
Mount, was a charming old home with a
dark and cobwebby attic and a large green
garden. The children spent hours playing
in the garden together. The Thames River
flowed close by the home and Kenneth
quickly developed a love of splashing
about in a boat on the water. The children
were devastated when the old stone
chimney of their home collapsed.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, but they
had to move to a smaller house, far away
from the Thames River. Once again they
lived with their father. Cunningham tried
very hard to look after them all, but he
couldn’t manage and the children
returned to live with their Granny Inglis.
Kenneth lived with Granny Inglis and his
siblings until he began school at St
Edwards in Oxford. He started school at a
very late age – he was already nine years
old! Nevertheless, Kenneth was very
successful at school. He excelled in his
studies, achieving lots of prizes for his
hard work, and he was a good team player
on the school’s rugby fields, earning lots
of praise.
Kenneth worked very hard and his
teachers were confident that he would be
able to study at the University of Oxford,
which was his dream. His Uncle John,
however, quickly put an end to these
aspirations and refused to finance any
further studies! Disappointed, Kenneth
applied for a job in the Bank of England.
He surprised the managers of the Bank in
his entrance exam when he achieved full
for the English essay paper. No one had
ever earned such a high score before!
After a couple of years, Kenneth moved to
London with the Bank of England and
lived in an area of England’s capital city
called Bloomsbury. Today, Bloomsbury is
a very busy part of central London. It was
a busy area whilst Kenneth was there too,
and he got to know leading authors and
artists who lived nearby. To begin with,
Kenneth was very secretive about his own
writing; however, little by little he began
to share his work in magazines, first with
a pseudonym – a name he made up for
himself – and then under his own name.
Kenneth wrote all sorts of stories,
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1
including some about a family of four
orphaned children.
In 1897, Kenneth met Elspeth Thompson
and, a couple of years later, they married
in Cornwall, an area in the south of
England that Kenneth enjoyed visiting
during holidays. Kenneth wasn’t very
happy in his marriage to Elspeth. He and
Elspeth had a son called Alistair. He was
born very early and suffered from
blindness. Kenneth was disappointed that
Alistair wasn’t going to be able to follow
in his footsteps.
Alistair struggled to read stories as a child
because of his poor eyesight. So, Kenneth
enjoyed making up bedtime stories for
him. Some of these stories were about a
charming and lively toad. Later on, when
Kenneth was on holiday by himself, he
wrote more stories about a group of good
friends – a Toad, a Badger, a Rat and a
Mole – and sent Alistair letters about their
adventures. Fortunately, Alistair was
getting better and better at reading.
At work, Kenneth kept working really
hard and he continued to impress his
colleagues. At the age of 39 he became
Company Secretary of the Bank of
England, which was a very prestigious
position. Sadly, he began to get quite
unwell and after a few years, he retired.
Life moved along at a slower pace during
Kenneth’s retirement. He had time to
write up all of Mole, Rat, Badger and
Toad’s adventures into a book, which he
called The Wind in the Willows.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t very popular
amongst the first publishers that read the
draft of his novel. Not one to give up, he
persevered and eventually it was bound
up into a proper book. Even then, though,
it wasn’t very popular and some
important authors of the time gave it bad
reviews. The public, however, thoroughly
enjoyed the story and the publishers had
to keep printing more and more copies.
Finally, his story was a success!
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2
Think of a wild animal that lives nearby your house. Perhaps you see foxes roam the streets
at dusk, or maybe there is a pond with a family of quacking ducks in your local park.
Brainstorm the features and behavior of this animal in the box below.
My wild animal:
Imagine you have just encountered your wild animal for the first time. Write a letter to a
member of your family describing your meeting. Where were you? What time of day was it?
Who spoke first and what was said? Remember to refer to your brainstorm for ideas about
how to describe your interaction with the wild animal.
Don’t forget to date and sign your letter! You could sign the letter with a pseudonym – a
made up name – just like Kenneth did when he published his stories in a local magazine. It
could be anything at all!
Dear ________________________________ ,
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This article was originally published in The Telegraph in September 2013. It has been reprinted and adapted for
this education pack.
Where are they now? The characters of Wind in the Willows
When the children’s book The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame was published in
1908 its main characters were thriving in the British countryside. Following a report showing
the population of water voles, or 'Ratty', is decreasing, we look at how Badger, Toad and
Mole are also faring.
Mole – During next year’s spring cleaning,
Mole could be advised to stay
underground. The species is currently
enjoying a “population explosion”, with
numbers estimated at between 33 million
and 40 million. But this upsets gardeners
who blame moles for ruining lawns,
football pitches and golf courses. As a
consequence, poor Moley is controlled by
trapping or poisoning with dangerous
chemical. However, conservationists argue
that in fact a mole can be a gardener’s
friend by eating larvae – the young stages
of an insect – that would in fact do more
damage to lawns.
Ratty – Water voles have recently declined
in the UK by a fifth because predators are
eating them and rivers have been drying
up. The charming riverside mammals were
widespread in Kenneth Grahame’s day but
numbers crashed by 90 per cent in the
1990s as a result of being eaten by other
animals. The loss of riverbank habitat as
areas are developed for housing or
farmland has also made it difficult for the
mammals to survive and breed. Recent
droughts have also hit the species hard as
grass and plants by the rivers die.
Toad of Toad Hall – It is not clear which
species of toad lives in Toad Hall and drives
a fast car. The natterjack toad is almost
extinct and one of the few creatures in the
UK listed as a threatened species. He
would not like it but Mr. Toad is probably a
common toad. Again this species is
struggling as wetland is developed for
housing and disease spreads. When The
Wind in the Willows was written there
were about one million more ponds in the
countryside than there are now. Of the
400,000 that remain many are badly
polluted. Toads are also a frequent victim
of road traffic. So, watch out Mr. Toad –
poop, poop!
Mr. Badger – His moody manner may not
save Mr. Badger over the coming weeks as
a cull is carried out across the country. The
species is blamed for spreading a nasty
cattle disease. As a result, farmers have
been given permission to shoot 70 per cent
of the population in two countryside areas.
The farmers claim the population of
badgers has exploded and there are more
than half a million across the country but
conservationists point out there has been
no official count. The RSPCA and Wildlife
Trusts argue that badgers should be
vaccinated with an injectable jab instead to
prevent cruelty. What would the wise Mr.
Badger think?
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5
Your task is to research different forms of transport and their development through time. Use
the resources available to you at school – for example books, online encyclopedias and
internet searches – to fill in the table below using bullet points. This research will help you
write a non-chronological report about vehicles through time.
Mode of
Transport
Who invented it?
When was it invented?
Who first used this
mode of transport?
How was it first used?
Draw and label a
sketch of the mode
of transport based
on your research.
Rowing boat
Horse-drawn
caravan
Motorcar
Steam
Engine
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Using what you learnt from your research, write a non-chronological report about the
development of transport through time. Begin with the earliest form of transport and
remember to include all the facts that you wrote in your research rubric. The organiser below
will help you structure your report. Don’t forget to think carefully about the topic sentence
for each of your mode of transport paragraphs, so that your reader knows what the paragraph
is about.
The Development of Transport Through Time
Introduction
What is your report
about?
Mode of transport
paragraph 1:
Mode of transport
paragraph 2:
Mode of transport
paragraph 3:
Mode of transport
paragraph 4:
Conclusion
Write a summary
of the main points
in your report.
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You are going to stand in court as a character witness in the trial of Toad. You must decide
whether you are going to support him or not, and think of the most effective and persuasive
points to convince a jury of your point of view.
Use the checklist at the top of this speech writing scaffold to help you include important
features of speech writing.
Features of Effective Speech Writing







Make your point of view clear from the outset
Use emotive and powerful language that appeals to your audience
Address your audience directly and tell them why they should believe you
Be specific about the points you make and support them with evidence
Make a counter-argument to the points the other side are likely to make
Summarise your case at the end of your speech
Finally, thank your audience for listening to you
Use the space on the next page to draft your speech using the prompts to help you
structure it.
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Introduction – state
your point of view
Main point 1 – with
every point you make
explain why you
believe what you do
Main point 2 – use
powerful and emotive
language that
appeals to your
audience
Main paragraph 3 –
devise a counterargument to a point
the opposition is likely
to make
Conclusions –
summarise your main
points and thank your
audience for listening
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Teachers, print and distribute these character cards to your class to help them prepare for
the trial of Toad. Give your pupils time to prepare together. For example, the defence lawyer
and defendant, Toad, will need to build a case together. If appropriate, make sure your pupils
have their persuasive speeches to refer to if they are going to be called to the witness box.
Courtroom Usher
Courtroom Judge
Your job is to listen to the cases made by
the prosecution and defence lawyers. You
must ensure they question the witnesses
fairly and that the Jury has time to decide
their verdict.
If the Jury decide Mr. Toad is guilty, you
have the final say on how many years he
should spend behind bars.
You maintain order in the courtroom and
ensure the trial runs smoothly. You must
call people to the dock in turn according to
the order of proceedings.
Your job is also to work with the Courtroom
Usher to prepare the courtroom and
ensure people are sat in the correct places.
The jury must sit together. Toad must sit
with his defence lawyer(s) and any
newspaper or TV reporters must be kept to
one side.
Courtroom Clerk
Defendant: Mr. Toad
You help the Judge decide on a suitable
sentence for Mr. Toad, if he is found guilty
by the Jury.
You have been charged with stealing a
valuable vehicle, driving to the public
danger and rudeness towards a police
officer.
Your job is also to work with the Courtroom
Usher to prepare the courtroom and
ensure people are sat in the correct places.
The jury must sit together. Toad must sit
with his defence lawyer(s) and any
newspaper or TV reporters must be kept to
one side.
You must decide how you are going to
plead: guilty or not guilty.
Your defence lawyer(s) will help you build
your case for not going to jail.
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Prosecution Lawyer
Defence Lawyer
Your job is to present a case against Mr.
Toad. You are arguing that he is a thief, a
threat to the public and has no respect
those who uphold the law. You must
convince that the best place for Mr. Toad is
jail and that he should remain in there for
as long as possible.
Mr. Toad has employed you to argue his
case to the Jury. You must convince them
that he is not guilty of the charges brought
against him. Should the Jury find him guilty,
you will be arguing that he should be given
a community service order instead of going
to jail.
Prosecution Witness
Defence Witness
You have been called to stand by the
Prosecution Lawyer because they believe
you are able to support their case for Toad
going to jail. Who are you? What did you
see? What happened? Recall your
knowledge of the events leading up to
Toad’s trial to help you.
You have been called to stand by the
Defence Lawyer because they believe you
are able to support their case for Toad
walking out the courtroom free. Who are
you? What did you see? What happened?
Recall your knowledge of the events
leading up to Toad’s trial to help you.
(Optional) Witness 3: Character Witness A
(Optional) Witness 4: Character Witness B
You have been chosen by Mr. Toad’s
defence lawyer because you have known
Mr. Toad for a very long time and believe
he is innocent. You know that he can be
unpredictable, but you believe he has a
kind heart and does not pose a threat to
the community.
You have been called to stand by the
prosecution lawyer. You have known Mr.
Toad for a long time and disagree with the
way he behaves himself. You believe he is
guilty of the charges brought against him
and poses a threat to the community.
Member of the Jury
Mr. Toad’s fate lies in your hands. You and your fellow Jurors must decide whether or not
he is guilty or not. You do not all need to make the same decision, but the majority vote
will determine whether Mr. Toad returns to jail or not.
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(Optional) Courtroom Artist
(Optional) Newspaper or TV Reporter
You represent a local newspaper or
television station. Your job is to present an
unbiased account of what happens in the
courtroom to the general public. You must
make sure that you include different points
of view in your report.
You are present in the courtroom to draw
sketches of the accused, Mr. Toad, as he
argues his case for freedom. Pick your
moments carefully because newspaper and
television reporter will want to use the
most accurate and engaging sketch in their
reports.
The Order of Procedure sets out the process of the trial step by step. Make sure participants
of the courtroom have a copy to refer to during the trial. Give your pupils time to prepare
together. For example, the defence lawyer will need to prepare their speeches with the
defendant, Toad.
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Role
Event (spoken lines are in bold)
BEGINNING OF TRIAL
Courtroom Usher
Everyone
Courtroom Usher
Judge
Everyone
Courtroom Clerk
Courtroom Clerk
Defendant
Courtroom Clerk
Defendant
Courtroom Clerk
Defendant
Courtroom Clerk
Defendant
Courtroom Clerk
Defendant
Courtroom Clerk
Judge
‘Court rise’
Stands
Leads magistrate into courtroom
Enter the court, bow and sit. Lawyers and court staff bow in return
Sits
Stands. ‘The prosecution is represented today by [names] and the
defence by [names].’
Asks the defendant to stand.
Stands
‘Are you Mr. Toad?’
‘Yes’
‘Is your address Toad Hall?’
‘Yes’
‘Are you represented by [name of defence lawyer]?’
‘Yes’
‘How do you plead?’
‘Not guilty’
To the magistrates: ‘The defendant has consented to a trial in a
magistrates’ court. WE are in a position to proceed with the trial
today. May the defendant be seated?’
Gives the defendant permission to sit down.
CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION
Prosecution
Lawyer
Courtroom Usher
Prosecution
Witness
Prosecution
Lawyer
Defence Lawyer
Judge
Prosecution
Lawyer
Makes the opening speech
Calls the 1st prosecution witness
Leads the witness to the witness bo. Asks them to repeat this
affirmation: ‘I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affir
that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.’
Repeats affirmation
Questions the prosecution witness
Questions the prosecution witness
Repeat with a second prosecution witness if necessary.
If the Judge has a question, he or she should ask it now.
‘That is the case for the prosecution.’
CASE FOR THE DEFENCE
Defence Lawyer
Calls the defendant
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Courtroom Usher
Defendant
Defence Lawyer
Prosecution
Lawyer
Judge
Courtroom Usher
Defence Lawyer
Courtroom Usher
Defence witness
Defence Lawyer
Prosecution
Lawyer
Judge
Courtroom Usher
Defence Lawyer
Leads the defendant to the witness box. Asks them to repeat this
affirmation: ‘I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm
that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.’
Repeats affirmation
Questions the defendant
Questions the defendant
If the Judge has a question, he or she should ask it now.
Leads defendant by to his seat
Calls the first defence witness
Leads defence witness to the witness box. Ask them to repeat this
affirmation: ‘I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm
that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.’
Repeats affirmation
Questions the defence witness
Questions the defence witness
If the Judge has a question, he or she should ask it now.
Leads the defence witness back to his / her seat
Makes closing speech. ‘That is the case for defence.’
CONCLUSION OF THE TRIAL
Judge
Jury
Courtroom Usher
Courtroom Clerk
Spokesperson for
the Jury
Courtroom Clerk
Spokesperson for
the Jury
Judge
Courtroom Clerk
Judge
All
The Judge provides a summary of has been heard in the Courtroom.
He / She concludes by instructing the jury to ‘retire and consider
their verdict’.
Moves to a separate area to consider their verdict. One member
must be named as the Spokesperson. The jury must
Leads the jury, when ready, back to their seats in the courtroom.
To the jury: ‘Have you considered your verdict?’
‘Yes’
‘Do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?’
Says ‘Guilty’ or ‘Not guilty’
If not guilty, the judge says ‘Mr. Toad You have been found not
guilty. You are free to go’. If found guilty, the judge says ‘Mr. Toad,
you have been found guilty. The court will now consider a
sentence that is appropriate’.
States a sentence that he / she believes appropriate for the crime.
The judge makes a final decision about the sentence and announces
it to the courtroom. He / She ends with ‘Court dismissed’.
Exit the courtroom.
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The Wind in the Willows: Additional Educational Resources
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15
Your task is to adapt a passage from the novel into a play script. Use the success criteria below
to ensure you include all the key ingredients of a play script.
Features of a Play Script
How successful were you?
My play has an appropriate title.
I have included a list of characters in my play.
My play script has an Act and Scene number.
I have introduced the scene using a short description of the
setting.
My characters’ names are written on the left-hand side next
to their speaking lines.
My characters’ names are followed by a colon ( : )
I have started a new line for every new speaker.
My stage directions are in brackets ( )
My stage directions are written in the present tense.
I have stage direction that describe how the actors must
speak and move.
Every time the setting changes time or place, I have started
a new scene and given it a new scene number.
I have used capital letters or italics to emphasis key words.
There are no speech marks in my play script.
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Your task is to adapt this extract from the novel for the stage. You will not be able to include
all the detail in this extract in your play script, so start by highlighting important parts of the
text. Think about what you are going to get your actors to say (and remember to write this
in your own words) and how your actors are going to move on stage?
Extract from Chapter 10, ‘The Further Adventures of Toad’
Free! The word and the thought alone were worth fifty blankets. He was warm from
end to end as he thought of the jolly world outside, waiting eagerly for him to make his
triumphal entrance, ready to serve him and play up to him, anxious to help him and to keep
him company, as it always had been in days of old before misfortune fell upon him. He shook
himself and combed the dry leaves out of his hair with his fingers; and, his toilet complete,
marched forth into the comfortable morning sun, cold but confident, hungry but hopeful, all
nervous terrors of yesterday dispelled by rest and sleep and frank and heartening sunshine.
He had the world all to himself, that early summer morning. The dewy woodland, as
he threaded it, was solitary and still: the green fields that succeeded the trees were his own
to do as he liked with; the road itself, when he reached it, in that loneliness that was
everywhere, seemed, like a stray dog, to be looking anxiously for company. Toad, however,
was looking for something that could talk, and tell him clearly which way he ought to go. It is
all very well, when you have a light heart, and a clear conscience, and money in your pocket,
and nobody scouring the country for you to drag you off to prison again, to follow where the
road beckons and points, not caring whither. The practical Toad cared very much indeed, and
he could have kicked the road for its helpless silence when every minute was of importance
to him.
The reserved rustic road was presently joined by a shy little brother in the shape of a
canal, which took its hand and ambled along by its side in perfect confidence, but with the
same tongue-tied, uncommunicative attitude towards strangers. 'Bother them!' said Toad to
himself. 'But, anyhow, one thing's clear. They must both be coming FROM somewhere, and
going TO somewhere. You can't get over that. Toad, my boy!' So he marched on patiently by
the water's edge.
Round a bend in the canal came plodding a solitary horse, stooping forward as if in
anxious thought. From rope traces attached to his collar stretched a long line, taut, but
dipping with his stride, the further part of it dripping pearly drops. Toad let the horse pass,
and stood waiting for what the fates were sending him.
With a pleasant swirl of quiet water at its blunt bow the barge slid up alongside of
him, its gaily painted gunwale level with the towing-path, its sole occupant a big stout woman
wearing a linen sun-bonnet, one brawny arm laid along the tiller.
“A nice morning, ma'am!” she remarked to Toad, as she drew up level with him.
“I dare say it is, ma’am!” responded Toad politely, as he walked along the tow-path
abreast of her. “I dare it IS a nice morning to them that's not in sore trouble, like what I am.
Here's my married daughter, she sends off to me post-haste to come to her at once; so off I
comes, not knowing what may be happening or going to happen, but fearing the worst, as
you will understand, ma'am, if you're a mother, too. And I've left my business to look after
itself—I'm in the washing and laundering line, you must know, ma'am—and I've left my young
children to look after themselves, and a more mischievous and troublesome set of young imps
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doesn't exist, ma'am; and I've lost all my money, and lost my way, and as for what may be
happening to my married daughter, why, I don't like to think of it, ma'am!”
“Where might your married daughter be living, ma'am?” asked the barge-woman.
“She lives near to the river, ma'am,” replied Toad. “Close to a fine house called Toad
Hall, that's somewheres hereabouts in these parts. Perhaps you may have heard of it.”
“Toad Hall? Why, I'm going that way myself,” replied the barge-woman. “This canal
joins the river some miles further on, a little above Toad Hall; and then it's an easy walk. You
come along in the barge with me, and I'll give you a lift.”
She steered the barge close to the bank, and Toad, with many humble and grateful
acknowledgments, stepped lightly on board and sat down with great satisfaction. “Toad's luck
again!' thought he. 'I always come out on top!”
“So you're in the washing business, ma'am?' said the barge-woman politely, as they
glided along. 'And a very good business you've got too, I dare say, if I'm not making too free
in saying so.”
“Finest business in the whole country,” said Toad airily. “All the gentry come to me—
wouldn't go to any one else if they were paid, they know me so well. You see, I understand
my work thoroughly, and attend to it all myself. Washing, ironing, clear-starching, making up
gents' fine shirts for evening wear—everything's done under my own eye!”
“But surely you don't DO all that work yourself, ma'am?” asked the barge-woman
respectfully.
“O, I have girls,” said Toad lightly: “twenty girls or thereabouts, always at work. But
you know what GIRLS are, ma'am! Nasty little hussies, that's what I call 'em!”
“So do I, too,” said the barge-woman with great heartiness. “But I dare say you set
yours to rights, the idle trollops! And are you very fond of washing?”
“I love it,” said Toad. “I simply dote on it. Never so happy as when I've got both arms
in the wash-tub. But, then, it comes so easy to me! No trouble at all! A real pleasure, I assure
you, ma'am!”
“What a bit of luck, meeting you!” observed the barge-woman, thoughtfully. “A
regular piece of good fortune for both of us!”
Why, what do you mean?” asked Toad, nervously.
“Well, look at me, now,” replied the barge-woman. “I like washing, too, just the same
as you do; and for that matter, whether I like it or not I have got to do all my own, naturally,
moving about as I do. Now my husband, he's such a fellow for shirking his work and leaving
the barge to me, that never a moment do I get for seeing to my own affairs. By rights he ought
to be here now, either steering or attending to the horse, though luckily the horse has sense
enough to attend to himself. Instead of which, he's gone off with the dog, to see if they can't
pick up a rabbit for dinner somewhere. Says he'll catch me up at the next lock. Well, that's as
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18
may be—I don't trust him, once he gets off with that dog, who's worse than he is. But
meantime, how am I to get on with my washing?”
“O, never mind about the washing,” said Toad, not liking the subject. “Try and fix your
mind on that rabbit. A nice fat young rabbit, I'll be bound. Got any onions?”
“I can't fix my mind on anything but my washing,” said the barge-woman, “and I
wonder you can be talking of rabbits, with such a joyful prospect before you. There's a heap
of things of mine that you'll find in a corner of the cabin. If you'll just take one or two of the
most necessary sort—I won't venture to describe them to a lady like you, but you'll recognise
them at a glance—and put them through the wash-tub as we go along, why, it'll be a pleasure
to you, as you rightly say, and a real help to me. You'll find a tub handy, and soap, and a kettle
on the stove, and a bucket to haul up water from the canal with. Then I shall know you're
enjoying yourself, instead of sitting here idle, looking at the scenery and yawning your head
off.”
“Here, you let me steer!” said Toad, now thoroughly frightened, “and then you can
get on with your washing your own way. I might spoil your things, or not do 'em as you like.
I'm more used to gentlemen's things myself. It's my special line.”
“Let you steer?” replied the barge-woman, laughing. “It takes some practice to steer
a barge properly. Besides, it's dull work, and I want you to be happy. No, you shall do the
washing you are so fond of, and I'll stick to the steering that I understand. Don't try and
deprive me of the pleasure of giving you a treat!”
Toad was fairly cornered. He looked for escape this way and that, saw that he was too
far from the bank for a flying leap, and sullenly resigned himself to his fate. “If it comes to
that,” he thought in desperation, “I suppose any fool can WASH!”
He fetched tub, soap, and other necessaries from the cabin, selected a few garments
at random, tried to recollect what he had seen in casual glances through laundry windows,
and set to.
A long half-hour passed, and every minute of it saw Toad getting crosser and crosser.
Nothing that he could do to the things seemed to please them or do them good. He tried
coaxing, he tried slapping, he tried punching; they smiled back at him out of the tub
unconverted, happy in their original sin. Once or twice he looked nervously over his shoulder
at the barge-woman, but she appeared to be gazing out in front of her, absorbed in her
steering. His back ached badly, and he noticed with dismay that his paws were beginning to
get all crinkly. Now Toad was very proud of his paws. He muttered under his breath words
that should never pass the lips of either washerwomen or Toads; and lost the soap, for the
fiftieth time.
A burst of laughter made him straighten himself and look round. The barge-woman
was leaning back and laughing unrestrainedly, till the tears ran down her cheeks.
“I've been watching you all the time,” she gasped. “I thought you must be a humbug
all along, from the conceited way you talked. Pretty washerwoman you are! Never washed so
much as a dish-clout in your life, I'll lay!”
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19
Toad's temper which had been simmering viciously for some time, now fairly boiled
over, and he lost all control of himself.
“You common, low, FAT barge-woman!” he shouted; “don't you dare to talk to your
betters like that! Washerwoman indeed! I would have you to know that I am a Toad, a very
well-known, respected, distinguished Toad! I may be under a bit of a cloud at present, but I
will NOT be laughed at by a bargewoman!”
The woman moved nearer to him and peered under his bonnet keenly and closely.
“Why, so you are!” she cried. “Well, I never! A horrid, nasty, crawly Toad! And in my nice
clean barge, too! Now that is a thing that I will NOT have.”
She relinquished the tiller for a moment. One big mottled arm shot out and caught
Toad by a fore-leg, while the other-gripped him fast by a hind-leg. Then the world turned
suddenly upside down, the barge seemed to flit lightly across the sky, the wind whistled in his
ears, and Toad found himself flying through the air, revolving rapidly as he went.
The Wind in the Willows: Additional Educational Resources
© 2016 The Little Consulting Company | All Rights Reserved
20
Your task is to write an epilogue for the novel. Imagine Mole is making his way home through
the open countryside and down the tunnel to his front door. He is reflecting deeply on his
visits to his friend’s homes and his adventures in the Wild Wood. Remember that Mole is
now not quite so fearful of the stoats and weasels who live there. What does Mole think
about each of this friends’ homes? How did he feel when he first visited Toad Hall? Did he
enjoy welcoming Rat into his own home or was he nervous? If so, why? Use the rubric below
to organise your ideas before writing your epilogue.
Who’s
Home?
How does Mole
feel before
visiting?
What does Mole
find?
Adjectives to
describe the
home
How does Mole
feel in his friend’s
home? How does
it compare to his
own home?
Badger’s
home in the
Wild Wood
Toad’s
Mansion
Mole’s own
home
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© 2016 The Little Consulting Company | All Rights Reserved
21
Tricky Word
Imperious
Seclude
Insatiable
Chirrup
Impromptu
Society
Bedraggle
Tricky Word
Candid
Acquaintance
Boisterous
Trivial
Wayfarer
Primitive
Brazen
Irredeemable
Explanation
Someone who dominates situations
and bosses people around
A place to be by yourself and
undisturbed
Not able to be satisfied
Making a noise similar to birdsong
Made or done without preparation
An organised group of people
associated with each other for a
reason, for example religious,
cultural, political
Something that has become limp
because it is wet or dirty
Explanation
Frank and outspoken, usually
referred to expressing an opinion
A person know to you, but not a
close friend
Rough and noisy; unrestrained
Something with little importance or
value
A traveller, especially one on foot
Being the first or earliest kind in
existence
Shameless and bold
Not able to be saved or corrected
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Synonyms
Arrogant, tyrannical
Isolate, shut off, keep
apart
Bottomless, unquenchable
Twitter, tweet
Spontaneous, offhand, off
the cuff
Association, fellowship
Sag, droop, languish
Synonyms
Frank, open, plain, blunt
Companion, associate
Loud, wild, uproarious
Insignificant, ordinary
Adventurer, explorer,
rambler
Primal, original,
prehistoric
Defiant, insolent
Helpless, goner,
irrevocable
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Tricky Word
Acquaintance
Fellow
Dwelling
Perseverance
Pageant
Nymph
Languorous
Siesta
Galoshes
Explanation
Meet someone for the first time and
get to know them a little
Someone taking part in the same
activity
A house or some other place of
residence
Keeping going with something in
spite of difficulty
Usually an elaborate gathering or
procession involving people
A beautiful, natural spirit living in the
rivers, woods, etc.
A pleasant feeling of tiredness
Valor
An afternoon rest or nap
A waterproof overshoe, often made
of rubber
Great courage in the face of danger
Tricky Word
Perish
Oppress
Explanation
To suffer ruin or destruction
To keep control of someone unfairly
Injunction
Monotonous
Conceit
Sixpence
Ramification
An authoritative warning or order
Lacking in variety or interest
Lots of pride in oneself or an idea
An old English coin
The consequence of an action or
event
To grow or develop in a healthy way
To expect or predict something
To urgently call on someone
Flourish
anticipate
Summon
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Synonyms
Familiarity with,
awareness of
Friend, comrade,
colleague
Home, lodgings, quarters
Persistence, steadfastness,
patience
Parade, procession, show
Sprite, spirit, fairy
Sleepiness, fatigue,
idleness
Doze, rest, afternoon nap
n/a
Bravery, courage,
fearlessness
Synonyms
Die away, fade, vanish
Keep down, rule over,
abuse
Ruling, order, dictate
Dull, tedious, repetitive
Vanity, self-regard, pride
n/a
Consequence, result,
aftermath
Grow, thrive, prosper
Expect, foresee, predict
Invite, call for, order
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Tricky Word
Tributary
Intermittent
Explanation
A river or stream flowing into a
larger river
Have a feeling of longing for
something or someone
An accessory or other item
associated with a particular activity
or style of living
Sounding sad or mournful
A sudden attack or violent
expression of a particular emotion
Occurring at irregular intervals
Unerring
Meager
Banquet
Dolorous
Always right or accurate
Lacking in quality or quantity
An elaborate feast
Feeling or showing great distress
Tricky Word
Habiliment
Gaiters
Explanation
An old term for clothing
Clothing similar to leggings, used to
protect the lower leg and ankle
To waste in a reckless way
Wistful
Appurtenance
Plaintive
Paroxysm
Squander
Eloquent
Crestfallen
Fluent and persuasive in speaking
and writing
To create or perform without
preparation
Sad and disappointed
Saunter
Sonorous
Walk in a slow and relaxed way
Grandly deep and full sound
Improvise
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© 2016 The Little Consulting Company | All Rights Reserved
Synonyms
Creek, feeder, side-stream
Nostalgic, longing,
yearning
Accessories,
paraphernalia, bits and
pieces
Unhappy, sad, melancholy
Spasm, attack, fit
Sporadic, irregular,
discontinuous
Perfect, infallible, unfailing
Modest, inadequate, scant
Feast, dinner, spread
Woeful, gloomy , morose
Synonyms
Clothing
Leggings
Waste, misuse, fritter
away
Fluent, expressive, silvertongued
Off the cuff, ad lib
Downcast, disappointed,
glum
Wander, meander, drift
Rich, full, resonant
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Tricky Word
Brute
Phosphorescence
Imperious
Intoxicate
Dominant
Weary
Vigil
Doubtful
Osiers
Tricky Word
Fortress
Antimacassar
Replete
Sanguine
Bonnet
Stipulate
Quake
Uncanny
Baulk
Truncheon
Supplication
Explanation
A cruel and violent person or animal
The light given out by something that
doesn’t have to burn
Taking power without good reason
To lose control of behaviour,
sometimes with exciting
Most important, powerful or
influential
Being tired, especially as the result of
a lack of sleep
To stay awake, often at nighttime, to
keep watch or pray
Feeling unsure about something
A small type of willow tree
Explanation
A heavily protected building that can
withstand great force
A piece of cloth put over a chair to
decorate or protect it
Filled with something
Positive in a difficult situation
A woman or child’s hat tied under
the chin
To demand or specify something
To shake or tremble
Strange or mysterious in an
unsettling way
To hesitate or be unwilling to accept
an idea
A short, thick stick-like weapon
carried by a policeman
Asking or begging for something in a
humble way
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Synonyms
Animal, beast, monster
n/a
Assertive, bossy,
overbearing
Befuddle, to make
someone’s head spin
Controlling, ruling,
presiding
Tired, worn-out,
exhausted
Keep watch
Unsure, wavering, hesitant
n/a
Synonyms
Fort, bastion, stronghold
n/a
Well-fed, full, stuffed
Optimistic, positive,
hopeful
hat
Specify, set down,
demand
Shake, tremble
Eerie, strange, unsettling
Resist, eschew
n/a
Beg, plead, implore
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Tricky Word
Pomp
Table d’hôte
En pension
Comradeship
Quarters
Beckon
Hitherto
Wayfarer
Tricky Word
Beseech
Dewy
Rustic
Solitary
Humbug
Indignation
Vigorous
Gipsy
Seize
Explanation
A splendid display, especially at a
public event
A meal offered at a fixed price
A lodger in a small hotel
The company and friendship of
others
Rooms or lodgings
To make a gesture made with an
arm or head to encourage someone
to come nearer
Until now
A person who travels on foot
Explanation
To ask someone to do something
urgently and seriously
Wet with dew, appears soft
Something or someone who lacks
sophistication, but is often charming
Something that is done or exists alone
False and misleading behaviour
Anger that is provoked by something
that seems to be unfair
Strong, healthy, full of energy
Someone who is part of a traveling
community
To take hold of suddenly and
forcefully
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Synonyms
Ceremony, ritual,
pageantry
n/a
n/a
n/a
Room, lodging,
accommodation
Call, signal, wave
Earlier, before, until now
wanderer
Synonyms
Implore, entreat
Moist, damp, wet
Plain, homely,
unsophisticated
Reclusive, lonely, isolated
n/a
Resentment, anger,
umbrage
Robust, healthy, sturdy
Traveler, nomad, rover
Grab, grasp, snatch
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Tricky Word
Exploit
Disreputable
Infamous
Prudent
Reproach
Henceforth
Sentry
Draught
Tricky Word
Parlour
Tiresome
Explanation
To make full use of, often to one’s
benefit
Not considered respectable,
especially in character or
appearance
Well known for a bad quality or
action
Showing care and consideration
To show disapproval or someone or
something
From this time on
A soldier placed to keep guard of
something
Cool air blowing from somewhere
Prostrate
Explanation
A sitting room in a house
Causing someone to feel bored or
tired
Laying stretched out and face down
Disgraceful
Shockingly unacceptable
Conscience
Boudoir
Burdensome
An inner feeling or voice that guides
someone’s behaviour
A feeling or thought that something
is likely to happen
A woman’s bedroom
Difficult to carry out
Fractious
Irritable and quarrelsome
Suspicion
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Synonyms
Make use of, benefit from,
harness
Notorious, corrupt,
immoral
Shameful, shocking,
outrageous
Wise, sensible, shrewd
reprimand
From now on, in the
future
Guard, look out,
watchman
Waft, wind, breeze, gust
Synonyms
Sitting room, lounge
Boring, dull, tedious
Lying down, spread-eagle,
horizontal di
Shameful, shocking,
scandalous c
Sense of right and wrong,
morals, standardss
Hunch, inkling, feeling
bedroom
Taxing, onerous,
troublesome
Bad-tempered, grouchy
27