A comprehensive narrative study of Rudyard Kipling's *Rikki-Tikki-Tavi* focusing on Freytag's five-part plot structure, textual evidence analysis, and Rikki's character evolution. Students map the narrative arc from exposition to resolution, evaluate escalating tension, and defend plot milestones with cited text evidence.
Garden animals live without terror; bungalow family is permanently secure.
Answer Key Page 1 • Freytag's Pyramid Solutions • Page 2: Text Evidence & Character Analysis
Analysis & Rubric Guide
Exemplar Evidence & Character Solutions
Evaluation Criteria
Model textual citations, developmental milestones for Rikki's characterization, and anticipated student misconceptions.
A Model Textual Evidence Citations
Acceptable textual citations
Rising Action (Nag Confrontation):
"‘If I don’t break his back at the first jump,’ said Rikki, ‘he can still fight; and if he fights—O Rikki!’ He looked at the thickness of the neck below the hood, but that was too much for him..."
Analysis: Demonstrates tactical deliberation. Rikki does not charge blindly; he measures Nag's girth and chooses the base of the head to disable the cobra's fangs.
Climax (Underground Burrow):
"...very few mongooses, however wise and old they may be, care to follow a cobra into its hole... Rikki braced his feet and gripped her tail, and went down with her."
Analysis: Highlights the apex of bravery and sacrifice. Kipling explicitly establishes that fighting in the dark hole gives the cobra total advantage, making Rikki's choice heroic.
B Character Growth Tracker: Exemplar Answers
Core progression benchmark
Stage 1: Beginning Curious Orphan
Rikki acts on sheer instinct and curiosity. He almost drowns in the bathtub, burns his nose on a cigar, and explores innocently without understanding the bungalow's dangers.
Stage 2: Middle Disciplined Strategist
He restrains his appetite so he stays agile. He seeks intelligence from Chuchundra and coordinates with Darzee's wife to divide Nagaina's attention and target her eggs.
Stage 3: Climax Selfless Champion
Rikki values the family's survival above his own life. Entering the underground burrow represents total commitment to duty and love for his human companions.
C Conflict Classification & Synthesis Key
Identified Conflict Types:
• Character vs Character: Rikki vs Nag & Nagaina (instinctive enemy clash for survival and garden dominance).
• Character vs Nature: Rikki vs the summer flood that almost drowns him at the story's start.
• Character vs Self: Rikki controlling his fear and hot temper to wait for the optimal attack moment on Nag.
Synthesis Answer Key:
The climax moves underground because the snake burrow is the cobra's home territory—pitch black, narrow, and without room to dodge. In the open garden, Rikki has the agility advantage. By entering the hole, Rikki surrenders every physical advantage, elevating the stakes to absolute life-or-death suspense.
Common Student Misconceptions & Remediation:
1. Misidentifying Nag's Death as Climax:
Prompt students: "Is the conflict truly solved after Nag dies? Who is still alive and plotting revenge?" (Nagaina has 25 eggs about to hatch!).
2. Overlooking Darzee's Wife:
Emphasize that Darzee only sings poetry, but his wife acts practically as the decoy, enabling Rikki to destroy the eggs.
Rikki returns to the bungalow, enjoys a feast, and sleeps safely on Teddy’s shoulder. Peace is restored to the garden, and no cobra ever dares enter again.
