27 pages 54 minutes read

Rudyard Kipling

Rikki Tikki Tavi

Fiction | Short Story | Middle Grade | Published in 1894

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Background

Historical Context: Colonial India and the British Raj

Content Warning: This section references colonialism and ethnic stereotypes.

“Rikki-tikki-tavi” takes place entirely in and around a single bungalow and, with its (predominantly) animal cast of characters, might seem divorced from any broader sociohistorical context. However, “Segowlee cantonment,” the location of the family’s bungalow, refers to a military base in India, and the story itself was published in 1894. This was the height of British rule over the Indian subcontinent: nearly four decades after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which saw control of India pass from the East India Company directly to the British crown, and a half-century before the subcontinent would gain its independence and be portioned into India and Pakistan (the 1947 Partition of India). Kipling himself was a vocal supporter of British imperialism, and in the decades following their publication, his works gained a reputation for racism (though scholars argue over the depth of his prejudice and the complexities of his attitudes towards empire). While “Rikki-tikki-tavi” can be read “simply” as a children’s story, this political and biographical backdrop necessarily informs any comprehensive reading of the text.

During the time period in which the story takes place, many British people lived in India; cantonments were meant specifically for military personnel and their families.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 27 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,550+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools