Characters
What kind of animal is Rikki-Tikki?
a Mongoose
Who are Rikki-Tikki’s main enemies?
Nag and Nagaina.
What brings Rikki-Tikki to Teddy’s family?
A flood washes him out of his burrow.
Rikki-Tikki repeatedly fights dangerous snakes. What trait does this suggest?
Brave/courageous.
Who is the human boy Rikki-Tikki lives with?
Teddy
Who are Darzee and his wife?
Tailorbirds who live in the garden.
Why are Nag and Nagaina a threat?
They are dangerous cobras who threaten Rikki-Tikki and Teddy’s family.
What dangerous snake does Rikki-Tikki fight early in the story?
Karait
Rikki-Tikki protects Teddy from Karait. What trait does this support?
Protective, brave, or loyal.
What does Rikki-Tikki’s name imitate?
His mongoose war cry/sound.
How is Darzee’s wife different from Darzee?
She is more willing to take action and helps distract Nagaina.
What is one major conflict in the story?
Rikki-Tikki vs. Nag/Nagaina.
Where does Rikki-Tikki fight Nag?
In the bathroom.
Why does destroying the cobra eggs show Rikki-Tikki’s determination?
He is trying to completely remove the danger to the family and garden.
Why does Rikki-Tikki go into Nagaina’s underground hole?
He follows her to defeat her and end the threat.
Give two character traits that describe Rikki-Tikki.
brave, protective, determined, loyal, curious, or reckless when supported.
How does the conflict with the cobras affect the plot?
It drives the major action and causes Rikki-Tikki to protect the family and garden.
Why does Rikki-Tikki use one of Nagaina’s eggs near the end?
To distract/lure Nagaina away from Teddy and gain control of the situation.
Give one event that supports the claim that Rikki-Tikki is protective.
Examples: saving Teddy from Karait or fighting Nag and Nagaina to protect the family.
Why are the cobra eggs important to the story?
They represent a future threat; destroying them helps protect the garden and family.
How do Rikki-Tikki’s traits influence what happens in the story?
His courage, determination, and protective nature lead him to confront the snakes and drive the conflict toward resolution.
What might happen if Rikki-Tikki avoided the conflict?
the family/garden would remain in danger.
How does the final confrontation with Nagaina resolve the main conflict?
Defeating Nagaina removes the remaining cobra threat and makes the family and garden safer.
PROVE IT: Rikki-Tikki is courageous. Give an event and explain how it supports the claim.
Answers vary; students need a relevant event plus a clear explanation.
Is Rikki-Tikki better described as brave or reckless? Support your answer.
Either answer can earn full credit when supported with relevant evidence and explanation.