“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” Reading Guide D o 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, trembled 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 166. 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 show how Rikki lives 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 might 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 1914. How does Nag try to trick Rikki?

Page 2015. Stop after the first paragraph. Write the reason why Karait is more dangerous than the cobras. 16. What mistake does Rikki make while fighting Karait?

“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” Reading Guide D o on your own paper

17. What does Rikki learn about fighting snakes? 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 2221. 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 2324. Why is Rikki frustrated with Darzee? 25. Where are Nagaina’s eggs? 26. What does Rikki want Darzee to do?

Page 2427. 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 2529. What does Rikki do/say to 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 2836. What is the resolution to the story? (In other words, 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.

“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” Reading Guide D o on your own paper

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. 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 Rikki42. True or False: At the climax of story, Rikki puts himself in mortal danger by following a cobra into

its hole.

48. Climax/final conflict ___

49. Resolution ___

43. Exposition (characters/setting) __

47. Event ___

46. Event ___

45. Event___

44. Event ___

Choose from these answers:

A. Rikki fights and kills Karait

B. Rikki fights Nagaina, but Rikki

doesn’t hold on long enough

C. Rikki kills Nag

D. Rikki kills Nagaina inside the rat

hole

E. Rikki tricks Nagaina and distracts

her from striking Teddy.

F. Rikki, a mongoose, becomes the

pet of a family that has a garden

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.